louislam/dockge - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/louislam/dockge
Stars: 19225

2. Project Description#

Dockge is an elegant, reactive web interface designed to simplify the management of Docker Compose stacks. Unlike traditional CLI-based approaches, Dockge offers a visually intuitive environment where users can edit, deploy, and monitor their docker-compose.yaml files with real-time updates. Built with a modern tech stack including Express.js and React, it emphasizes ease of use, making Docker stack management accessible even to those less comfortable with command-line operations.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

Dockge serves as a compelling alternative to several existing tools in the Docker ecosystem:

Portainer: While Portainer offers broader container management, Dockge focuses specifically on Compose stacks with a more streamlined, reactive UI.
Docker Compose CLI: Replaces manual editing and command execution with a web-based, interactive approach.
Yacht and CasaOS: For users seeking a lightweight, stack-oriented management tool without the overhead of full-blown container platforms.

4. Core Functionality#

Key features of Dockge include:

Reactive Web UI: Real-time updates and a modern, responsive interface.
Compose File Management: Edit, validate, and deploy docker-compose.yaml files directly through the browser.
Stack Deployment: One-click deployment and management of Docker stacks.
Log Viewing: Integrated log viewer for monitoring container outputs.
Environment Variables: Easy management of environment variables within the UI.
Backup and Restore: Export and import stack configurations for backup or migration.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros:

User-friendly interface lowers the barrier to Docker Compose management.
Real-time reactivity enhances the user experience.
Lightweight and focused solely on Compose stacks, avoiding feature bloat.
Active development and strong community support with over 19K stars.

Cons:

Lacks broader container management features found in tools like Portainer.
Currently in active development, so occasional bugs may occur.
Requires Docker and Docker Compose pre-installed, which might be a hurdle for absolute beginners.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host)#

Follow these steps to deploy Dockge on an Ubuntu server (other Linux distributions are similar).

Prerequisites:#

A server running Ubuntu 20.04 or later.
Docker and Docker Compose installed. If not already installed, run:
Terminal window
```
1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
```
Ensure the Docker service is running: sudo systemctl start docker && sudo systemctl enable docker.

Installation Steps:#

Create a directory for Dockge:
Terminal window
```
1
mkdir -p /opt/dockge
2
cd /opt/dockge
```

Create a docker-compose.yaml file:

1
nano docker-compose.yaml

Paste the following configuration:

1
version: "3.8"
2
services:
3
  dockge:
4
    image: louislam/dockge:latest
5
    restart: unless-stopped
6
    ports:
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      - 5001:5001
8
    volumes:
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      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
10
      - ./data:/app/data
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      - /opt/dockge/stacks:/opt/stacks
12
    environment:
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      - DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR=/opt/stacks

Deploy the Stack:
Terminal window
```
1
docker-compose up -d
```
Access Dockge: Open your browser and navigate to http://your-server-ip:5001. You should see the Dockge interface ready to manage your Docker Compose stacks.

Additional Notes:#

To manage existing stacks, ensure they are located in the directory specified in DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR (here, /opt/dockge/stacks).
For security, consider setting up a reverse proxy (e.g., Nginx) with SSL termination.

Enjoy streamlined Docker Compose management with Dockge!