Makefile for Docker Compose Automation

This Makefile provides a streamlined way to manage your Docker Compose projects. It simplifies common Docker operations, allowing you to focus on development rather than complex command-line arguments. By defining targets for starting, stopping, and viewing logs, this Makefile enhances your development workflow and ensures consistency across different environments.

Key Docker Compose Makefile Commands

The following commands are defined within the Makefile to facilitate Docker Compose management:

help: Display Available Commands

This target provides a comprehensive list of all available commands within the Makefile, along with their descriptions. It's the first command you should run to understand the Makefile's capabilities.

up: Start Containers

The up target is used to build and start your Docker containers in detached mode. This is typically the first step in running your application locally. It ensures that all services defined in your docker-compose.yml file are running.

clean: Stop and Remove Containers

Use the clean target to gracefully stop and remove all containers, networks, and volumes associated with your Docker Compose project. This is essential for resetting your environment and freeing up resources.

logs: View Container Logs

The logs target allows you to follow the real-time output of your containers. This is invaluable for debugging and monitoring your application's behavior. The -f flag ensures that the logs are streamed live.

open: Access Application URL

This target is a convenience command to open a specific URL in your browser, typically used to access a web application running within a container. It assumes the application is accessible at http://localhost:3000/.

Makefile Structure and Logic

The Makefile intelligently detects whether docker-compose or the newer docker compose command is available on your system. It sets the DOCKER_COMPOSE_BINARY variable accordingly, ensuring compatibility. If neither command is found, it throws an error, prompting the user to install the necessary Docker tools.

# Thanks: https://gist.github.com/mpneuried/0594963ad38e68917ef189b4e6a269db
.PHONY: help

HAS_DOCKER_COMPOSE := $(shell command -v docker-compose 2> /dev/null)
HAS_DOCKER_COMPOSE_V2 := $(shell command -v docker 2> /dev/null)

ifeq ($(strip $(HAS_DOCKER_COMPOSE)),)
    ifeq ($(strip $(HAS_DOCKER_COMPOSE_V2)),)
        $(error No compatible command found)
    else
        DOCKER_COMPOSE_BINARY := docker compose
    endif
else
    DOCKER_COMPOSE_BINARY := docker-compose
endif

help: ## This help.
	@awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "} /^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## / {printf "\033[36m%-30s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2}' $(MAKEFILE_LIST)

.DEFAULT_GOAL := help

# DOCKER TASKS
up: ## Runs the containers in detached mode
	@$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_BINARY) up -d --build

clean: ## Stops and removes all containers
	@$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_BINARY) down

logs: ## View the logs from the containers
	@$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_BINARY) logs -f

open: ## Opens tabs in container
	open http://localhost:3000/

External Resources for Docker Compose

• Docker Compose Official Documentation
• Docker Compose Up Command Reference
• Docker Compose Down Command Reference
• Docker Compose Logs Command Reference
• Makefile Tutorial