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Guide · Open source

How to use Dockge: install and manage Docker Compose stacks

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Dockge is a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted web app for creating, editing, starting, stopping and updating Docker Compose stacks from a browser. This guide shows you how to install it with Docker, find its default port and stacks folder, configure stack ownership, and update it. It is written for people running Compose stacks on a home server or small Linux machine.

Dockgelouislam/dockge · ★ 24.7k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Create directories. Run mkdir -p /opt/stacks /opt/dockge to make a folder for your stacks and one for Dockge.
  2. 2Download compose.yaml. Change into /opt/dockge and download compose.yaml from the Dockge repository with curl.
  3. 3Start the server. Run docker compose up -d to start Dockge in the background.
  4. 4Open Dockge. Visit http://localhost:5001 in your browser.
  5. 5Add your stacks. Create or move compose files into the stacks directory, then manage them from the browser.

What Dockge does and who it is for

Dockge focuses on Docker Compose stacks. Your compose.yaml files are stored on your drive as normal files, so you can still run regular docker compose commands alongside it. It shows progress (pull, up, down) and terminal output in real time.

It is aimed at people who run Compose stacks on a home server or small Linux machine, and at people who want a browser interface instead of only the command line. It is not meant for managing single containers or networks; the project suggests Portainer or the Docker CLI for that.

  • Create, edit, start, stop, restart and delete compose stacks
  • Update Docker images for a stack
  • Interactive editor for compose.yaml and an interactive web terminal
  • Convert docker run commands into compose.yaml
  • Manage stacks from multiple Docker hosts in one interface (multiple agents support, added in 1.4.0)

Check the requirements before installing

You need Docker 20 or newer, or Podman. Podman users also need podman-docker; on Debian it is installed with apt install podman-docker. Dockge runs on major Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian (Bullseye or newer), Raspbian (Bullseye or newer), CentOS, Fedora and ArchLinux.

Debian and Raspbian Buster or older are not supported, and Windows support is listed as coming later. Supported architectures are armv7, arm64 and amd64 (x86_64).

  • Docker 20+ or Podman
  • Linux distribution such as Ubuntu, Debian Bullseye or newer, Fedora or Arch
  • Not supported: Debian/Raspbian Buster or lower, Windows (for now)

Install Dockge with Docker Compose

Create a directory for your stacks and one for Dockge's own data, move into the Dockge directory, download the compose.yaml file and start the server. The default stacks directory is /opt/stacks and the default port is 5001.

When the server is up, open http://localhost:5001 in your browser. If you use docker-compose V1 or Podman, the README gives docker-compose up -d as the start command instead.

  • Default stacks directory: /opt/stacks
  • Default port: 5001
mkdir -p /opt/stacks /opt/dockge cd /opt/dockge curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/louislam/dockge/master/compose.yaml --output compose.yaml docker compose up -d # If you are using docker-compose V1 or Podman # docker-compose up -d

Use a custom stacks directory and set file ownership

To store stacks somewhere other than /opt/stacks, you can generate a compose.yaml with custom query strings using the port and stacksPath parameters, or change the DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR environment variable and volumes in the compose file. An interactive generator is available at https://dockge.kuma.pet.

Stack files are owned by root unless you set PUID and PGID. Both must be set for them to have any effect. The stacks path inside the container must match the path on the host, so /opt/stacks:/opt/stacks is correct while mapping to a different path is not.

  • port=5001 and stacksPath=/opt/stacks are the default query parameters
  • PUID and PGID go in the environment section; both must be set
  • Mount the Docker socket at /var/run/docker.sock, as the sample compose file does
curl "https://dockge.kuma.pet/compose.yaml?port=5001&stacksPath=/opt/stacks" --output compose.yaml # Add to the environment: section - PUID=1000 - PGID=1000

Bring existing stacks into Dockge

You can manage existing stacks, but the compose file must be inside the stacks directory first. Stop the stack, move its compose file into the stacks folder, then scan for it from Dockge.

Dockge also supports private registries if you share your Docker auth file with the container, as shown in a commented line of the sample compose file.

  • Stop your stack
  • Move the compose file to /opt/stacks/<stackName>/compose.yaml
  • In Dockge, click " Scan Stacks Folder" in the top-right corner's dropdown menu
  • Confirm the stack appears in the list

Update Dockge

Updating Dockge means pulling the newest image and recreating the container from the directory that holds your compose.yaml.

cd /opt/dockge docker compose pull && docker compose up -d

What people use it for

  • Start, stop and restart a media server stack on a home Linux box from a browser
  • Edit a compose.yaml in the built-in editor and watch pull and up progress in real time
  • Keep compose files as plain files on disk while managing them through a web UI
  • Manage stacks on several Docker hosts from a single interface using multiple agents

Frequently asked questions

Is Dockge free to use?

Yes. Dockge is released under the MIT licence, and its source code is on GitHub. The README does not list any paid tier.

What are the requirements for Dockge?

You need Docker 20 or newer, or Podman (with podman-docker on Podman). It runs on Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian Bullseye or newer, Fedora and ArchLinux, on armv7, arm64 and amd64.

Does Dockge work on Windows?

Not yet. The README says Windows support will come later. Debian and Raspbian Buster or older are also not supported.

Is Dockge a Portainer replacement?

Only if you use Docker Compose for everything. Dockge focuses on compose stacks, while Portainer covers more Docker features. For single containers or networks, the README recommends Portainer or the Docker CLI.

Can I run Dockge and Portainer together?

Yes. The FAQ says you can install both.

Where does Dockge store my compose files?

Your compose files stay on your drive as normal files in the stacks directory, default /opt/stacks, so regular docker compose commands still work on them.

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Our verdict

Dockge suits people who run Docker Compose stacks on a home server or small Linux machine and want a clear browser interface with plain files on disk. If you mainly manage single containers, networks, or run Windows, pick Portainer, the Docker CLI, or wait for Windows support.

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