Kubernetes vs Docker Compose: When to Use Each
Kubernetes vs Docker Compose comparison: complexity, scaling, use cases, and migration path from Compose to K8s.
Docker Compose
- Single host
- Simple YAML config
- Great for local development
- No auto-scaling or self-healing
Kubernetes
- Multi-host orchestration
- Auto-scaling, self-healing, rolling updates
- Service discovery, load balancing built-in
- Steeper learning curve
Rule: Compose for dev/small projects. K8s for production at scale.
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