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 3 Sept 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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