How to install captain on Ubuntu?

On Ubuntu, download the Linux binary from GitHub releases using curl, move it to /usr/local/bin, and set execute permissions with chmod +x. However, there's no package manager support, so you must manually update for new versions.

Captain vs Docker Compose CLI, which is better for local development?

Captain is better for quickly managing multiple local projects with fuzzy matching and bulk operations, while Docker Compose CLI offers more control and features for individual projects. Use Captain for convenience in multi-project setups.

Can captain connect to remote Docker hosts?

No, Captain is designed for local development and scans directories on the local machine only. It does not support remote Docker daemons or hosts, limiting it to personal or team-local workflows.

How does captain handle multiple projects with similar names?

Captain uses fuzzy matching, so it may incorrectly match projects with similar names. To avoid this, use more specific partial names or adjust the CAPTAIN_DEPTH environment variable to narrow the search scope.

Is captain safe for production use?

Captain is primarily aimed at local development and is not recommended for production due to its simplicity, lack of monitoring features, and reliance on home directory scanning, which may not meet security or scalability needs.

How to customize where captain searches for projects?

Set the CAPTAIN_ROOT environment variable to your desired directory path, and use CAPTAIN_DEPTH to control search depth. For example, export CAPTAIN_ROOT=/my/projects before running commands to change the default home directory search.

Open-Awesome

captain

Go0.3.3

A CLI tool to easily start, stop, and manage Docker Compose projects with fuzzy name matching.

GitHub

245 stars10 forks0 contributors

What is captain?

Captain is a CLI tool that simplifies managing Docker Compose projects by allowing users to start, stop, and control them with simple commands. It automatically finds projects in your home directory and supports fuzzy matching on project names, making it faster to handle multiple containers without navigating directories.

Target Audience

Developers and DevOps engineers who regularly work with multiple Docker Compose projects and want a streamlined way to manage them from the command line.

Value Proposition

Captain saves time by eliminating the need to cd into project directories and type lengthy docker-compose commands, offering an intuitive interface with fuzzy matching and bulk operations for efficient container management.

Overview

⚓️ Easily start and stop docker compose projects

Use Cases

Best For

Managing multiple Docker Compose projects from a single interface
Quickly starting and stopping development environments
Automating container workflows in local development setups
Reducing command-line overhead for frequent Docker operations
Handling projects with similar or long directory names via fuzzy matching
Stopping all running containers instantly during cleanup or debugging

Not Ideal For

Environments using Kubernetes or Docker Swarm for container orchestration instead of local Docker Compose
Teams that require graphical user interfaces or integrated tooling within IDEs for container management
Projects stored outside the user's home directory without easy reconfiguration of search paths via environment variables

Pros & Cons

Pros

Fuzzy Name Matching

Allows starting and stopping projects using partial or approximate names, as shown with examples like 'captain start scrt' for 'my-secret-project', reducing typing errors and speeding up workflows.

Automatic Project Discovery

Scans directories recursively to find Docker Compose files without manual setup, making it effortless to manage multiple projects from a single interface as highlighted in the README.

Bulk Container Control

Includes the 'captain abandon' command to stop all running Docker containers at once, ideal for quick cleanup during development or debugging sessions.

Customizable Search Parameters

Supports environment variables like CAPTAIN_ROOT and CAPTAIN_DEPTH to adjust where and how deep to search for projects, offering flexibility for different directory structures.

Cons

Manual Installation Process

Requires downloading binaries manually from GitHub releases, lacking integration with package managers like apt or brew, which complicates updates and setup.

Limited Cross-Platform Support

Windows support is explicitly untested in the README, indicating poor reliability for developers on that operating system and limiting its universality.

Docker Compose Exclusive

Only works with Docker Compose projects and does not support other container orchestration tools like Kubernetes or Docker Swarm, restricting its use in diverse environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

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