Most compose.yaml files slowly turn into long, copy-pasted blocks with fragile startup dependencies. Docker Compose includes several built-in features that can keep your stack cleaner, more reusable, and predictable.
Imagine a small web stack with a Python app, a worker, PostgreSQL, and an Nginx proxy defined in a single compose.yaml file. As the stack grows, you end up repeating the same settings across services.
Worse, after a reboot, the app may start before PostgreSQL is actually ready, causing failures until everything settles.