template systemd service unit - /lib/systemd/system/dc@.service

dc@.service

[Unit]
Description=%i service powered by docker compose
Requires=docker.service
After=docker.service

[Service]
Restart=always
TimeoutStartSec=300

#   Create a directory for each docker-composed service at /srv/docker/.
#   Name the directory as the service.
WorkingDirectory=/srv/docker/%i

#   Remove old containers, images and volumes and update it
ExecStartPre=-/usr/local/bin/docker-compose down
ExecStartPre=-/usr/local/bin/docker-compose rm -f
#   Comment the following to not automatically update your images!
#ExecStartPre=/usr/bin/docker-compose pull

#   Run Compose up on service start.
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/docker-compose up

#   Run Compose down, remove containers and volumes on service stop.
ExecStop=/usr/local/bin/docker-compose down

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

1. Create the above service template in /lib/systemd/system/dc@.service - dc means docker-compose
2. At line 12, you see WorkingDirectory=/srv/docker/%i; create a directory there my-special-thing, and place your docker-compose.yaml (eg: vi /srv/docker/my-special-thing/docker-compose.yml)
3. Enable it sudo systemctl enable dc@my-special-thing.service
4. Start it sudo systemctl start dc@my-special-thing.service , status it sudo systemctl status dc@my-special-thing.service