Dockge: A Reactive Self-Hosted Docker Compose Stack Manager

Introduction

Dockge is an innovative self-hosted solution designed to streamline the management of your Docker compose.yaml stacks. It provides a fancy, easy-to-use, and highly reactive web interface, making container orchestration more accessible and efficient. With features like an interactive editor, real-time terminal, and support for multiple Docker hosts, Dockge aims to enhance your development and deployment workflow.

Installation

Installing Dockge is straightforward. Ensure you have Docker 20+ (or Podman with podman-docker) installed on a supported Linux distribution (armv7, arm64, amd64 architectures). The default setup uses /opt/stacks for your compose files and runs on port 5001.

# Create directories that store your stacks and stores Dockge's stack
mkdir -p /opt/stacks /opt/dockge
cd /opt/dockge

# Download the compose.yaml
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/louislam/dockge/master/compose.yaml --output compose.yaml

# Start the server
docker compose up -d

Dockge will then be accessible at http://localhost:5001. For advanced installations, including custom ports and stack directories, an interactive compose.yaml generator is available on the official website.

Examples

Dockge simplifies common Docker operations. For instance, you can easily convert existing docker run commands into compose.yaml files directly within the interface. To manage existing stacks, simply move your compose.yaml file into the designated stacks directory, typically /opt/stacks/<stackName>/compose.yaml, and then use the "Scan Stacks Folder" option in Dockge's top-right dropdown menu. This ensures your existing deployments are seamlessly integrated.

Why Use It

Dockge stands out with its highly reactive and user-friendly interface, providing real-time feedback on operations like image pulls and stack deployments. Its file-based structure ensures that your compose.yaml files remain on your drive, fully accessible via standard docker compose commands. The project was motivated by a desire for clearer error messages and more transparent progress indicators in stack management, offering a smoother experience compared to some existing tools. Its design philosophy prioritizes ease of use and responsiveness, similar to Uptime Kuma's acclaimed UI/UX.

Links

Explore Dockge further through these official resources:

• GitHub Repository
• Docker Hub
• Interactive compose.yaml Generator
• Introduction Video