Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Docker Compose VS Structurizr

Compare Docker Compose VS Structurizr and see what are their differences

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Docker Compose logo Docker Compose

Define and run multi-container applications with Docker

Structurizr logo Structurizr

Structurizr is a workspace editor that creates software architecture diagrams and documentation based on the C4 model.
  • Docker Compose Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-23
  • Structurizr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23

Docker Compose features and specs

  • Simplified Multi-Container Deployment
    Docker Compose allows users to define and manage multi-container applications with a single YAML file, making it easy to deploy complex applications.
  • Infrastructure as Code
    Compose files are version-controlled, enabling teams to use best practices in infrastructure as code, repeatable builds, and consistent development environments.
  • Portability
    Applications defined with Docker Compose can be shared easily and deployed in any environment that supports Docker, enhancing development and operational consistency.
  • Ease of Use
    With simple CLI commands, developers can start, stop, and manage containers, reducing the complexity of container orchestration.
  • Environment Variables
    Docker Compose supports the use of environment variables, making it easier to configure applications and manage different environments (e.g., development, testing, production).
  • Isolation
    Compose creates isolated environments for different applications, preventing conflicts and allowing for more straightforward dependency management.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Compose

  • Not Suitable for Large-Scale Production
    Docker Compose is not designed for managing large-scale, production-grade applications. For more robust orchestration and scaling, systems like Kubernetes are typically used.
  • Single Host Limitation
    Docker Compose is intended for single-host deployments, which limits its use in distributed and multi-host environments.
  • Networking Complexity
    Networking between containers can become complex, especially as the number of services grows, which may require additional configuration and management.
  • Learning Curve
    While Docker Compose simplifies many tasks, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding Docker concepts, Compose syntax, and best practices.
  • Limited Built-in Monitoring
    Docker Compose has limited built-in monitoring and logging capabilities, necessitating the use of additional tools for comprehensive monitoring.
  • Resource Management
    Docker Compose does not provide advanced resource management features, which can lead to suboptimal resource usage and potential inefficiencies.

Structurizr features and specs

  • Expressiveness
    Structurizr allows architects to create detailed and expressive architecture diagrams using a code-based approach. This can lead to clearer and more precisely defined diagrams compared to traditional diagramming tools.
  • Version Control
    Because Structurizr uses a code-based approach to create diagrams, it integrates smoothly with version control systems like Git. This makes tracking changes and collaborating on architecture diagrams easier.
  • Auto Layout
    Structurizr can automatically lay out diagrams, reducing the manual effort required and helping maintain consistent styling and positioning across diagrams.
  • Modularity
    Structurizr enables modularizing diagram definitions, allowing architects to reuse components across different diagrams, improving maintainability and consistency.

Possible disadvantages of Structurizr

  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve as they need to get familiar with the Structurizr DSL (domain-specific language) or the various libraries available for different programming languages.
  • Less Interactive
    Compared to interactive GUI-based tools, Structurizr can be less intuitive and lacks direct manipulation of elements on diagrams, which might be a drawback for users who prefer a visual approach.
  • Limited Customization
    While Structurizr provides layout features, customization options in terms of visual styling may be limited compared to more traditional diagramming tools.
  • Integration Complexity
    Integrating Structurizr with existing systems and environments might be complex, especially for teams used to GUI-based tools, which could result in additional setup time.

Analysis of Docker Compose

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Docker Compose is a highly regarded tool in the containerization ecosystem. It provides a straightforward approach to orchestrating containers by creating a consistent local development environment that mirrors production settings.

Why this product is good

  • Docker Compose is considered good because it simplifies the management and deployment of multi-container Docker applications. It allows developers to define and run multi-container environments using a simple YAML file, increasing productivity and facilitating version control. This is especially useful for development, testing, and staging environments.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking to manage multi-container Docker applications effortlessly.
  • Teams needing to ensure consistent development and testing environments.
  • Projects that benefit from automated container orchestration without complex setups.
  • Organizations that use Docker containers in their workflow and need a simple tool to orchestrate them.

Docker Compose videos

Docker Compose | Containerizing MEAN Stack Application | DevOps Tutorial | Edureka

More videos:

  • Demo - What is Docker Compose? (with demo)

Structurizr videos

Simon Brown: C4 Architecture Model and Structurizr

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker Compose and Structurizr)
Developer Tools
86 86%
14% 14
Diagrams
0 0%
100% 100
DevOps Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Flowcharts
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Docker Compose and Structurizr

Docker Compose Reviews

We have no reviews of Docker Compose yet.
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Structurizr Reviews

Top 7 diagrams as code tools for software architecture
Structurizr builds upon “diagrams as code”, allowing you to create multiple diagrams from a single model using a number of tools and programming languages.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker Compose should be more popular than Structurizr. It has been mentiond 44 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Docker Compose mentions (44)

  • 7 Docker Compose Tricks to Level Up Your Development Workflow
    These tricks—profiles, environment overrides, build caching, healthchecks, custom logs, named volumes, and file extensions—can transform how you use Docker Compose. They save time, reduce errors, and make your workflows more flexible. Try them in your next project, starting with profiles or healthchecks to see immediate wins. Check the Docker Compose documentation for deeper dives, and experiment with these... - Source: dev.to / 2 days ago
  • 5 Developer Pain Points Solved by Internal Developer Platforms
    Docker Compose for local development environments. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • Connecting RDBs and Search Engines — Chapter 1
    This removes all container volumes and resets everything to its initial state. See the official documentation for more details. - Source: dev.to / 28 days ago
  • Docker Compose and Devcontainers for Microservices Development
    This tutorial assumes familiarity with Docker, Docker Compose, Devcontainers and that your services have Dockerfile implemented. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Building a bot to talk to my cats
    I talk a lot about using containers for local development. The container that I always used was some running LLM container that I pulled from the Docker Hub official AI image registry. I initially started dev work by just running npm start to get my app running and test connecting to a container, and then I got more savvy with my approach by leveraging Docker Compose. Docker Compose allowed me to automatically... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
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Structurizr mentions (8)

  • Could someone give me some feedback on my first 2 diagrams?
    You are welcome! It’s a nice way of breaking down problems. You can go one step further and generate them from code using something like Structurizr (https://structurizr.org/) if you want to get fancy. Source: about 2 years ago
  • System Design How to?
    Regarding documentation, I created the C4 model for visualising software architecture as a way to introduce some structure into architecture diagrams, because even today most of what I see is still ad hoc boxes and arrows, with little thought into what (abstractions) and how (notation) an architecture is described. My own tooling (https://structurizr.org) allows you to create multiple diagrams from a single model,... Source: about 2 years ago
  • D2, a text-to-diagram tool and library written in Go
    Would love to see a comparison to structurizr, which is a higher level dsl that essentially renders to any of the other three you're comparing. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Diagram as Code
    I just watched a goto conference talk by Simon Brown on https://structurizr.org/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Diagrams as Code 2.0
    You can look at https://structurizr.org/ for a free version. Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Docker Compose and Structurizr, you can also consider the following products

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

IcePanel - Collaborative modelling and diagramming tool based on the C4 model. Software architecture design made fun! đź§Š

Docker Swarm - Native clustering for Docker. Turn a pool of Docker hosts into a single, virtual host.

draw.io - Online diagramming application

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Terrastruct - A diagramming tool for software architecture