Docker Compose Tip #11: Mastering docker compose up --watch for hot reload

Stop manually restarting containers when code changes. Docker Compose Watch automatically syncs files and reloads services - zero interruption development. The basics Enable watch mode with: docker compose up --watch # If you don't want mixed logs, you can run it in a dedicated process, you need to have your stack started on its own process docker compose watch Then configure watching in your compose.yml: services: web: image: node:20 command: npm start develop: watch: - path: ./src target: /app/src action: sync - path: package.json action: rebuild Files in ./src sync instantly. Changes to package.json trigger a rebuild. ...

January 19, 2026 · 2 min · 365 words · Guillaume Lours