How to fix the "unknown shorthand flag: 'f' in -f" error related to the Docker plugin

Problem

The unknown shorthand flag: 'f' in -f See 'docker --help' error is reported when trying to build the Docker image and/or executing the Docker Compose configuration.

Resolution

Please make sure you set up the IDE to use Docker Compose according to the version you use (V1 or V2) and that the Buildx plugin is installed for the Docker instance you use. You can check which exact Docker Compose version is used with the docker-compose version command.

In the case of Docker Compose V2, the path to the Docker Compose executable should be the same as the path to the Docker executable because Compose V2 is a plugin in Docker, whereas Compose V1 is a separate tool and therefore has its own executable.

To instruct the IDE to use Docker Compose correctly, please perform the following steps:

For older IDE versions (older than 2024.3):

• open the Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Docker | Tools window in the IDE;
• change the path to the Docker Compose executable in the corresponding field:

For newer IDE versions (2024.3 and newer):

• open the Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Docker window in the IDE;
• uncheck the Detect executable paths automatically option and select a correct path in the Docker Compose executable field.

Buildx plugin for Docker is installed automatically with Docker Desktop; also, this instruction can be used to install it manually.