Dockge

beginner

Self-hosted Docker compose.yaml stack manager.

Overview

Dockge is a self-hosted Docker Compose stack manager developed by Louis Lam, the creator of Uptime Kuma. It provides a beautiful web interface for managing Docker Compose stacks without abstracting away the underlying YAML files. Unlike database-driven container management tools, Dockge works directly with real compose.yaml files stored on your filesystem, making it transparent and allowing direct file editing when needed. This approach ensures you're never locked into a proprietary format and can always fall back to standard Docker Compose commands. The application focuses on simplicity and visual appeal, offering an intuitive way to deploy, monitor, and manage multi-container applications through a clean web interface. Dockge is particularly valuable for homelab enthusiasts, system administrators, and developers who want the convenience of a GUI without sacrificing the flexibility and portability of standard Docker Compose files. The tool bridges the gap between command-line Docker Compose management and heavy-weight orchestration platforms, providing just enough abstraction to improve usability while maintaining full compatibility with the Docker Compose ecosystem.

Key Features

Visual Docker Compose stack management with real-time container status monitoring
Direct file-based storage in /opt/stacks directory with no database dependencies
Beautiful web interface inherited from Uptime Kuma's design philosophy
In-browser YAML editor with syntax highlighting for compose files
One-click stack deployment, updates, and teardown operations
Real-time log viewing for individual containers within stacks
Stack templates and import functionality for rapid deployment
Mobile-responsive interface for managing stacks from any device

Common Use Cases

1Homelab managers organizing multiple self-hosted services into logical stacks
2Development teams needing visual oversight of local Docker Compose environments
3System administrators managing Docker applications across multiple servers
4DevOps engineers providing non-technical team members access to deployment controls
5Students learning Docker Compose with immediate visual feedback
6Small businesses running containerized applications without Kubernetes complexity
7Content creators and streamers managing media server stacks with quick controls

Prerequisites

Docker Engine installed and running on the host system
Docker Compose plugin or standalone Docker Compose installation
At least 512MB available RAM for the Dockge container
Port 5001 available and accessible for the web interface
Write permissions to /opt/stacks directory for stack file management
Basic understanding of Docker Compose YAML syntax and container concepts

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  dockge: 
3    image: louislam/dockge:latest
4    container_name: dockge
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    volumes: 
7      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
8      - dockge_data:/app/data
9      - /opt/stacks:/opt/stacks
10    ports: 
11      - "5001:5001"
12
13volumes: 
14  dockge_data:

.env Template

.env

1# Stacks stored in /opt/stacks

Usage Notes

1Docs: https://github.com/louislam/dockge
2Access at http://localhost:5001
3Edit compose.yaml files directly in beautiful UI
4Stacks stored in /opt/stacks - real files, not database
5By Uptime Kuma creator - similar beautiful UI
6Perfect for managing homelab compose stacks visually

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  dockge:
5    image: louislam/dockge:latest
6    container_name: dockge
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    volumes:
9      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
10      - dockge_data:/app/data
11      - /opt/stacks:/opt/stacks
12    ports:
13      - "5001:5001"
14
15volumes:
16  dockge_data:
17EOF
18
19# 2. Create the .env file
20cat > .env << 'EOF'
21# Stacks stored in /opt/stacks
22EOF
23
24# 3. Start the services
25docker compose up -d
26
27# 4. View logs
28docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/dockge/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Permission denied accessing /var/run/docker.sock: Add user to docker group or run container with appropriate permissions
Cannot create files in /opt/stacks: Ensure the directory exists and has proper write permissions for the container user
Stacks fail to deploy with 'network not found' errors: Check that referenced networks exist or are defined in the compose file
Interface shows 'connection refused' for containers: Verify container ports are properly exposed and not conflicting with host services
Stack updates don't reflect changes: Clear browser cache and ensure file timestamps are newer than cached versions
Memory errors during stack deployment: Increase Docker daemon memory limits or reduce concurrent stack operations

Community Notes

Loading notes...

Download Recipe Kit

Get all files in a ready-to-deploy package

Includes docker-compose.yml, .env template, README, and license

Components

dockge

Related Recipes

Ad Space

Shortcuts: C CopyF FavoriteD Download