7 Docker containers I use to boost my productivity

Xda developers ^ | 6th April 2025 | Parth Shah

[Cronos]

Lately, Docker has become a valuable tool for developers and tech enthusiasts. But beyond deployment, Docker containers can be powerful allies in streamlining workflows and boosting personal output. These isolated environments offer a fantastic way to tackle tasks and focus on what truly matters. Here are the Docker containers I use regularly to boost my efficiency and get more done.

7. Nextcloud An ideal Microsoft 365 replacement

https://nextcloud.com/

6. Vaultwarden 1Password, who?

https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden

5. Homepage Manage all your self-hosted services

https://gethomepage.dev/

4. Firefly III Keep track of finances https://www.firefly-iii.org/

3. Excalidraw Brainstorm ideas

https://excalidraw.com/

2. Code-server Level up your development workflow

https://github.com/coder/code-server

1. Docmost A robust Notion alternative

https://docmost.com/docs/

[Cronos]

Docmost, Firefly, Nextcloud and Vaultgarden are really good

[PLMerite]

So, we’re not talking shoes...?

[dayglored]

I get that the author has a lot of neat applications. Yawn, good for him/her.

What puzzles me is why would you put them all in separate Docker containers. What does that isolation buy you, over just running them on the host?

I have used Docker containers specifically to introduce isolation, to keep a trial run or potentially damaging test from corrupting the host. But if the task involves network communications, mounting network drives, etc. the isolation becomes a pain.

Nowhere in the article did I read where the author says, "...and it increases my productivity in the following specific ways..."

Did you see anything like that?

[SuperLuminal]

Are these dockers unionized?
East coast...Gulf coast...West coast...???

[Phil]

So, we’re not talking shoes...?

or Pants!!

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[BlackVeil]

I should try some of these.

[The Duke]

The author is probably realizing increased productivity because Docker makes it economical to install these apps. Personally I would have also mentioned Zabbix, Wazuh, Mantis, Wekan and Rocket Chat as strong productivity enhancers (Rocket Chat is an excellent clone of Slack, and Mantis is a decent developer's ticketing system, which can be easily generalized).

But, I think the biggest advantage is not so much productivity as it is avoiding the Linux counterpart to "DLL Hell".

I also use Docker containers to run some legacy stuff like LaTeX, that often are not always up with the times. Many of the needs the author mentions I meet with good ol' Vim editor (many are not aware that it has decent built-in encryption features).

[dayglored]

> I think the biggest advantage is not so much productivity as it is avoiding the Linux counterpart to "DLL Hell".

That very satisfactorily answers my question, thanks. Been there, done that.

[Pollard]

I set up a mini PC with FreedomBox so it's now a server that runs NextCloud, WordPress and Calibre e-book library and e-reader. Desktop version is also an e-book editor.

Other apps are available for file sharing, wikis, RSS feed reader, bookmarks, email server, wen based email client, calendar, chat server, note taking.

I use a desktop note taking program, QOwnNotes, that will sync with and can be viewed and edited within Nextcloud.

FreedomBox has a website based interface or I can ssh into it. On top of the standard commands, there are a couple of programs I can monitor the server with and technically can run any terminal based Linux program or commands. FreedomBox runs on Debian and I do have a monitor, mouse and keyboard but rarely use them.

Network traffic via iftop (tv-MINI-S.home is my HTPC, a mini PC that runs Kubuntu with PlexTV server and is connected to our TV via hdmi)

Server load and info via bpytop

There is a way to expose PlexTV Server to the web but I haven't bothered yet and probably won't. The HTPC has all the free streaming sites like Pluto TV etc done as SSB, Single-Site Browser which removes the browser's menu, bookmarks, address bar etc and makes it look like an app and reduces resources used. Then of course I have VLC player. I have Spotify on it too but have found youtube/rumble channels for anything I might watch on Spotify and just wait a day or two for a new episode to show up. Can't jump over ads on spotify but I can on youtube/rumble.

PlutoTV on a Single-Site Browser aka SSB

PlexTV Server is on the Mini PC and I have PlexTV client on this laptop so I can watch whatever local files are on the HTPC in the library and my son could watch something different but we generally just watch TV together. Aside from local media library, PlexTV has free streaming as well, similar to Pluto/Tubi etc.

If I exposed it to the web aka Remote Access, I'd be able to watch stuff in my library from anywhere.

My son and I are both running nearly 10 year old Thinkpad laptops but I'm kind of liking these Mini PCs. The server isn't exactly mini but a small form factor, 9"x9"x1-1/2" thick and is an industrial PC. The Mini PC/HTPC is a Beelink, a NUC knockoff. I'm thinking I'll get a couple of Intel NUC mini PCs for me and the boy so we can have nice monitors instead of these laptop screens and have normal keyboards.

So yeah, with the FreedomBox and if I exposed PlexTV to the web, I'd have remote access to most everything here. I don't have all of my files synced to Nextcloud, just a special folder and my notekeeping app synced as well. Calibre has no sync function but if I get a new ebook, I can just manually upload it. As the article author mentioned, Nextcloud is a decent replacement for MS/Office 365 and you don't have to fight over where the files get saved, desktop or cloud. The interface and features also don't change without notice every week.

I'm blue collar but been an avid computer user since the 90s but when I saw Win 8, I swapped to Linux. I run dual boot so I still have Windows, 7 Pro but never use it. Last year, I worked in an office for 9 months and Office desktop vs 365 was the most aggravating shiot I've ever dealt with. Not all Office apps available in 365 and with the ones that are, constant battling over where the files get saved, PC or cloud, and whether or not things are truly synced and where on the PC they get synced to. Wants to dump everything in one place but I like multiple organized folders. Internet down? Good luck using Office. Half your files are on the cloud only, even though you specified a PC folder to save to, multiple times. Guy I shared an office with was a programmer and had to deal with the windows server and apps. Every day I'd hear "dammit microsoft you $#!@(*&@ing piece of #&^(*^t"

I don't do SAAS unless it's my own. I haven't spent a penny on software in 30 years and now I no longer pay for hosting and have more services available on my home server than I could even get with standard shared hosting.

[Pollard]

Something I’ve been meaning to do is swap from Plasma desktop which uses 1.92 GiB of 3.7 ram to xfce which uses 1.67 GiB (1.60 if I log out)

Finally found the right conf files and swapped. I need more RAM than just 4 GiB

[GingisK]

I prefer those ammo boxes with the rubber seals in the hinged covers.

[Paal Gulli]

If you do any Android hacking whatsoever, XDA Developers is da schiz!

This is the first I recall them ever being cited on Free Republic. If you're running LineageOS (or any of several other 3rd-party Android ROMS), they are indispensable.