How can caching and artifacts speed up Docker Compose on GitLab CI?

caching, artifacts, Docker Compose, GitLab CI, CI/CD, performance optimization

Leveraging caching and artifacts in GitLab CI can significantly accelerate Docker Compose builds, leading to faster CI/CD pipelines and improved efficiency in software development.


        # Example of using caching and artifacts in GitLab CI for Docker Compose
        stages:
          - build
          - test
          
        cache:
          key: ${CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG}
          paths:
            - .docker/cache/
        
        build:
          stage: build
          script:
            - docker-compose build
          artifacts:
            paths:
              - .docker/cache/
        
        test:
          stage: test
          dependencies:
            - build
          script:
            - docker-compose up -d
            - docker-compose run app run_tests