Comparison
atmos vs compose
Verdict
Pick atmos if atmos is a Terraform orchestration tool for DevOps written in Go. It supports hierarchical imports and inheritance to keep environment configuration DRY; pick compose if a tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files.
Markdown twin · atmos alternatives · compose alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 18, 2026
15views this month
Trust & integrity
| Signal | atmos | compose |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of Aug 11, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of Aug 11, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 15, 2026 · osv@v1 | Published findings As of Jul 15, 2026 · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- atmos
- Terraform Orchestration Tool for DevOps using Go
- compose
- Define and run multi-container applications with Docker
Stars
- atmos
- 1.4k
- compose
- 38k
Forks
- atmos
- 174
- compose
- 5.8k
Open issues
- atmos
- 304
- compose
- 107
Language
- atmos
- Go
- compose
- Go
Adopt for
- atmos
- Atmos is a Terraform orchestration tool for DevOps written in Go. It supports hierarchical imports and inheritance to keep environment configuration DRY.
- compose
- A tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files.
Persona
- atmos
- -
- compose
- -
Runtime
- atmos
- -
- compose
- -
License
- atmos
- Apache-2.0
- compose
- Apache-2.0
Last pushed
- atmos
- Aug 11, 2026
- compose
- Sep 17, 2026
Categories
- atmos
- Developer Tools
- compose
- Developer Tools
Trust and health
Open issues (now)
- atmos
- 304
- compose
- 107
Stars delta
- atmos
- Unknown
- compose
- +139 (30d)
Open issues delta
- atmos
- Unknown
- compose
- +2 (30d)
OSV dependency advisories
- atmos
- No lockfile (source not queried)
- compose
- Published findings
Full report
- atmos
- Trust report
- compose
- Trust report
Choose atmos if…
- Tags unique to atmos: automation, cli, cloud, devops.
- When you need a tool that supports both Terraform and Helmfile natively, allowing for streamlined management of infrastructure as code with rich inheritance capabilities.
When NOT to use atmos
- Avoid using Atmos if you are looking for a solution that supports a wider range of infrastructure definition languages beyond Terraform and Helmfile.
- Not suitable for those who require extensive UI features, as it primarily focuses on CLI operations and automated DRY configurations.
Choose compose if…
- Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose.
- When your project involves running multiple connected services or microservices, as Docker Compose streamlines the orchestration of these with Docker.
- More GitHub stars (38k vs 1.4k) - visibility, not fit.
When NOT to use compose
- When your application orchestration needs extend beyond basic services definition and coordination provided by Compose files.
- If you are specifically targeting a legacy setup or need tools that were historically paired with Docker Swarm, as some recent enhancements may lack full compatibility.
- For users who require advanced orchestration features like horizontal scaling, service discovery, or load balancing outside of the capabilities offered by simple docker compose setups.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (cloudposse/atmos) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- GitHub forks (cloudposse/atmos) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- Last push (cloudposse/atmos) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 16, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- GitHub stars (docker/compose) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- GitHub forks (docker/compose) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- Last push (docker/compose) · observed Sep 17, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: atmos 1.4k · compose 38k (synced Aug 11, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between atmos and compose?
- atmos: Terraform Orchestration Tool for DevOps using Go. compose: Define and run multi-container applications with Docker. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose atmos over compose?
- Choose atmos over compose when Tags unique to atmos: automation, cli, cloud, devops; When you need a tool that supports both Terraform and Helmfile natively, allowing for streamlined management of infrastructure as code with rich inheritance capabilities.
- When should I choose compose over atmos?
- Choose compose over atmos when Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose; When your project involves running multiple connected services or microservices, as Docker Compose streamlines the orchestration of these with Docker; More GitHub stars (38k vs 1.4k) - visibility, not fit.
- When should I avoid atmos?
- Avoid using Atmos if you are looking for a solution that supports a wider range of infrastructure definition languages beyond Terraform and Helmfile. Not suitable for those who require extensive UI features, as it primarily focuses on CLI operations and automated DRY configurations.
- When should I avoid compose?
- When your application orchestration needs extend beyond basic services definition and coordination provided by Compose files. If you are specifically targeting a legacy setup or need tools that were historically paired with Docker Swarm, as some recent enhancements may lack full compatibility. For users who require advanced orchestration features like horizontal scaling, service discovery, or load balancing outside of the capabilities offered by simple docker compose setups.
- Is atmos or compose more popular on GitHub?
- compose has more GitHub stars (38,178 vs 1,352). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are atmos and compose open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (atmos: Apache-2.0, compose: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to atmos or compose?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at atmos alternatives and compose alternatives (atmos markdown twin, compose markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, atmos or compose?
- atmos: Very active. compose: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for atmos and compose?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: atmos trust report; compose trust report.