[dijksterhuis]

the docker docs are actually pretty good.

general intro https://docs.docker.com/engine/swarm/

step by step tutorial https://docs.docker.com/engine/swarm/swarm-tutorial/

^ takes you through a 3 server setup and deploying services via the CLI rather than a docker "stack" file, which is basically a compose file with the ability to set additional deployment specific properties.

just set up the one manager and skip anything about additional worker nodes or draining nodes.

for docker stack files -- see the docker compose v3 reference but take heed of any `docker stack deploy` caveats in the compose documentation. anything about docker stack deploy` is "stack file" territory.

https://docs.docker.com/compose/compose-file/compose-file-v3...

compose file v3 is being depreciated this year, with a new specification aiming to unify the two. but it gives you an idea of the historical differences between old `docker-compose up` and `docker stack deploy` (swarm).