Get docker-compose up to only run certain containers

docker-compose up <service_name> will start only the service you have specified and its dependencies. (those specified in the dependends_on option.)

you may also define multiple services in the docker-compose up command:

docker-compose up <service_name> <service_name>

note - what does it mean "start the service and its dependecies"?

usually your production services (containers) are attached to each other via the dependes_on chain, therefore you can start only the last containers of the chain. for example, take the following compose file:

version: '3.7'
services:
  frontend:
    image: efrat19/vuejs
    ports:
      - "80:8080"
    depends_on:
       - backend
  backend:
    image: nginx:alpine
    depends_on: 
      - fpm
  fpm:
    image: php:7.2
  testing:
    image: hze∂ƒxhbd
    depends_on:
      - frontend

all the services are chained in the depends_on option, while the testing container is down bellow the frontend. so when you hit docker-compose up frontend docker will run the fpm first, then the backend, then the frontend, and it will ignore the testing container, which is not required for running the frontend.