Solved: What’s the difference between Docker Compose vs. Dockerfile

Question:

I have been reading up and learning about Docker, and am trying to correctly choose the Django setup to use. So far there is either:
Docker Compose or Dockerfile
I understand that Dockerfiles are used in Docker Compose, but I am not sure if it is good practice to put everything in one large Dockerfile with multiple FROM commands for the different images?
I want to use several different images that include:
Please advise on what are best practices in setting up this type of environment using Docker.
If it helps, I am on a Mac, so using boot2docker.
Some issues I’ve had:
  1. Docker Compose is not compatible with Python3
  2. I want to containerize my project, so if one large Dockerfile is not ideal, then I feel I’d need to break it up using Docker Compose
  3. I am OK to make the project Py2 & Py3 compatible, so am leaning towards django-compose

Best Answer:

Dockerfile


enter image description here
A Dockerfile is a simple text file that contains the commands a user could call to assemble an image.
Example, Dockerfile

Docker Compose


enter image description here
Docker Compose
  • is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications.

  • define the services that make up your app in docker-compose.yml so they can be run together in an isolated environment.

  • get an app running in one command by just running docker-compose up


Example, docker-compose.yml

If you have better answer, please add a comment about this, thank you!

Source: Stackoverflow.com