podman-compose

List all running containers

$ podman-compose ps

$ podman-compose up [[-d|--detach]]

$ podman-compose up --build

$ podman-compose [[-f|--file]] [path/to/file.yaml] up

$ podman-compose stop

$ podman-compose down [[-v|--volumes]]

$ podman-compose logs [[-f|--follow]] [container_name]

$ podman-compose run [service_name] [command]

podman-compose [-f FILE] [-p PROJECT_NAME] [options] COMMAND [args]

-f, --file FILE
    Compose file name(s); supports lists (default: docker-compose.yml, docker-compose.override.yml)

-p, --project-name NAME
    Project name (default: current directory basename)

--env-file PATH
    Environment variable file(s); supports lists

--log-level LEVEL
    Logging level: debug|info|warning|error|critical (default: info)

--verbose
    Increase output verbosity

-v, --version
    Print version and exit

-h, --help
    Display help message

--compatibility
    Enable legacy v2 behavior for backward compatibility

--profile NAME
    Specify profiles to enable

podman-compose is a Python tool that provides Docker Compose compatibility for Podman, enabling users to manage multi-container applications defined in standard docker-compose.yml files without Docker. It parses Compose files (versions 2.x and 3.x up to 3.8), translates them into Podman constructs like pods, containers, networks, volumes, and secrets.

Services are typically deployed in a single Podman pod with an infra container for networking, mimicking Docker's behavior while leveraging Podman's daemonless, rootless architecture. Supports core commands including up, down, start, stop, restart, ps, logs, exec, build, scale, and more.

Key advantages: secure rootless execution, no daemon overhead, integration with Podman ecosystem. Ideal for migrations or hybrid environments. Limitations exist in advanced features like Swarm mode, certain build contexts, or Docker-specific extensions. On macOS/Windows, it uses Podman machine VMs.

Not 100% docker-compose compatible; missing Swarm, some build/Dockerfile features.
Requires Podman ≥ 3.2.
Containers share pods, altering port binding/isolation.
Builds use buildah (slower than Docker BuildKit).

up [options]: Create/start services.
down: Stop/remove services/volumes.
ps: List containers.
logs: View output.
exec: Run command in service.

pip install podman-compose
Or via distro packages: dnf install podman-compose, apt install podman-compose.

podman-compose -f docker-compose.yml up -d
Deploys services detached using specified file.

Developed 2020 by Podman team (containers/podman-compose GitHub repo) to bridge Compose gap pre-native Podman support. Evolved from compose2podman; now supports Compose spec 3.8+. Actively maintained for migration workflows.

podman(1), podman-pod-create(1), podman-network-create(1), docker-compose(1)