docker orchestration_error ai_generated partial

dependency failed to start: container exited (depends_on service failed)

ID: docker/compose-service-depends-on

Also available as: JSON · Markdown
82%Fix Rate
85%Confidence
50Evidence
2023-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
27 active — — —

Root Cause

depends_on service crashed. The dependency container exited before the dependent started.

generic

Workarounds

  1. 95% success Use depends_on with condition: service_healthy and add healthcheck 
    depends_on:
  db:
    condition: service_healthy

    Sources: https://docs.docker.com/reference/compose-file/services/#depends_on

  2. 92% success Fix the dependency container's error first — check its logs: docker compose logs <service> 
    docker compose logs <service>

    Sources: https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/compose/logs/

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Remove depends_on 65% fail

    Service may start before its dependency, causing connection errors

Error Chain

Frequently confused with: