Docker Compose vs Kustomize

Overview

Docker Compose

Stacks22.3K

Followers16.5K

Votes501

GitHub Stars36.4K

Forks5.5K

Kustomize

Stacks73

Followers37

Votes0

GitHub Stars11.8K

Forks2.3K

Docker Compose vs Kustomize: What are the differences?

Docker Compose and Kustomize are both tools used in the management and deployment of containerized applications. They have distinct features and use cases that set them apart from each other. In this article, we will explore the key differences between Docker Compose and Kustomize.

Docker Compose: Docker Compose is a tool that allows developers to define and manage multi-container applications. It uses a YAML file to specify the services, networks, and volumes required for an application. Docker Compose enables developers to easily spin up and orchestrate these containers together. It simplifies the deployment process by providing a convenient way to define and manage application stacks.
Kustomize: Kustomize, on the other hand, is a tool used for Kubernetes configuration management. It provides a way to generate and customize Kubernetes resource configurations. Kustomize uses a declarative approach, allowing users to define desired configurations in a set of YAML files. It offers the ability to patch, add, or replace container configurations without modifying the base resource definition files.
Scalability: Docker Compose is designed for local development and testing environments. It is not suitable for managing complex multi-environment setups and scaling applications to production-level deployments. Kustomize, on the other hand, is specifically designed for Kubernetes environments, which allows for better scalability and management of complex application deployments.
Automation and Versioning: Docker Compose does not come with built-in automation capabilities or versioning control. It relies on manual configuration and management of containers. Kustomize, on the other hand, integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and provides version control and automation capabilities. It allows for easy customization of configurations across different environments, making it more suitable for automated deployment processes.
Configuration Management: Docker Compose focuses on defining and managing the structure and dependencies of containers in a single application stack. It does not provide advanced configuration management capabilities. Kustomize, on the other hand, offers more advanced configuration options and allows for customization of configurations based on specific environments or requirements. It provides the ability to overlay and merge configurations, making it more flexible for managing complex deployments.
Community and Ecosystem: Docker Compose has a larger community and ecosystem with more extensive support and documentation. It is widely used and has a strong user base. Kustomize, while also having an active community, is more focused on Kubernetes-specific configurations. It may have a smaller user base and may require more specialized knowledge for effective usage.

In Summary, Docker Compose is a tool for managing multi-container applications, while Kustomize is focused on Kubernetes configuration management. Docker Compose is suitable for local environments and simple deployments, while Kustomize is designed for more complex Kubernetes deployments with advanced configuration customization options.

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CLI (Node.js)

Manual

Detailed Comparison

Docker Compose	Kustomize
With Compose, you define a multi-container application in a single file, then spin your application up in a single command which does everything that needs to be done to get it running.	It introduces a template-free way to customize application configuration that simplifies the use of off-the-shelf applications. Now, built into kubectl as apply -k.
-	Purely declarative approach to configuration customization; Natively built into kubectl; Manage an arbitrary number of distinctly customized Kubernetes configurations; Available as a standalone binary for extension and integration into other services; Every artifact that kustomize uses is plain YAML and can be validated and processed as such
Statistics
GitHub Stars 36.4K	GitHub Stars 11.8K
GitHub Forks 5.5K	GitHub Forks 2.3K
Stacks 22.3K	Stacks 73
Followers 16.5K	Followers 37
Votes 501	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 123 Multi-container descriptor 110 Fast development environment setup 79 Easy linking of containers 68 Simple yaml configuration 60 Easy setup Cons 9 Tied to single machine 5 Still very volatile, changing syntax often	No community feedback yet
Integrations
Docker	Kubernetes Argo Kubestack

What are some alternatives to Docker Compose, Kustomize?

Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers. It handles scheduling onto nodes in a compute cluster and actively manages workloads to ensure that their state matches the users declared intentions.

Rancher

Rancher is an open source container management platform that includes full distributions of Kubernetes, Apache Mesos and Docker Swarm, and makes it simple to operate container clusters on any cloud or infrastructure platform.

Docker Swarm

Swarm serves the standard Docker API, so any tool which already communicates with a Docker daemon can use Swarm to transparently scale to multiple hosts: Dokku, Compose, Krane, Deis, DockerUI, Shipyard, Drone, Jenkins... and, of course, the Docker client itself.

Tutum

Tutum lets developers easily manage and run lightweight, portable, self-sufficient containers from any application. AWS-like control, Heroku-like ease. The same container that a developer builds and tests on a laptop can run at scale in Tutum.

Portainer

It is a universal container management tool. It works with Kubernetes, Docker, Docker Swarm and Azure ACI. It allows you to manage containers without needing to know platform-specific code.

Codefresh

Automate and parallelize testing. Codefresh allows teams to spin up on-demand compositions to run unit and integration tests as part of the continuous integration process. Jenkins integration allows more complex pipelines.

CAST.AI

It is an AI-driven cloud optimization platform for Kubernetes. Instantly cut your cloud bill, prevent downtime, and 10X the power of DevOps.

k3s

Certified Kubernetes distribution designed for production workloads in unattended, resource-constrained, remote locations or inside IoT appliances. Supports something as small as a Raspberry Pi or as large as an AWS a1.4xlarge 32GiB server.

Flocker

Flocker is a data volume manager and multi-host Docker cluster management tool. With it you can control your data using the same tools you use for your stateless applications. This means that you can run your databases, queues and key-value stores in Docker and move them around as easily as the rest of your app.

Kitematic

Simple Docker App management for Mac OS X

Related Comparisons

Docker Compose vs Kustomize: What are the differences?

Docker Compose: Docker Compose is a tool that allows developers to define and manage multi-container applications. It uses a YAML file to specify the services, networks, and volumes required for an application. Docker Compose enables developers to easily spin up and orchestrate these containers together. It simplifies the deployment process by providing a convenient way to define and manage application stacks.
Kustomize: Kustomize, on the other hand, is a tool used for Kubernetes configuration management. It provides a way to generate and customize Kubernetes resource configurations. Kustomize uses a declarative approach, allowing users to define desired configurations in a set of YAML files. It offers the ability to patch, add, or replace container configurations without modifying the base resource definition files.
Scalability: Docker Compose is designed for local development and testing environments. It is not suitable for managing complex multi-environment setups and scaling applications to production-level deployments. Kustomize, on the other hand, is specifically designed for Kubernetes environments, which allows for better scalability and management of complex application deployments.
Automation and Versioning: Docker Compose does not come with built-in automation capabilities or versioning control. It relies on manual configuration and management of containers. Kustomize, on the other hand, integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and provides version control and automation capabilities. It allows for easy customization of configurations across different environments, making it more suitable for automated deployment processes.
Configuration Management: Docker Compose focuses on defining and managing the structure and dependencies of containers in a single application stack. It does not provide advanced configuration management capabilities. Kustomize, on the other hand, offers more advanced configuration options and allows for customization of configurations based on specific environments or requirements. It provides the ability to overlay and merge configurations, making it more flexible for managing complex deployments.
Community and Ecosystem: Docker Compose has a larger community and ecosystem with more extensive support and documentation. It is widely used and has a strong user base. Kustomize, while also having an active community, is more focused on Kubernetes-specific configurations. It may have a smaller user base and may require more specialized knowledge for effective usage.

Docker Compose vs Kustomize

Overview