Models

Table of contents
Requires: Docker Compose 2.38.0 and later

The top-level models section declares AI models that are used by your Compose application. These models are typically pulled as OCI artifacts, run by a model runner, and exposed as an API that your service containers can consume.

Services can only access models when explicitly granted by a models attribute within the services top-level element.

Examples

Example 1

services:
  app:
    image: app
    models:
      - ai_model


models:
  ai_model:
    model: ai/model

In this basic example:

  • The app service uses the ai_model.
  • The ai_model is defined as an OCI artifact (ai/model) that is pulled and served by the model runner.
  • Docker Compose injects connection info, for example AI_MODEL_URL, into the container.

Example 2

services:
  app:
    image: app
    models:
      my_model:
        endpoint_var: MODEL_URL

models:
  my_model:
    model: ai/model
    context_size: 1024
    runtime_flags: 
      - "--a-flag"
      - "--another-flag=42"

In this advanced setup:

  • The service app references my_model using the long syntax.
  • Compose injects the model runner's URL as the environment variable MODEL_URL.

Attributes

  • model (required): The OCI artifact identifier for the model. This is what Compose pulls and runs via the model runner.
  • context_size: Defines the maximum token context size for the model.
  • runtime_flags: A list of raw command-line flags passed to the inference engine when the model is started.