Dockge

Docker Compose management that doesn't require a PhD in Portainer. Dockge is from the creator of Uptime Kuma, and it shows — clean UI, laser focus, zero bloat. It manages Docker Compose stacks and nothing else, which is exactly what most self-hosters need.

Portainer is the comprehensive alternative — Docker, Swarm, Kubernetes, multi-user RBAC. But that breadth means complexity. Yacht and Lazy Docker are other lightweight options but less polished. Docker Desktop is fine for local dev but not for managing a homelab.

Dockge's killer feature: stacks are stored as actual docker-compose.yml files on the filesystem, not in an internal database. You can version control them, edit them outside Dockge, and they survive tool changes. Real-time log streaming and a reactive UI make it feel snappy.

The catch: Dockge only manages Compose stacks. No individual container management, no Kubernetes, no multi-node orchestration. If you need team access controls or API automation, Portainer is the better choice. And the project is young — expect occasional rough edges and missing features.