Lazydocker - A Simplified Docker Management Tool

Lazydocker will bring your productivity to next level. Similar to

• k9s for Kubernetes
• MidnightCommander/TotalCommander File Manager
• Lazygit Git-Client

With few keyboard strokes you get in one second an overview of running containers (Logs, CPU/Memory Usage, Env, Config, Top running processes). With one click or keystroke you can view the logs in an container, open a shell or stop/start a container.

LazyDocker: A Simplified Docker Management Tool

If you’re a developer working with Docker, you know how powerful yet sometimes cumbersome it can be to manage containers, networks, and volumes from the command line. That’s where LazyDocker comes in — a simple, user-friendly terminal UI for managing Docker containers.

What is LazyDocker?

LazyDocker is an open-source tool that provides a CLI-based GUI for Docker management. It allows you to interact with your Docker environment more efficiently, offering a cleaner and faster way to view and manage containers, logs, volumes, networks, and even Docker Compose services, all within the terminal.

Key Features of LazyDocker:

• Container Management: View and manage running containers, start/stop/restart them, and monitor their stats in real-time.
• Log Monitoring: Easily tail the logs of any container with a simple command.
• Volume and Network Inspection: View all volumes and networks, helping you better understand how your Docker setup is structured.
• Docker Compose Support: Directly manage and interact with services defined in docker-compose.yml.
• Cross-Platform Support: LazyDocker works on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Why Use LazyDocker?

• Time Saver: Provides a fast and easy way to interact with Docker without needing to memorize long commands.
• No GUI Required: It’s a terminal-based UI, which means it works even on servers or headless systems where a GUI might not be available.
• User-Friendly: It is a lightweight and intuitive tool designed for Docker users who want to spend less time managing and more time developing.

LazyDocker vs Portainer

Feature	LazyDocker	Portainer
Type	CLI-based Docker Management Tool	Web-based Docker and Kubernetes Management
Interface	Terminal (TUI - Text User Interface)	Web Interface (GUI)
Ease of Use	Requires familiarity with CLI	Intuitive and beginner-friendly GUI
Installation	Lightweight, single binary	Requires web server setup and container
Resource Usage	Minimal	Moderate (due to web interface overhead)
Features	Focused on Docker container management	Broad management for Docker & Kubernetes
Real-Time Monitoring	Yes	Yes
Logs and Stats	Yes, integrated into the TUI	Yes, with rich visualization
Multi-Node Support	No	Yes
User Management	Not available	Role-based access control
Customization	Limited	High (integrates with plugins/extensions)
Use Case	Developers working in terminal	Admins managing multiple servers and users
Learning Curve	Low for CLI users	Low for GUI users
Kubernetes Support	No	Yes
Open Source	Yes	Community edition is open source
Platform	Terminal-based	Browser-based

LazyDocker: Best for developers who prefer managing Docker in a terminal environment with minimal resource usage.

Portainer: Ideal for teams or administrators managing multiple Docker/Kubernetes environments with an emphasis on user management and ease of use through a GUI.

Installing LazyDocker

Linux:

curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/jesseduffield/lazydocker/releases/latest | jq -r .assets[0].browser_download_url | xargs wget -O lazydocker.deb && sudo dpkg -i lazydocker.deb

Arch/Manjaro:

yay -S lazydocker

With Docker

docker run --rm -it -v \
/var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
-v /yourpath:/.config/jesseduffield/lazydocker \
lazyteam/lazydocker

MacOS:

brew install lazydocker

Using Lazydocker

Start Lazydocker

lazydocker

The Terminal UI looks like a Dashboard Navigate with Keybindings or with mouse. To get a list with all commands: Select an Object like a running container then press x:

To open a shell in a running container: selected the Container, press x, press E

To switch window use Tab or Shift-Tab or cursor left/right

This is much faster than

docker exec -it <container_name_or_id> /bin/bash

Image Config Image Commands Volume Commands Network Commands