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Kitematic – The easiest way to start using Docker on your Mac

155 points by alpacaaa 12y ago

mchiang 12y ago
One of the creators of Kitematic here. Our github repo is here: https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic
- alpacaaa 12y ago
  This is awesome dude, thanks for open sourcing it.
- chanux 12y ago
  Nicely done. Nice name too. One could use such a nice UI on linux too ;) PS: I don't want a nice UI. There sure are others who would.
StavrosK 12y ago
Aw what! Why is this OS X only? :-( EDIT: Never mind, forgot I had a mac.
- notduncansmith 12y ago
  It solves a very specific problem - using Docker on OS X is a giant pain. It's pretty easy on something like Ubuntu, but for Mac the typical solution involves Vagrant + a VM, so startup times are slow, it eats a lot of memory and CPU, etc.
  - StavrosK 12y ago
    Oh, thanks, I thought it was an image manager (which I could use). I guess you'd have a problem with Docker on OS X, given the BSD-based kernel...
    - mchiang 12y ago
      Kitematic can be used as an image manager.
  - bboreham 12y ago
    It looks like Kitematic uses VirtualBox, a VM. Aside from the GUI, how does it differ from Boot2Docker, which is what the Docker web site tells you to use on a Mac?
    - mchiang 12y ago
      - Automatically creates a folder under ~/Kitematic for each Volume. - One click NSEnter into any container. - Any container can be accessed at <container_name>.dev (automatically sets up a DNS for you, so you can connect a database too using that URL). We're really just trying to make Docker easier to use for Mac right now.
      - bboreham 12y ago
        Ok, thanks. Maybe list some of those on your web page or GitHub readme?
      - dashersw 12y ago
        how about attaching volumes?
        mchiang 12y ago
        We do that. [Although primitive at the moment]
        Elesant 12y ago
        Hey, folders will be created under ~/Kitematic/app_name/volume_name, and the contents of the volume will be sync'ed across the folder and the container.
  - mrinterweb 12y ago
    I disagree that "using Docker on OS X is a giant pain". I don't really see how this is more than a GUI that works with boot2docker and docker. Kitematic appears to be using boot2docker under the hood. I think using boot2docker is very simple. Once boot2docker is running, as far as I can tell, using docker is the same experience people have on linux.
    - shabble 12y ago
      mounting host directories into containers with -v is one place b2d definitely hurts more than running on linux directly. The options appear to be: 1. Don't do that 2. Mount something via samba into the b2d vm, then -v it into your container 3. Use virtualbox directory sharing (which won't work properly/at all)
fishnchips 12y ago
Great idea, unfortunately in my case the setup phase gets stuck on 'Setting up the default Kinematic images...'.
- Elesant 12y ago
  Hey, developer of Kitematic here. We have added a page for fixes on known issues: http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ Let me know if it works! Feel free to hop in our HipChat support as well. :)
- mchiang 12y ago
  Hey, Kitematic seems to have a conflict with older versions of boot2docker at the moment. We're still looking into this issue. In the meantime, some of our users have found success in doing this: 1. In the terminal run boot2docker delete 2. Open Virtualbox and delete the boot2docker vm 3. Delete all the host-only networks under VirtualBox=>Preferences=>Network=>Host-only networks tab 4. Run the installer again Sorry about all the trouble. We're looking into fixes.
notduncansmith 12y ago
Great work, guys! I just wanted to let everyone know that there's a HipChat support room[1] for this project, the creators are there and super helpful. Jeffrey and Michael definitely just set a new bar for open-source project support. [1] https://www.hipchat.com/giAT9Fqb5 https://www.hipchat.com/giAT9Fqb5
- mchiang 12y ago
  Thanks! Sean's pushing out troubleshooting docs so everyone can view them on our docs page [ http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ ]
- thejosh 12y ago
  What's wrong with IRC? :)
  - notduncansmith 12y ago
    Nothing really, though I've personally never had a great experience with IRC (not the medium's fault of course). I was remarking more on the enthusiasm and helpfulness of the team.
dominotw 12y ago
Isn't this( http://docs.docker.com/installation/mac/ http://docs.docker.com/installation/mac/) the easiest way to use docker on a mac? Its just 3 shell commands and an installer. I am not clear what kitematic is exactly. A UI on top of docker?
- mchiang 12y ago
  Pretty much just a GUI in our beta. We do some things special like: - Automatically creates a folder under ~/Kitematic for each Volume. - One click NSEnter into any container. - Any container can be accessed at <container_name>.dev (automatically sets up a DNS for you, so you can connect a database too using that URL). We're really just trying to make Docker easier to use for Mac right now. More will come.
