DockSTARTer logo

DockSTARTer

Website

Interactive CLI to install and manage Docker and Compose apps

2.6k stars 291 forks last commit first released MIT

Actively maintained

Last commit 25 Aug 2026.

DockSTARTer screenshot

DockSTARTer is a shell-based, menu-driven tool that helps you quickly set up Docker and deploy a curated set of self-hosted applications using Docker Compose. It targets common homelab scenarios and provides an interactive workflow for configuration and day-to-day management.

Key Features

  • Installs and configures Docker on supported platforms
  • Interactive terminal menus for selecting apps and setting configuration variables
  • Generates and manages Docker Compose configuration for selected services
  • CLI command for running common management actions and updates
  • Supports multiple Linux distributions and macOS (via Homebrew)

Use Cases

  • Quickly bootstrap a homelab server with Docker and a set of common self-hosted apps
  • Standardize Docker Compose app deployment across multiple machines
  • Learn Docker Compose setups by starting from a guided, curated baseline

Limitations and Considerations

  • Focused on Docker Compose workflows and the projects included in its curated app selection
  • Installation via remote bootstrap script may be undesirable for strict security policies (an alternate git-based install is provided)

DockSTARTer is a practical starting point for deploying and maintaining a Docker-based self-hosted stack. It works well both as a long-term helper tool and as a stepping stone toward more advanced custom Docker configurations.

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