containers / containers/podman-compose

command overrides do not work when using the include directive

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bug
Dominant language
Python
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Forks
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Description

**Describe the bug**

When using the `include` directive in a compose YAML file the `command` block for a service is never overriden rather it remains the same as that of the original file.

**To Reproduce**

Here is a [Public Gist](https://gist.github.com/shantanoo-desai/89243ac937b0dbe475319c229dadc514) of a minimal reproducible example which captures and compares the bug and expected behavior of Docker Compose / Podman Compose

Here is the summarized code for re-production:

```yaml
# compose.service.yml
services:
test-svc:
image: docker.io/library/alpine:latest
command:
# trivial command (will never be executed)
- run
- test
```

```yaml
# compose.include.yml
include:
- compose.service.yml
```

```yaml
# compose.override.yml
services:
test-svc:
command:
# trivial command (will never be executed)
# override: run test -> run ALL test
- run
- ALL
- test
```

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

based on the Gist:

```bash
make -f Makefile.podman with-include
```
OR directly:

```bash
podman-compose -f compose.include.yml -f compose.override.yml config
```

**Expected behavior**
A clear and concise description of what you expected to happen.

The `podman-compose -f compose.include.yml -f compose.override.yml config` should override the commands based on the `compose.override.yml` file:

```bash
services:
test-svc:
command:
# trivial command (will never be executed)
# override: run test -> run ALL test
- run
- ALL
- test
```

**Actual behavior**
What is the behavior you actually got and that should not happen.

current output:

```bash
podman-compose -f compose.include.yml -f compose.override.yml config
services:
test-svc:
command:
- run
- test
image: docker.io/library/alpine:latest
```

**Environment:**

OS: Linux

Podman Version
```bash
$ podman version
Client: Podman Engine
Version: 5.6.0
API Version: 5.6.0
Go Version: go1.25.3 (Red Hat 1.25.3-1.el10_1)
Git Commit: b194cd996eb74ecf0ff67d710d4b2aaa90e1c27e
Built: Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 2026
Build Origin: Rocky Linux Build System
OS/Arch: linux/amd64
```

Podman Compose Version

```bash
$ podman-compose version
podman-compose version 1.5.0
podman version 5.6.0
```

**Additional context**

None

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start with Makefile.podman and the compose.include.yml/compose.override.yml reproduction, then trace how include processing and subsequent file overrides are merged. Confirm the current config output and add coverage for the command override; done means config reports run, ALL, test while retaining the included service.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
cli, devops
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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