  - noazark 12y ago
    Hadn't seen the DNS feature yet, that is amazingly useful! Thank you for that.
  - Smudge 12y ago
    Does your `.dev` container access conflict with users of pow.cx? Is that configurable?
    - mchiang 12y ago
      Not sure yet. Still doing tests around it. [The goal of this beta release is to find most of the bugs so we can iron it out]. I'm sure we'll iron out most of them in the coming week.
    - tomvest 12y ago
      for me, it does. is there a solution right now? it does not seem to be configurable, or I just cant see it
    - tomvest 12y ago
      oh, there it is... https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic/issues/18 https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic/issues/18
digitalsanctum 12y ago
Is there a roadmap of what's to come? How about linking containers?
- mchiang 12y ago
  Linking containers is definitely something we're looking into for the future. In this release, there is environment variable support in settings.
toomuchcpu 12y ago
My MacBookPro's fans start running right after I launch this. Activity Monitor shows that the node-helper process is eating up no less than 20% cpu, even when no apps are active. (are all Meteor apps like this?) This looks nice but unless you can fix that I'm just going to stick with using Docker on OSX the hard way.
- zek 12y ago
  I find that I have a similar issue with all node apps on my Macbook Pro
hibbelig 12y ago
I wish it wasn't necessary to use a VM to run Docker on a Mac. Shouldn't it be easy to get Jails running on OSX, and wouldn't that be a good basis for Docker? (I'm not sure.)
- jpgvm 12y ago
  You still have the issue of not having an implementation of an Ethernet or network virtualisation features like Crossbow/VImage. Even if you were to solve that you would be stuck with the VFS graph driver unless you could get a CoW filesystem up and running on OSX (maybe revamp the old ZFS port?). Docker is much more than just jailing is basically the problem.
- justincormack 12y ago
  Well first of all Apple has shown no interest in adding jails to osx. Second, there is not yet a proof of concept implementation of Docker using jails (there are significant differences between the implementation of jails and Linux namespacing). Third, you need a filesystem like zfs, but Apple does not support that. Fourth, all Docker code currently being distributed is for Linux/amd64. Implementing it on FreeBSD would be immensely easier as a first step.
- stuaxo 12y ago
  Docker is built on linux containers (lxc)
rodrigoavie 12y ago
Thanks!
pearknob 12y ago
Great job. I love tools that make things dead simple :)
nXqd 12y ago
As a devops user, this would be not so useful. It was my first thought when I saw this. But, wait a minute, if this can replace MAMP, or XAMPP, it would be great. It will help the new user get the development environment setting up in no time, isolated environment and beautiful application. It would be a win. Nice work !
- lfx 12y ago
  For the same reason I use Vagrant. I would like to hear why would anybody use Docker instead of Vagrant and vice versa?
  - mikeflynn 12y ago
    One difference is that Vagrant is a full stand-alone server VM rather than a shared container like Docker, so Vagrant is better for housing multiple services in a single Vagrant instance, while Docker is better off housing a single-use application/service. Example: If you wanted to run a complex local dev environment with apache, mysql, memcache, varnish, etc... You could run that all in a single large VM (provisioned and booted by Vagrant) or by multiple Docker containers (one for each service).
  - chanux 12y ago
    I don't know about OS X but on Linux Docker is so much better than Vagrant (not really, it's the VMs). But that's just my opinion.
mchiang 12y ago
In case you're having installer issues: https://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ https://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ If that doesn't fix, please submit a bug report: https://kitematic.com/docs/help-us-debug/ https://kitematic.com/docs/help-us-debug/ Feel free to jump in our support chat as well. Sorry for the trouble. We're working on a fix.
- mchiang 12y ago
  No installation step should take over 1 minute. If it's more than that, there is probably an error.
benologist 12y ago
This is great and I've been wanting to try out Docker for a while. Here's some feedback: 1) I had to delete my existing host-only networks 2) Images could be pre-populated with popular images so you're only a click away from getting started with an app. As a first-time docker user I don't have any of that stuff lying around. Edited to add: 3) A progress indicator would be great creating/starting apps and images 4) am I supposed to install docker separately to access the command line tools?

