Dockge

TAS Score: S3/3 — D5/5 — A3 / T2

Brief Description

Simple, reactive Docker Compose manager with a web UI. Create, edit, start, stop, and monitor docker-compose stacks from your browser. Built by the creator of Uptime Kuma. Unlike Portainer, Dockge works directly with your docker-compose.yml files — no abstraction layer, no lock-in.

Architectural Role

Compute/management layer: web UI for managing Docker Compose stacks. Does not replace Docker — sits on top of it. Your compose files remain standard YAML on disk, editable by hand or by Dockge interchangeably.

Technical Autonomy

✅ Works without internet
✅ Stores data locally (compose files on disk)
✅ Does not require external accounts
✅ No lock-in — compose files are standard YAML, usable without Dockge
✅ Remove Dockge, stacks continue running

Philosophical Assessment (whose.world criteria)

Criterion	Status	Comments
Pause	✅	Stop Dockge, all managed stacks keep running.
Exit	✅	Zero lock-in. Compose files are plain YAML on disk. Remove Dockge, nothing changes.
Recoverability	✅	Compose files are the source of truth. Dockge is stateless UI.
Visibility	✅	MIT license. Simple codebase.
External Dependencies	✅	Fully self-contained.

Configuration (Minimal)

services:
  dockge:
    image: louislam/dockge:1
    container_name: dockge
    ports:
      - "5001:5001"
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - ./data/dockge:/app/data
      - /opt/stacks:/opt/stacks
    environment:
      - DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR=/opt/stacks
    restart: unless-stopped

Minimal Autonomous Server — manage your stack with a UI

Alternatives

Alternative	Autonomy	Notes
Portainer	A3 / T2	More features, more complex. Has its own abstraction layer.
Yacht	A3 / T2	Lightweight container management. Less maintained.
Lazy Docker	A3 / T2	Terminal UI, not web. For CLI users.
docker compose CLI	—	Direct command line. Full control, no UI.

Trajectory

Direction: opening.

Created by Louis Lam (same developer as Uptime Kuma). MIT licensed, rapidly growing, simple by design. Philosophy: no vendor lock-in, compose files are the source of truth.

Signal assessment:

Signal	Status	Evidence
License	✅	MIT, maximally permissive.
Feature gating	✅	No paid tier.
Self-hosting	✅	Docker-first, single container, minimal setup.
Governance	⚠️	Single developer (louislam). Bus factor = 1. But same developer maintains Uptime Kuma successfully.

Signal key: ✅ opening · ➖ neutral · ⚠️ closing

Sources

Website: dockge.kuma.pet
Repository: github.com/louislam/dockge
Docker image: louislam/dockge