Docker Compose for Local Development: Complete Setup (2026)

Short summary

A complete Docker Compose setup for local development featuring Postgres, Redis, and MailHog with health checks, named volumes for macOS performance, and a Makefile for common commands. Covers service-to-service communication, environment variable management, CI integration, and practical tips like using named volumes to avoid slow host-mounted node_modules on macOS.

• •Full docker-compose.yml with Postgres 16, Redis 7, and MailHog for email testing
• •Health checks and depends_on conditions prevent startup race conditions
• •Named volumes and VirtioFS recommended for macOS performance; Makefile wraps common dev commands

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