155 points by alpacaaa 12y ago

One of the creators of Kitematic here. Our github repo is here: https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic

alpacaaa 12y ago
This is awesome dude, thanks for open sourcing it.
chanux 12y ago
Nicely done. Nice name too. One could use such a nice UI on linux too ;) PS: I don't want a nice UI. There sure are others who would.

StavrosK 12y ago

Aw what! Why is this OS X only? :-( EDIT: Never mind, forgot I had a mac.

notduncansmith 12y ago
It solves a very specific problem - using Docker on OS X is a giant pain. It's pretty easy on something like Ubuntu, but for Mac the typical solution involves Vagrant + a VM, so startup times are slow, it eats a lot of memory and CPU, etc.
- StavrosK 12y ago
  Oh, thanks, I thought it was an image manager (which I could use). I guess you'd have a problem with Docker on OS X, given the BSD-based kernel...
  - mchiang 12y ago
    Kitematic can be used as an image manager.
- bboreham 12y ago
  It looks like Kitematic uses VirtualBox, a VM. Aside from the GUI, how does it differ from Boot2Docker, which is what the Docker web site tells you to use on a Mac?
  - mchiang 12y ago
    - Automatically creates a folder under ~/Kitematic for each Volume. - One click NSEnter into any container. - Any container can be accessed at <container_name>.dev (automatically sets up a DNS for you, so you can connect a database too using that URL). We're really just trying to make Docker easier to use for Mac right now.
    - bboreham 12y ago
      Ok, thanks. Maybe list some of those on your web page or GitHub readme?
    - dashersw 12y ago
      how about attaching volumes?
      - mchiang 12y ago
        We do that. [Although primitive at the moment]
      - Elesant 12y ago
        Hey, folders will be created under ~/Kitematic/app_name/volume_name, and the contents of the volume will be sync'ed across the folder and the container.
- mrinterweb 12y ago
  I disagree that "using Docker on OS X is a giant pain". I don't really see how this is more than a GUI that works with boot2docker and docker. Kitematic appears to be using boot2docker under the hood. I think using boot2docker is very simple. Once boot2docker is running, as far as I can tell, using docker is the same experience people have on linux.
  - shabble 12y ago
    mounting host directories into containers with -v is one place b2d definitely hurts more than running on linux directly. The options appear to be: 1. Don't do that 2. Mount something via samba into the b2d vm, then -v it into your container 3. Use virtualbox directory sharing (which won't work properly/at all)

fishnchips 12y ago

Great idea, unfortunately in my case the setup phase gets stuck on 'Setting up the default Kinematic images...'.

Elesant 12y ago
Hey, developer of Kitematic here. We have added a page for fixes on known issues: http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ Let me know if it works! Feel free to hop in our HipChat support as well. :)
mchiang 12y ago
Hey, Kitematic seems to have a conflict with older versions of boot2docker at the moment. We're still looking into this issue. In the meantime, some of our users have found success in doing this: 1. In the terminal run boot2docker delete 2. Open Virtualbox and delete the boot2docker vm 3. Delete all the host-only networks under VirtualBox=>Preferences=>Network=>Host-only networks tab 4. