docker ps, docker logs, docker compose ps — same questions, four commands. lazydocker puts containers, logs, and compose in one screen.
lazydocker is a terminal UI on top of the Docker API. You get containers, images, volumes, and compose services without memorizing which flag prints logs versus which one follows them. It does not replace the Docker CLI for scripts. It replaces the alt-tab to a dashboard when you just want to see what is running. lazydocker --config was run here on 0.25.2. The TUI itself needs a daemon; this page does not pretend otherwise.
install
# macOS
brew install lazydocker
# not in the default repos. Use the GitHub release
# not in the default repos. Use the GitHub release
# often the AUR, not a default extra package. Check the release page if pacman has no hit
examples
# Open the UI. Needs a running Docker daemon — this is a TUI, not a one-shot print
lazydocker
# Print the default config and exit. Does not need the daemon
lazydocker --config
# Point at a compose file. -f is in --help; the file has to exist
lazydocker -f docker-compose.yml
pro tip
Mouse drag selects text only if you hold Option on a Mac — otherwise the click is a UI click. If that fights you, set gui.ignoreMouseEvents: true in the config. Logs default to the last hour so a quiet container looks empty; that is a setting, not a missing container.
honest limits
No Docker daemon, no UI. Running it inside a container is a known bad time for logs and CPU stats. It will not create images for you, and it is not Portainer. Scripts should keep calling docker. If you do not run Docker, skip this page.