How to Fix the "Docker Compose Command Not Found" Error
Last Updated :
25 Jul, 2024
To determine and operate multi-container Docker applications, you'll need Docker Compose. The "Docker Compose command not found" error is a frequent problem that many engineers encounter, nevertheless. This problem usually arises from an incorrect setup or non-existence of the Docker Compose binary in the PATH of the system. We'll look at how to recognize and resolve this error in this post.
Problem Statement
The "Docker Compose command not found" error appears when trying to run a Docker Compose command in the terminal. This prevents users from managing their Docker containers efficiently.
Error Screenshot:
Approach to Solving the Problem
To solve this error we will follow these steps:
- The Verify Docker Compose installation.
- Install or reinstall Docker Compose.
- Ensure Docker Compose is in the system's PATH.
Different Solutions to Solve the Error
1. Verify Docker Compose Installation
First, check if Docker Compose is already installed on the system.
$ docker-compose --version
If Docker Compose is installed this command will return the version number. If not we will see the "command not found" error.
2. Install or Reinstall Docker Compose
Installing Docker Compose on Linux
To install Docker Compose on a Linux system follow these steps:
Download Docker Compose:
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
Apply executable permissions to the binary:
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
Verify the installation:
docker-compose --version
Installing Docker Compose on macOS
If we are using the Docker Desktop for the Mac Docker Compose is included by the default. Ensure Docker Desktop is installed and running. If not download and install it from Docker website.
docker-compose --version
Installing Docker Compose on Windows
Similar to macOS Docker Desktop for the Windows includes Docker Compose. Ensure Docker Desktop is installed and running. If not download and install it from the Docker website.
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and check the version:
docker-compose --version
3. Ensure Docker Compose is in the System's PATH
If Docker Compose is installed but still not recognized it might not be in the system's PATH. To fix this add Docker Compose to the PATH.
Adding Docker Compose to PATH on Linux
Open the terminal and edit the .bashrc or .zshrc file:
nano ~/.bashrc
Add the following line to the end of the file:
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin
Save the file and reload the shell configuration:
source ~/.bashrc
Verify the installation:
docker-compose --version
Adding Docker Compose to the PATH on Windows
Open System Properties:
- Right-click on 'This PC' or 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'.
- Click on 'Advanced system settings'.
- Click on 'Environment Variables'.
Edit the PATH variable:
- In the 'System variables' section find and select the 'Path' variable then click 'Edit'.
- Click 'New' and add the path to the directory where docker-compose.exe is located.
Apply the changes and restart the Command Prompt or PowerShell:
docker-compose --version
Common Scenarios and Fixes
Scenario 1: Docker Compose Not Installed
Issue: If Docker Compose is not installed on the system attempting to the run docker-compose commands will result in a "command not found" error.
Solution:
Install Docker Compose: The Download and install Docker Compose from the official Docker documentation or package manager appropriate for the operating system.
Visit Docker Compose Installation Documentation for the installation instructions specific to the OS.
Example: Installing Docker Compose on Linux using curl:
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/{version}/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)"
-o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
docker-compose --versionScenario 2: Docker Compose Not in PATH
Issue: Even after installation if Docker Compose is not added to the system's PATH variable the command-line interface won't locate it.
Solution:
Update PATH Environment Variable: Ensure the directory where docker-compose is installed is added to the PATH.
On Linux, edit ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile and add:
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin/docker-compose
The Source the file or restart the terminal for changes to take effect:
source ~/.bashrc
Scenario 3: Docker Compose Version Mismatch
Issue: Sometimes, if there's a version mismatch or an outdated version of the Docker Compose commands might fail to the execute properly.
Solution:
Check Docker Compose Version: Ensure we are using the compatible version with Docker and the Docker environment.
Verify the installed Docker Compose version:
docker-compose --version
Update Docker Compose if necessary:
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/{latest_version}/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)"
-o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-composeConclusion
We can successfully fix the "Docker Compose Command Not Found" error by attending to these common scenarios and implementing the suggested fixes. A development or production environment can execute Docker Compose commands more efficiently if it is installed correctly added to the PATH environment variable, and kept up to date.
Similar Reads
Docker Compose - How To Execute Multiple Commands? Docker Compose is an orchestration tool that comes with Docker and enables users to run and manage multi-container applications using a YAML format file. Docker Compose comes pre-installed with Docker and does not require any additional installation or activation. In this article, we will explore wh
7 min read
How To Install and Use Docker Compose on Ubuntu 22.04 Docker is a platform that provides virtual containers on which an application can be deployed independent of the underlying OS of the server. Further, the container can be created from a replica called docker image which contains all the dependencies and can run on any OS that has a docker engine, w
5 min read
Docker Compose For Windows: Tips And Tricks Docker is a powerful Container platform that allows you to create containers where you can run, deploy, and develop applications without worrying about different dependencies, services, and limitations of the operating system. The best part is the isolation of the container so you can use this conta
7 min read
How do you Mount Volume in Docker Compose File ? Docker is a containerization tool that encapsulates the application along with its dependencies and runtime into compact units called docker containers. On the other hand, Docker Compose is a service through which multiple Docker container applications can be managed easily. In this guide I will fir
4 min read
Docker Compose vs Dockerfile with Code Examples Docker is an open-source platform that empowers developers to automate the deployment of applications inside lightweight, portable containers. Containers encapsulate an application and its conditions, ensuring consistency across various conditions, from advancement to production, the Dockerfile and
7 min read
Docker Run Command - Complete Tutorial For Beginners Docker launches the containers in seconds, and the heart of running containerized applications lies in the powerful command known as 'docker run'. The 'docker run' is used to create a running container from using a docker image. It is used with options, docker images, commands, and arguments. It is
15+ min read
Docker Compose for Node.js Applications Docker Compose is a powerful tool that facilitates managing multi-container Docker applications. While developing Node.js applications, it usually gets to a point where you need to interact with services such as a database, message broker, or cache system. Manually handling these services can be qui
6 min read
What is Docker Compose Override ? Docker is a widely used platform designed to help developers build, share, and run container applications. We handle the tedious setup so that you can focus on the code service that offers free and premium tiers. The software that hosts containers is known as Docker Engine. The docker-compose.overri
5 min read
How to Install PHP Composer Inside a Docker Container PHP Composer is a dependency manager for PHP allowing developers to manage project dependencies, libraries, and packages efficiently. Installing Composer inside a Docker container provides a consistent environment across different systems, ensuring that the application behaves the same way on every
6 min read
Top 10 Docker Commands You Need to Know Docker has changed the goalposts of application development and deployment by providing a standard environment to run the applications, which is independent of their place of deployment. Moving forward into 2024, as a developer and DevOps engineer, one has to fully understand and know how to use app
7 min read