docker-dash

A keyboard-first Docker dashboard for the terminal.

Manage containers, images, volumes, networks, and compose projects without leaving your shell.

Why docker-dash?

Switching between Docker commands and a GUI breaks focus. docker-dash keeps the feedback loop tight with a fast terminal interface for inspecting, filtering, and managing your Docker environment.

• Stay in the terminal instead of bouncing between tools
• Troubleshoot faster with logs, details, and exec access close at hand
• Work with local or remote Docker hosts, including SSH-based setups
• Manage compose projects alongside containers, images, volumes, and networks
• Develop without a Docker daemon thanks to the built-in mock client fallback

What you can do

• Browse and manage containers, images, volumes, networks, and compose projects
• Inspect container logs, stats, details, and files interactively
• Start, stop, restart, and remove containers and compose projects
• Exec into running containers without leaving the TUI
• Filter resources quickly and inspect image layers
• Clean up unused resources with prune actions
• Check for image updates from the registry on a configurable interval and pull updates in one keystroke

Quick start

Install

Homebrew:

brew tap GustavoCaso/tap
brew install docker-dash

Go:

go install github.com/GustavoCaso/docker-dash/cmd/docker-dash@latest

Build from source:

make build

Run

docker-dash

A few things to try

1. Move between sections with ← / →
2. Filter the current list with /
3. Refresh with r and open help with ?
4. Manage resources with contextual actions such as s, D, P, +, and c

Great fit for

• Developers who live in the terminal
• Docker users who want a faster feedback loop than memorizing many commands
• Remote and homelab workflows where SSH Docker hosts are common
• Anyone who wants quick visibility into running services, logs, and container state

Common workflows

Troubleshoot a container

Use the containers view to inspect logs and details, restart with ctrl+R, or start and stop with s.

Clean up Docker resources

Prune unused containers, images, networks, and volumes directly from the relevant section with P.

Connect to a remote Docker host

Pass a Docker host on the command line:

docker-dash --docker.host ssh://user@example-host

Or set it in your config file for everyday use.

Configuration

By default, docker-dash looks for a config file at ~/.config/docker-dash/config.toml.

[docker]
# Docker daemon URL. Accepts tcp, unix, and ssh schemes.
# Defaults to the DOCKER_HOST environment variable.
host = "ssh://pi5@pi5"

[refresh]
# Auto-refresh interval
# Examples: "500ms", "5s", "1m", "2m30s"
interval = "10s"

[debug]
enabled = false

[update_check]
# Check the remote registry for newer image versions on a configurable interval.
# When an update is available, a ⬆ icon appears next to the image in the list.
# Press "u" in the Images section to pull the update directly.
enabled = false
# Polling interval. Examples: "30m", "1h", "6h"
interval = "1h"

CLI flags

Flag	Description
--config	Path to config file (default: ~/.config/docker-dash/config.toml)
--docker.host	Docker daemon URL (overrides config file)
--refresh.interval	Auto-refresh interval (overrides config file)
--debug	Enable debug logging (overrides config file)

CLI flags take precedence over config values.

Debug mode

When debug mode is enabled, docker-dash writes a debug log file to the system temporary directory.

Keybindings

Press ? in the app to see the full keymap. The most commonly used bindings are:

Key	Action
← / →	Switch section
↑ / ↓	Move selection
shift+← / shift+→	Switch panels
j / k	Scroll down/up
/	Filter
r / ctrl+r	Refresh current view / refresh all
?	Toggle help
q	Quit

Contextual actions depend on the active section. For example:

• s starts or stops containers and compose projects
• D deletes containers and networks, or brings compose projects down
• P prunes unused resources
• + pulls an image
• c creates and runs a container from an image
• u pulls an image update (Images section) or brings a compose project up (Compose section)

Full keybindings by section

Images

Key	Action
d	Delete image
P	Prune all unused images
c	Create and run container
+	Pull image
u	Pull image update (requires update_check.enabled = true; ⬆ icon indicates update available)

Containers

Key	Action
D	Delete container
P	Prune unused container
p	pause/unpause container
s	Start/stop
ctrl+R	Restart

Volumes

Key	Action
d	Delete volume
P	Prune all unused volumes

Networks

Key	Action
P	Prune unused networks
D	Delete network

Compose

Key	Action
u	Compose up
D	Compose down
s	Start/stop project
ctrl+R	Restart project

Global

Key	Action
r	Refresh
ctrl+r	Refresh all

Development

make test       # Run tests
make lint       # Run linter
make build      # Build binary

Tests use a mock Docker client, so no Docker daemon is required.

Requirements

• Go 1.26+
• Docker (optional — falls back to mock data without it)