Learn how to fix the “docker-compose Not Found” Error on DigitalOcean. Our DigitalOcean Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

How to Fix the “docker-compose Not Found” Error on DigitalOcean

According to our Experts, the “docker-compose not found” error on our DigitalOcean droplet means the `docker-compose` command isn’t available in our system’s path.

This is a common issue, especially for users setting up Docker on a new droplet, as Docker Compose may not be installed by default.

Today, we are going to take a look at the causes behind this error and how to fix them.

An Overview:

• Understanding Docker Compose Installation on DigitalOcean
  
• Steps to Resolve “docker-compose Not Found” Error
  
• 1. Check Docker Installation
• 2. Install Docker Compose
• 3. Verify PATH Configuration
• 4. Restart Terminal or SSH Session
• 5. Check Permissions
• 6. Verify Docker Compose Configuration
• DigitalOcean Droplet Setup Considerations

Understanding Docker Compose Installation on DigitalOcean

Docker Compose is a tool that simplifies running multi-container Docker applications. However, Docker Compose is separate from Docker itself. Also, it is not always included with Docker installations on DigitalOcean droplets.

There are two main methods for installing Docker Compose, depending on our setup:

1. Using the Official Docker Repository (Older Versions)

   This method used the traditional `docker-compose` command with a hyphen. It’s now less common and primarily used for older versions of Docker Compose.
2. Using the Docker CLI Plugin (Current Approach)

   This modern method involves installing Docker Compose as a plugin for the Docker engine.

   The command used in this approach is `docker compose` (no hyphen).

Now that we understand the different installation methods, here are the steps to troubleshoot and fix the “docker-compose not found” error.

Steps to Resolve “docker-compose Not Found” Error

1. Check Docker Installation

First, verify that Docker is installed and configured correctly on our droplet. To check if Docker is available, run the following command:

docker –version

This should return the Docker version installed on our system.

Next, check if Docker Compose is available by running:

docker-compose –version

Then, if you get the “command not found” error, proceed to the next step to install Docker Compose.

2. Install Docker Compose

If Docker Compose isn’t installed on the droplet, we have to install it manually. We can install Docker Compose by following these steps:

For the latest version of Docker Compose (as a CLI plugin):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-compose-plugin


3. Verify PATH Configuration

Once Docker Compose is installed, ensure that the directory containing the Docker Compose executable is included in the system’s PATH environment variable. If the `docker-compose` binary isn’t found in the PATH, we will need to either:

• Add the directory to the PATH manually, or
• Create a symbolic link to a directory already in the PATH, such as `/usr/local/bin`.

Then, to create a symlink, use this command:

sudo ln -s /path/to/docker-compose /usr/local/bin/docker-compose


Replace `/path/to/docker-compose` with the actual path of the Docker Compose.

4. Restart Terminal or SSH Session

After installing Docker Compose or modifying your PATH, it’s essential to restart the terminal or SSH session. This allows the updated PATH to take effect and ensures the system can find the newly installed Docker Compose command.

5. Check Permissions

If we are still facing issues, ensure that the user running the `docker-compose` command has the necessary permissions to execute it. In some cases, we may need to prefix the command with `sudo`:

sudo docker-compose –version

Furthermore, if permissions are a recurring issue, we can adjust the permissions of the Docker Compose executable or add our user to the `docker` group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

After making this change, log out and log back in for the group changes to take effect.

6. Verify Docker Compose Configuration

Finally, make sure that the Docker Compose configuration file is correctly set up and located in the directory from which we are running the `docker-compose` command. If the file is missing or misconfigured, we may see errors like “file not found.” Double-check the file’s location and syntax to avoid issues.

DigitalOcean Droplet Setup Considerations

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, ensure the DigitalOcean droplet meets the system requirements for running Docker and Docker Compose. Additionally, verify if there are any specific firewall rules, network configurations, or resource limitations on our droplet that could interfere with Docker or Docker Compose functionality.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

The “docker-compose not found” error is usually easy to fix with the proper installation and configuration of Docker Compose. By following the steps outlined above, we will be able to resolve the issue and get Docker Compose running smoothly on our DigitalOcean droplet.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix the “docker-compose Not Found” Error on DigitalOcean.