--- title: "compose vs kratos" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/docker-compose-vs-go-kratos-kratos" tools: ["docker-compose", "go-kratos-kratos"] --- # compose vs kratos *GraphCanon updated Aug 25, 2026* ## Verdict Pick compose if a tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files; pick kratos if kratos is a Go microservices framework designed for cloud-native applications that supports both gRPC and HTTP protocols. [compose](https://docs.docker.com/compose/) reports 38k GitHub stars, 5.8k forks, and 105 open issues, last pushed Aug 10, 2026. [kratos](https://go-kratos.dev) has 26k stars, 4.2k forks, and 107 open issues, last pushed Aug 19, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [compose's repository](https://github.com/docker/compose) and [kratos's repository](https://github.com/go-kratos/kratos). | | [compose](/tools/docker-compose.md) | [kratos](/tools/go-kratos-kratos.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Define and run multi-container applications with Docker | Go microservices framework for cloud-native applications | | Stars | 38,039 | 25,890 | | Forks | 5,788 | 4,177 | | Open issues | 105 | 107 | | Language | Go | Go | | Adopt for | A tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files. | Kratos is a Go microservices framework designed for cloud-native applications that supports both gRPC and HTTP protocols. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | Apache-2.0 | MIT | | Categories | Developer Tools | Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [compose](/tools/docker-compose.md) | [kratos](/tools/go-kratos-kratos.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Days since push | 0d | 6d | | Open issues (now) | 105 | 107 | | Stars delta | Unknown | +74 (30d) | | Open issues delta | Unknown | +21 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/docker-compose/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/go-kratos-kratos/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: compose - **Adopt for:** A tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files. ## Decision facts: kratos - **Adopt for:** Kratos is a Go microservices framework designed for cloud-native applications that supports both gRPC and HTTP protocols. ## Choose when ### Choose compose if… - License: compose is Apache-2.0, kratos is MIT. - Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose, orchestration. - 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 kratos if… - License: kratos is MIT, compose is Apache-2.0. - Tags unique to kratos: ai, architecture, cloud-native, framework. - When you need to develop efficient and scalable microservice architectures specifically in the Go programming language, as Kratos offers dedicated support to optimize go-based services. ## 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 kratos - If your project does not require Go or you prefer frameworks supporting a wider range of languages, as Kratos is specialized in the Go ecosystem and may introduce language-specific limitations. - In scenarios where lightweight microservices without extensive framework overhead are preferred, given that Kratos includes features like gRPC out of the box which might add unnecessary complexity. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between compose and kratos? compose: Define and run multi-container applications with Docker. kratos: Go microservices framework for cloud-native applications. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose compose over kratos? Choose compose over kratos when License: compose is Apache-2.0, kratos is MIT; Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose, orchestration; 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 kratos over compose? Choose kratos over compose when License: kratos is MIT, compose is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to kratos: ai, architecture, cloud-native, framework; When you need to develop efficient and scalable microservice architectures specifically in the Go programming language, as Kratos offers dedicated support to optimize go-based services. ### 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 kratos? If your project does not require Go or you prefer frameworks supporting a wider range of languages, as Kratos is specialized in the Go ecosystem and may introduce language-specific limitations. In scenarios where lightweight microservices without extensive framework overhead are preferred, given that Kratos includes features like gRPC out of the box which might add unnecessary complexity. ### Is compose or kratos more popular on GitHub? compose has more GitHub stars (38,039 vs 25,890). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are compose and kratos open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (compose: Apache-2.0, kratos: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to compose or kratos? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [compose alternatives](/tools/docker-compose/alternatives) and [kratos alternatives](/tools/go-kratos-kratos/alternatives) ([compose markdown twin](/tools/docker-compose/alternatives.md), [kratos markdown twin](/tools/go-kratos-kratos/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-go-kratos-kratos.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, compose or kratos? compose: Very active. kratos: 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 compose and kratos? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [compose trust report](/tools/docker-compose/trust); [kratos trust report](/tools/go-kratos-kratos/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/_