5 ways to make and manage Docker Containers without using the command line

Published Oct 7, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Umair Khurshid is a technology writer and developer with a strong focus on Linux, FreeBSD, cloud infrastructure, and automation. Before focusing on writing, Umair worked as a developer and DevOps engineer building and automating cloud-native systems. Usually, when we think about Docker, the first thing that comes to mind is a terminal and that is how most people start using Docker, but it does not have to be the only way you manage it. Once you have a few containers running, or several Compose projects spread across different machines, a GUI can start making a lot of sense. You can see what is running, open logs, edit Compose files, deploy stacks, and manage containers without reaching for the terminal every time. There are plenty of tools that can do this, too. I am leaving Portainer out of this list because it is probably the first Docker management interface most people will come across. Instead, these are five other options worth looking at, each with a slightly different idea of what graphical Docker management should look like. Komodo puts your Docker hosts behind one interface It makes more sense as your homelab grows Komodo gives you a single web interface to manage servers, containers, Docker Compose projects, and deployments. You can connect multiple machines, deploy Compose stacks, manage environment variables, inspect services, and handle routine container operations without jumping between different servers. The Git integration is particularly useful if you already keep your deployment files in a repository. Instead of copying Compose files between machines or editing them directly on a server, you can keep them in Git and have Komodo use those files as part of the deployment workflow. Komodo also supports Swarm mode, which gives it a wider scope than tools that concentrate purely on standalone Docker hosts or Compose. That can be more than you need for a small server running two or three containers. If your homelab has started spreading across several machines, though, keeping everything in one place can save you from unnecessary switching between terminals and browser tabs. Side note: I really like Komodo's logo; it looks cool! Dockhand gives you max control over your Docker environment Containers, images, Compose, and logs in one place Dockhand puts the common Docker tasks into a web interface, including managing containers and Compose stacks, viewing logs, working with images, handling updates, and cleaning up unused resources. The ability to work with existing Compose deployments is useful here. If the server is already running several stacks, you don't have to throw away that setup or recreate everything just because you want a graphical interface. Dockhand can work with what is already there. This makes it a practical option for an existing Docker server. You can open the dashboard, see what is running, check a container’s logs, restart something, or deal with images without opening an SSH session for every little task. It also stays close to how Docker already works. Your containers remain containers, your Compose files remain Compose files, and Dockhand gives you a browser-based way to work with them. If you want a Docker dashboard without turning the whole setup into a larger infrastructure project, that can be a pretty good fit. Arcane keeps Docker management simple A straightforward interface for everyday Docker work Sometimes you just want to open a browser, see your containers, work with your Compose projects, and get on with the rest of your work. Arcane is built around that kind of workflow. Its project system works with Compose applications as directories containing the Compose configuration and related files, including environment files. You can create, edit, and deploy those projects from the browser, while existing Compose projects can be discovered from the configured projects' directory. That means the files remain part of the setup rather than being hidden behind a collection of dashboard settings. You can still open a Compose file directly, make changes, and move the project to another machine when needed. Arcane is a good fit if you want a graphical way to handle the routine parts of Docker without turning container management into a much larger platform. It gives you a browser-based interface for your projects and containers while keeping the underlying Docker setup familiar. Dockge is for people who live in Docker Compose It gives Compose a friendly control panel If almost everything on your server is deployed through Compose, you probably do not need a huge management platform. You mostly need somewhere to see your stacks, edit the files, start and stop them, and check what the containers are doing. That is basically Dockge’s territory. It is a web interface built around Docker Compose, with the Compose file remaining at the center of the workflow. You can create and edit Compose files, start and stop stacks, restart services, update images, and inspect the containers created by those stacks. The editor keeps the actual YAML visible, so you can continue working with services, networks, volumes, environment variables, and dependencies directly. That is a big part of why Dockge feels familiar if you already use Compose. You don't need to translate a Compose project into a collection of forms or learn a completely different way to describe your applications. The configuration is still right there, and for a simple home server running Jellyfin, Immich, and a few other services through Compose, that can be all the management interface you need. You get a browser-based control panel without turning a relatively simple Docker server into something much more complicated. VS Code can turn container management into part of development The Docker controls live beside your code Docker looks a little different when you are using it as part of application development. Your containers are sitting next to source code, Dockerfiles, Compose files, environment variables, and the services your application depends on. In that situation, opening a separate Docker dashboard every time you need to check something can feel unnecessary. This is where VS Code’s Docker extension pack fits nicely. It brings Docker and container workflows into the same editor where you are already writing the application. The extension supports Dockerfiles and Compose files, along with tools for working with images, containers, and other Docker resources. You can build images, start and stop containers, inspect resources, and view logs without leaving VS Code. Think of a typical development project with an application, a Dockerfile, a Compose file, PostgreSQL, Redis, and a couple of supporting services. All those pieces can sit in the same project, and Container Tools gives you a graphical way to work with the Docker side. The Compose configuration also remains visible as text. You can open the YAML, change a service or environment variable, and then use the interface to start the updated stack and check its containers. That makes VS Code a particularly natural option when Docker is part of the development process. It isn't trying to replace a homelab dashboard, and that is fine. The useful part is that you can manage the containers without leaving the environment where the rest of the work is already happening. There are plenty of other ways to manage Docker These five tools are only a small part of the Docker GUI ecosystem, but there are plenty of other options depending on what you are trying to do. Docker Desktop is the most straightforward example; you also have TUI's like Lazydocker, and the command line is still hard to beat when you know exactly what you want to do. A quick docker logs, docker exec, or docker compose up -d is often faster than opening a dashboard and clicking through it. A graphical interface starts making more sense when you want an overview of your containers, need to manage Compose projects, or have several machines that you would rather control from one place.