Docker Compose Watch mode for automatic hot reload during local development with sync, rebuild, and restart actions
View on GitHubJosiahSiegel/claude-plugin-marketplace
azure-to-docker-master
plugins/azure-to-docker-master/skills/docker-watch-mode-2025/SKILL.md
January 20, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/JosiahSiegel/claude-plugin-marketplace/blob/main/plugins/azure-to-docker-master/skills/docker-watch-mode-2025/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill docker-watch-mode-2025Installation paths:
.claude/skills/docker-watch-mode-2025/# Docker Compose Watch Mode (2025 GA)
Docker Compose Watch enables automatic hot reload during local development by synchronizing file changes instantly without manual container restarts.
## Three Watch Actions
### 1. sync - Hot Reload
For frameworks with hot reload (React, Next.js, Node.js, Flask).
Copies changed files directly into running container.
### 2. rebuild - Compilation
For compiled languages (Go, Rust, Java) or dependency changes.
Rebuilds image and recreates container when files change.
### 3. sync+restart - Config Changes
For configuration files requiring restart.
Syncs files and restarts container.
## Usage
```yaml
services:
frontend:
build: ./frontend
develop:
watch:
- action: sync
path: ./frontend/src
target: /app/src
ignore: [node_modules/, .git/]
- action: rebuild
path: ./frontend/package.json
```
Start with: `docker compose up --watch`
## Benefits
- Better performance than bind mounts
- No file permission issues
- Intelligent syncing
- Supports rebuild capability
- Works on all platforms