When installing services or apps, quite a few things need to be done: install the right version, configure it, install a database or other dependencies—and repeat all over again when you wipe your machine. Reproducing something that was previously working can also be harrowing.
Application containers solve this by bundling a service or application and everything it needs into a single, self-contained package. This works well for a single service and it’s dependencies but often you’ll find the need to run multiple services in support of a more complex solution. Docker Compose provides a way to orchestrate (or coordinate, if you prefer) multiple application containers to work together to achieve this.
A single docker-compose up spins it all up in seconds, and when you’re done, docker-compose down wipes it clean. No more chasing conflicting installs—just a reproducible, disposable lab that can be created, destroyed, and rebuilt in just a few seconds.
But what about Kubernetes?
Kubernetes is amazing for large, multi‑node clusters—but in a home lab the juice isn’t worth the squeeze unless your goal is to learn Kubernetes for the sake of learning it.
For a home lab, stick with Docker (and Compose) for rapid prototyping. Graduate to Kubernetes when you’re ready to build multi‑node resilience, auto‑scaling, or cloud‑native integrations.