dockge
Dockge is a self-hosted Docker Compose UI that provides a modern web interface for managing multi-container applications defined in compose.yaml files. It allows users to create, edit, deploy, monitor, and manage Docker stacks without modifying the underlying compose files, storing them locally on disk for standard Docker CLI compatibility.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | louislam/dockge |
| Owner | louislam |
| Primary language | TypeScript |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 23.7k |
| Forks | 771 |
| Open issues | 154 |
| Latest release | 1.5.0 (2025-03-30) |
| Last updated | 2026-04-25 |
| Source | https://github.com/louislam/dockge |
What dockge is
Built with TypeScript/Node.js backend and reactive frontend architecture using WebSockets for real-time updates, Dockge wraps Docker Compose V2 operations with a responsive single-page application. It supports multiple Docker hosts via agents (v1.4.0+), includes an interactive terminal, compose file editor, docker-run-to-compose converter, and image update capabilities.
Get the dockge source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/louislam/dockge.gitcd dockge# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Mount /var/run/docker.sock and compose stacks directory (/opt/stacks by default) with careful path matching between host and container to prevent data in wrong locations.
- Configure PUID/PGID environment variables to set proper file ownership; default is root, which may create permission issues on shared systems.
- Requires Docker/Podman 20+; Debian/Raspbian Buster or older is unsupported; verify OS compatibility before deployment.
- Port 5001 (default) must be accessible and not in conflict; production deployments should consider reverse proxy and network isolation.
- For private Docker registries, share /root/.docker credentials volume as documented; ensure credential management aligns with security policy.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Kubernetes-based Infrastructure — Dockge is Docker Compose–only; it does not support Kubernetes orchestration, helm charts, or cloud-native deployments beyond basic container hosting.
- Windows Deployment Required — The README explicitly states Windows is not yet supported; deployment is limited to major Linux distros with Docker/Podman 20+.
- Single-Container or Advanced Docker Networking — Dockge focuses narrowly on compose.yaml stacks; it does not manage individual containers, custom Docker networks, volumes independently, or other Portainer-level features.
- High-Volume Enterprise with Strict Audit/Compliance — No publicly documented security audit, compliance certifications (SOC2, HIPAA, etc.), or built-in RBAC/multi-tenancy; suitability for regulated environments requires review.
License & commercial use
Licensed under MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology License), a permissive OSI-approved license permitting free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.
MIT license permits commercial use, modification, and distribution without royalty or permission requirement. However, no warranty is provided; users assume all liability. Requires review of internal policies if commercial support, SLAs, or indemnification are required.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Dockge runs with Docker socket access (docker.sock mount), providing root-equivalent privileges to the host; this is inherent to Docker management and not Dockge-specific. No public security audit or penetration test data available. WebSocket-based API is not documented as authenticating or rate-limiting; access should be restricted by network policy. Users must manage their own credentials and secrets; Dockge does not encrypt or isolate credentials in transit or at rest beyond what Docker provides.
Alternatives to consider
Portainer
Full-featured Docker/Kubernetes management with RBAC, multi-tenancy, and extensive UI; heavier and more complex; commercial support available.
Lazydocker
Terminal-based Docker CLI wrapper; lightweight and scriptable; lacks web UI and multi-host agent support.
Docker CLI + docker-compose
Native, no additional tool; steeper learning curve for less technical users; no reactive UI or real-time progress visualization.
Build on dockge with DEV.co software developers
Dockge offers a lightweight, reactive web interface for compose-based deployments. Start with Docker Compose V2 and take control of your stacks today.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
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dockge FAQ
Can Dockge manage existing Docker Compose stacks?
Does Dockge replace Portainer?
Can I run both Dockge and Portainer?
What are the system requirements?
Software developers & web developers for hire
Adopting dockge is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source devops software in production.
Ready to streamline Docker Compose management?
Dockge offers a lightweight, reactive web interface for compose-based deployments. Start with Docker Compose V2 and take control of your stacks today.