Error checking docker-compose status: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///var/run/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?

[paola]

Issue

I’m trying to run the Astronomer CLI locally. I have Docker installed on my machine, but get the following error on astro dev start:

Error: Error checking docker-compose status: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///var/run/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?

Note: You will also receive this error if you run docker ps.

Fix

The Astronomer CLI runs docker-compose under the hood (e.g. astro dev start is equivalent to docker-compose up). This error indicates that you have docker installed on your machine, but it’s not actually running - likely if you’re using Docker for Desktop. If you’re on a mac -

1. Navigate to and open your “Docker for Desktop” from your application menu
2. See ‘Docker Desktop is starting’
3. Once you see ‘Docker Desktop is running’, try astro dev start again