RabbitMQ Docker Compose Example

RabbitMQ with the management UI, a named volume, and a health check.

The compose.yaml

name: rabbitmq
services:
  rabbitmq:
    image: rabbitmq:4-management-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - 127.0.0.1:15672:15672
    environment:
      RABBITMQ_DEFAULT_USER: app
      RABBITMQ_DEFAULT_PASS: ${RABBITMQ_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - rabbitmq_data:/var/lib/rabbitmq
    healthcheck:
      test:
        - CMD-SHELL
        - rabbitmq-diagnostics -q ping
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 20s
    logging:
      driver: json-file
      options:
        max-size: 10m
        max-file: '3'
volumes:
  rabbitmq_data: {}

Start it up

# Validate the configuration (does not start anything):
docker compose -f compose.yaml config

# Pull images and start in the background:
docker compose -f compose.yaml pull
docker compose -f compose.yaml up -d

# Check status and follow logs:
docker compose -f compose.yaml ps
docker compose -f compose.yaml logs -f

# Stop and remove (named volumes are kept):
docker compose -f compose.yaml down

Services

rabbitmq — rabbitmq:4-management-alpine

Security notes

warning
No memory limit
Set a memory limit sized to the workload (e.g. `mem_limit: 512m`).

Open the template in the generator to apply one-click hardening.

FAQ

How do I run this RabbitMQ Docker Compose file?

Save it as compose.yaml, then run `docker compose up -d`. Validate first with `docker compose config` and follow logs with `docker compose logs -f`.

Do I need a version field in the RabbitMQ Compose file?

No — modern Docker Compose does not require a top-level version field, and this example does not include one.

How do I customize this RabbitMQ template?

Open it in the free Docker Compose Generator to change images, ports, volumes, networks, environment variables, and health checks visually, then download your compose.yaml.

Independent educational example. "Docker" is a trademark of Docker, Inc. Review and adapt before using in production.