--- title: "compose vs process-compose" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/docker-compose-vs-f1bonacc1-process-compose" tools: ["docker-compose", "f1bonacc1-process-compose"] --- # compose vs process-compose *GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026* ## Verdict Pick compose if a tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files; pick process-compose if process Compose is an open-source Go tool for managing non-containerized applications using YAML config files. [compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/) reports 38k GitHub stars, 5.8k forks, and 107 open issues, last pushed Sep 17, 2026. [process-compose](https://f1bonacc1.github.io/process-compose/) has 2.8k stars, 149 forks, and 26 open issues, last pushed Sep 7, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [compose's repository](https://github.com/docker/compose) and [process-compose's repository](https://github.com/F1bonacc1/process-compose). | | [compose](/tools/docker-compose.md) | [process-compose](/tools/f1bonacc1-process-compose.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Define and run multi-container applications with Docker | A scheduler and orchestrator for non-containerized applications | | Stars | 38,178 | 2,779 | | Forks | 5,818 | 149 | | Open issues | 107 | 26 | | Language | Go | Go | | Adopt for | A tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files. | Process Compose is an open-source Go tool for managing non-containerized applications using YAML config files. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 | | Categories | Developer Tools | Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [compose](/tools/docker-compose.md) | [process-compose](/tools/f1bonacc1-process-compose.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Active (82%) | | Days since push | 0d | 11d | | Open issues (now) | 107 | 26 | | Stars delta | +139 (30d) | +116 (30d) | | Open issues delta | +2 (30d) | +9 (30d) | | Owner type | Organization | User | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/docker-compose/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/f1bonacc1-process-compose/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: compose - **Adopt for:** A tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files. ## Decision facts: process-compose - **Requirements:** This tool focuses on managing non-containerized applications.; Ensure the environment has Go installed for installation and use. - **Adopt for:** Process Compose is an open-source Go tool for managing non-containerized applications using YAML config files. ## Choose when ### Choose compose if… - Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose. - compose ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment. - When your project involves running multiple connected services or microservices, as Docker Compose streamlines the orchestration of these with Docker. ### Choose process-compose if… - Requirements: This tool focuses on managing non-containerized applications.; Ensure the environment has Go installed for installation and use.. - Tags unique to process-compose: docker, go, golang, open-source. - Use Process Compose when you need to schedule and orchestrate non-containerized processes without the complexity of Docker configuration. ## 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. ## When NOT to use process-compose - Avoid using Process Compose if you require containerization for your applications, as it does not support Docker's features like isolation and resource allocation. - Not suitable when the preferred orchestration framework is one that supports containers natively, such as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between compose and process-compose? compose: Define and run multi-container applications with Docker. process-compose: A scheduler and orchestrator for non-containerized applications. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose compose over process-compose? Choose compose over process-compose when Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose; compose ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; When your project involves running multiple connected services or microservices, as Docker Compose streamlines the orchestration of these with Docker. ### When should I choose process-compose over compose? Choose process-compose over compose when Requirements: This tool focuses on managing non-containerized applications.; Ensure the environment has Go installed for installation and use.; Tags unique to process-compose: docker, go, golang, open-source; Use Process Compose when you need to schedule and orchestrate non-containerized processes without the complexity of Docker configuration. ### 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. ### When should I avoid process-compose? Avoid using Process Compose if you require containerization for your applications, as it does not support Docker's features like isolation and resource allocation. Not suitable when the preferred orchestration framework is one that supports containers natively, such as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm. ### Is compose or process-compose more popular on GitHub? compose has more GitHub stars (38,178 vs 2,779). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are compose and process-compose open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (compose: Apache-2.0, process-compose: Apache-2.0). ### Where can I find alternatives to compose or process-compose? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [compose alternatives](/tools/docker-compose/alternatives) and [process-compose alternatives](/tools/f1bonacc1-process-compose/alternatives) ([compose markdown twin](/tools/docker-compose/alternatives.md), [process-compose markdown twin](/tools/f1bonacc1-process-compose/alternatives.md)), 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](/compare/docker-compose-vs-f1bonacc1-process-compose.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, compose or process-compose? compose: Very active. process-compose: 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 compose and process-compose? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [compose trust report](/tools/docker-compose/trust); [process-compose trust report](/tools/f1bonacc1-process-compose/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=docker-compose`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=docker-compose) - LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) - Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) _GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_