Getting started with container orchestration and scheduling systems, like Kubernetes, is relatively simple, but as your deployment grows it gets complicated fast. There are ways to reduce that complexity, and even eliminate cluster management. We will share a simpler approach that leverages Docker Compose (in ways you may not know are possible) and the Autopilot Pattern for application micro-orchestration. The Autopilot Pattern works with any container scheduler, but for many applications and use cases we’ve found that this design pattern, combined with smart use of Docker Compose, provides the most elegant and scalable solution.