Dockge web tool simplifies Docker Compose management

Dockge offers a web-based alternative to the command line

Docker’s command-line interface can be cumbersome for managing complex container deployments. The docker run command is simple but becomes unwieldy, and while docker-compose is more powerful, it still requires terminal use.

A new web-based tool called Dockge aims to simplify this process. It is a self-hosted, reactive manager specifically for Docker Compose files, allowing users to build and manage stacks through a graphical interface instead of the CLI.

What you need to get started

To use Dockge, you need a machine running an operating system that supports Docker. The demonstration uses Ubuntu Server 24.04.

You also need a user with sudo or admin privileges. If Docker is already installed, you can skip to the deployment section.

Installing Docker and Docker Compose

The installation process involves adding Docker’s official repository and installing the necessary packages. The steps are specific to Ubuntu but can be adapted for other distributions.

First, update your system and install prerequisite packages. Then, add Docker’s official GPG key and repository to your system’s sources.

• Update apt: sudo apt-get update
• Install prerequisites: sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl
• Add Docker’s GPG key and repository.
• Install Docker: sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin git -y

Finally, add your user to the docker group to avoid running commands as root. Use the command sudo usermod -aG docker $USER and then log out and back in for the change to take effect.

Deploying the Dockge container

Dockge itself is deployed as a container using a Docker Compose file. This avoids the long docker run command the article initially criticizes.

First, create directories to store Dockge’s files and your future stacks. The commands are:

mkdir -p /opt/stacks /opt/dockge
cd /opt/dockge

Next, download the pre-configured compose.yaml file from Dockge’s GitHub repository. You can edit this file to change settings like the default port before launching.

Launch Dockge with the command docker compose up -d. If you’re using an older version of Docker Compose, use docker-compose up -d instead.

Accessing and using the web interface

Once running, access Dockge by navigating to http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:5001 in a web browser. The default port is 5001, unless you changed it in the compose file.

The first screen is an account setup page. The developer notes this information is saved locally and no telemetry is collected. After creating an account, you land on the main dashboard.

The interface lists your Docker Compose stacks. Stacks not created within Dockge will be visible but marked as unmanaged. To create a new stack, click the “Compose” button.

The compose editor provides fields to define services, networks, and environment variables. The option to define volumes is available but initially hidden; you must click an “Edit” button to reveal it.

After filling out the form, you can view the generated YAML code. The stack can then be started, edited, or updated directly from the web interface with a single click.