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 --version

Scenario 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-compose

Conclusion

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.

Docker Compose Command Not Found – FAQs

How do I know if Docker Compose is installed?

Open a terminal and type docker-compose version. If it’s installed, you’ll see the version information. Otherwise, you’ll need to install it.

How do I run docker-compose if it’s not in my path?

There are two ways:

• Specify the Path: Type the full path to the executable, for example: /usr/local/bin/docker-compose up. Replace the path with the actual location on your system.
• Using sudo (Caution): You can use sudo docker-compose up, but be cautious as running commands with sudo elevates privileges and might have security implications.