Docker builds LNMP environment: Is a single Dockerfile or Docker Compose better?

Docker builds LNMP environment: Docker Compose orchestration is better

In the process of learning Docker, many developers will try to build their own LNMP (Linux, Nginx, MySQL, PHP) development environment. A common question is: Should all components (PHP, MySQL, Nginx) be built in the same Dockerfile, or should I create the Dockerfile separately and then orchestrate it using Docker Compose?

This article will analyze both methods and recommend best practices.

Someone tried to install and configure PHP, MySQL, and Nginx on an Ubuntu system using a single Dockerfile. But it should be noted that many best practices recommend building these three components into separate images and orchestrating them with Docker Compose.

Why is Docker Compose better?

Putting all components into a single Dockerfile, although it looks concise, has the following disadvantages:

• Lack of isolation: The components are tightly coupled and difficult to troubleshoot.
• Complex construction: The construction process is complex and difficult to maintain.
• Mirror bloated: There are too many mirror layers, huge size, and slow download and startup speed.

In contrast, using Docker Compose, each component has an independent Dockerfile and image. The Docker Compose file is responsible for orchestrating and managing these components to achieve collaborative work between components. The advantages of this approach are:

• Independence and maintainability: Components are independent, easy to upgrade and update.
• Easy to troubleshoot: Problems are easier to locate and resolve.
• Comply with the microservice concept: Comply with Docker's "microservice" concept, which facilitates long-term maintenance and expansion of projects.

Therefore, for building an LNMP environment, it is recommended to use Docker Compose, that is, to create Dockerfiles separately and then orchestrate them using Docker Compose . This is a more standardized, easier to maintain and scale, and is more in line with Docker's best practices.

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