How do I use multi-container setups with Docker Compose for local development?

To set up a multi-container environment using Docker Compose for local development with Pulumi, we will use the Pulumi Docker provider. This example will demonstrate how to define and manage multi-container applications using Pulumi.

First, ensure that you have Docker and Pulumi installed on your machine. You will also need to install the Pulumi Docker provider.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to define a multi-container setup with Docker Compose using Pulumi:

1. Create a Pulumi.yaml file to define your Pulumi project.
2. Define the Docker network and services using Pulumi in a TypeScript program.

The following code sets up a Docker network and two services: a web service running an Nginx server and a Redis service.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as docker from "@pulumi/docker";

// Create a Docker network
const network = new docker.Network("app-network", {
    name: "app-network",
});

// Create a Redis container
const redisContainer = new docker.Container("redis", {
    image: "redis:latest",
    name: "redis",
    networksAdvanced: [{
        name: network.name,
    }],
    ports: [{
        internal: 6379,
        external: 6379,
    }],
});

// Create a Nginx container
const webContainer = new docker.Container("web", {
    image: "nginx:latest",
    name: "web",
    networksAdvanced: [{
        name: network.name,
    }],
    ports: [{
        internal: 80,
        external: 8080,
    }],
    envs: [
        "REDIS_HOST=redis",
    ],
});

// Export the container names and URLs
export const redisContainerName = redisContainer.name;
export const webContainerName = webContainer.name;
export const webContainerUrl = pulumi.interpolate`http://localhost:8080`;

Explanation

• Docker Network: We create a Docker network named app-network to allow our containers to communicate with each other.
• Redis Container: We create a Redis container using the redis:latest image, connecting it to the app-network and exposing port 6379.
• Nginx Container: We create an Nginx container using the nginx:latest image, connecting it to the app-network, exposing port 80 internally, and mapping it to port 8080 on the host machine.
• Environment Variables: We set an environment variable REDIS_HOST in the Nginx container to allow it to connect to the Redis service by its container name.

Summary

In this guide, we set up a multi-container environment using Pulumi and Docker Compose for local development. We defined a Docker network and two services (Redis and Nginx) and configured them to communicate with each other. This setup can be extended further by adding more services and configurations as needed.