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Version: Next

Overview

Why Dockman​

I built Dockman to scratch an itch in my homelab. The existing Docker tools never really matched the way I like to work.

Before Dockman, I had a folder full of Compose files that I’d scp around to different servers, plus a pile of scripts for things like cleaning up old images and updating stacks. It worked, but it always felt clunky. Every change meant bouncing between terminals, servers, and scripts. Nothing was terrible on its own, but together it added up to a lot of friction.

I tried other Docker management tools, but they never really clicked for me. Most leaned on heavy GUIs, lots of buttons and menus, and too much “magic” happening behind the scenes. I missed the simplicity of just editing a config file and deploying.

Dockman keeps the parts I liked, editing configs in my own editor, while taking away the annoyance of deployment.

It’s not meant to be for everyone. I’m a developer at heart, so I lean on my editor and my shortcuts. Dockman is my attempt to bring that kind of workflow into Docker, something that feels a little like having IntelliJ or VS Code, but tailored for Docker.

Dockman is for people who:

  • Prefer editing configuration files directly instead of clicking through GUIs
  • Care more about simplicity than having every feature under the sun
  • Enjoy working fast with keyboard shortcuts

If that sounds like you, give it a star. If not, I’d still love to hear what you think is missing.

Roadmap​

✅ Completed​

  • Version Control - Built-in Git support that automatically tracks changes to your compose files and lets you easily roll back when things go wrong

  • Multi-Host Support - Deploy containers across multiple hosts while keeping everything managed from one place, with isolated configs per host

📋 Planned​

  • Editor LSP - Smart autocompletion, syntax checking, formatter and custom Docker Compose helpers like port conflict detection and auto network setup

  • Smart Updater - Built-in container update management that replaces watchtower and diun. Choose between auto-updates or just get notified when updates are available

  • Backup & Restore - Complete backup and restore for your entire Docker setup, so you never lose your configs

Have ideas for new features? open an issue to share your suggestions!

Getting Help​

Need assistance? Open a discussion on GitHub.