Docker compose and Dockerfile difference

Scope: A Dockerfile is for building a single Docker image, while docker-compose.yml is for orchestrating multiple containers (that might be built from Dockerfiles) to work together as a unified application.
Use Case: A Dockerfile is necessary when you need to create a custom image. In contrast, docker-compose.yml is used when you want to deploy and manage an application that consists of multiple containers.
Command: You build an image from a Dockerfile using docker build. You start the application defined by docker-compose.yml using docker-compose up.

Purpose: A Dockerfile is a text document that contains all the commands a user could call on the command line to assemble an image. It automates the process of creating Docker images by specifying a sequence of steps and configurations such as setting environment variables, installing software, and copying files from the local directory into the image.
Functionality: It is essentially a blueprint for building Docker images. You define the base image, software packages, scripts, files, environment variables, and other components you need in your Docker image.
Usage: You use a Dockerfile when you need to create a custom Docker image based on your application’s specific dependencies and runtime environment. After defining your Dockerfile, you use the docker build command to create an image.
Example structure of a Dockerfile:
```
FROM python:3.8
WORKDIR /app
COPY . /app
RUN pip install -r requirements.txt
CMD ["python", "./my_script.py"]
```

Purpose: A docker-compose.yml file is used to define and run multi-container Docker applications. With a single command, you can configure all of your application’s services, networks, and volumes in this YAML file and bring everything up or down.
Functionality: It simplifies the deployment and management of application components that are meant to run in separate containers while still needing to communicate or work together. For example, a web application might consist of a web server, a database, and a caching system, each running in its container.
Usage: docker-compose is used for defining and running complex applications with Docker. Instead of using lengthy docker run commands with many flags, you write a docker-compose.yml file and use docker-compose up to start the application.
Example structure of a docker-compose.yml file:
```
version: "3"
services:
  web:
    build: .
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"
  db:
    image: postgres
    volumes:
      - ./data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
```