Error if the required variable is not specified

[Wintreist]

compose.yaml

  postgres:
    image: postgres:17-alpine
    restart: always
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:?error}
      - POSTGRES_USER=${POSTGRES_USER}
      - POSTGRES_INITDB_WALDIR=${POSTGRES_INITDB_WALDIR}
    ports:
      - ${POSTGRES_PORT}:${POSTGRES_PORT}

All variables are specified in the .env file, except for POSTGRES_PASSWORD.
the .env file is located in the same directory as compose.yaml.
If, with the Docker extension installed, click on compose.bml right-click and select "Select services", then:
2024-10-21 20:40:15.591 [info] Error: Process exited with code 15
Maybe you could add in future updates the ability to set the value of variables when launching the service through the Vs code dialog box, and then suggest the past value of the variable at startup?

[bwateratmsft]

This might be possible with Input Variables in VSCode's debugging and tasks framework, coupled with setting it to the environment. I'm not sure without investigating if the second part is possible but you might be able to find a way with input variables.