DockLog icon

DockLog

DockLog is a self-hosted Docker dashboard for live container logs, host metrics, and basic container administration. It supports RBAC in auth mode and native clients for Android, Windows, and Linux.

DockLog

What DockLog is

DockLog is a self-hosted Docker dashboard for viewing container logs, checking host performance, and managing workloads from one interface. The product is designed to run on the Docker socket, so it can connect directly to the containers already running on your host.

The site presents DockLog as a lightweight alternative to full logging stacks when you need live log access, basic host metrics, and container actions without adding agents, brokers, or a search cluster. It supports both auth mode for teams and no-auth mode for quick local use, and it also offers native clients for Android, Windows, and Linux that connect back to a DockLog server you host.

Features

Real-time log streams

Tail stdout and stderr over WebSockets so logs appear in real time without a separate indexing pipeline or polling delay.

Container-level RBAC

Restrict which containers users can see with wildcard or regex rules, and control actions with server-level `ALLOW_*` gates plus per-user `can_*` permissions.

Host and container metrics

View CPU and memory stats alongside logs, with host and container metrics available in the dashboard and in the native apps.

Container management

Start, stop, restart, remove, and optionally open an in-browser shell for containers when permissions allow.

Container detail page

Inspect container metadata, ports, labels, health state, and live logs from a dedicated detail view.

Single-image deployment

Run the image as a single self-contained container, with optional SQLite persistence for auth mode and no DB required for a quick no-auth setup.

Common use cases

  • Live log inspection

    Watch stdout and stderr as containers run, with timestamps, autoscroll, and reconnect behavior for day-to-day debugging.

  • Team access control

    Give a small team shared dashboard access while limiting which containers each user can see and which actions they can perform.

  • Host monitoring

    Track CPU and memory usage next to logs so you can check host load and container behavior without switching tools.

  • Container operations

    Manage services from the same UI by starting, stopping, restarting, removing, or opening a shell when the deployment allows it.

  • Remote client access

    Use the Android, Windows, or Linux app to connect to a self-hosted server and monitor live logs and metrics away from the browser.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Runs as a single self-contained container on the Docker socket.
  • Streams logs live over WebSockets instead of polling.
  • Supports RBAC with both visibility rules and action permissions.
  • Includes host and container metrics in the same dashboard.
  • Offers native clients for Android, Windows, and Linux.

Cons

  • The pricing page currently returns a 404, so the site does not present a visible pricing structure in the provided sources.
  • Native apps are not yet available for macOS or iOS, according to the app page.
  • The product is not positioned as a replacement for a full logging stack at larger scale.

FAQ

Can DockLog be self-hosted?

Yes. The web UI and docs show a Docker-based setup that can run in either auth mode or no-auth mode. The app pages also note that native clients connect to a DockLog server you host.

How do the logs update?

DockLog exposes real-time container logs over WebSockets, so it is built for live tailing rather than delayed polling. The source also describes autoscroll, reconnect, and timestamps in the log stream.

Does DockLog support role-based access control?

In auth mode, DockLog supports per-user access controls with wildcard or regex-based container visibility rules, plus action permissions for start, stop, restart, delete, and shell access. The server also uses allow flags that gate those actions.

Which platforms are supported by the native apps?

The native app is available for Android, Windows, and Linux. The source says iOS and macOS native apps are not available yet, and Mac users should use the web UI in a browser.

How is DockLog installed?

The website documents Docker Compose and plain `docker run` setup, plus reverse-proxy guidance and password recovery. The docs also mention a deployment builder that can generate a Compose file or a `docker run` command.

Quick Facts

Category
Developer Tool
Deployment
Self-hosted Docker container
Primary use
Real-time Docker log viewing and container administration
Backend
Go 1.26
Frontend
Vue 3
Source domain
docklog.dev
DockLog - AI Tool, Features, Use Cases & Alternatives | UStack