Using Docker-Compose, how to execute multiple commands

Question

I want to do something like this where I can run multiple commands in order.

db:   image: postgres web:   build: .   command: python manage.py migrate   command: python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000   volumes:     - .:/code   ports:     - "8000:8000"   links:     - db 

Answer 1

I run pre-startup stuff like migrations in a separate ephemeral container, like so (note, compose file has to be of version '2' type):

db:   image: postgres web:   image: app   command: python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000   volumes:     - .:/code   ports:     - "8000:8000"   links:     - db   depends_on:     - migration migration:   build: .   image: app   command: python manage.py migrate   volumes:     - .:/code   links:     - db   depends_on:     - db 

This helps things keeping clean and separate. Two things to consider:

1. You have to ensure the correct startup sequence (using depends_on).

2. You want to avoid multiple builds which is achieved by tagging it the first time round using build and image; you can refer to image in other containers then.

Answer 2

Figured it out, use bash -c.

Example:

command: bash -c "python manage.py migrate && python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000" 

Same example in multilines:

command: >     bash -c "python manage.py migrate     && python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000" 

Or:

command: bash -c "     python manage.py migrate     && python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000   "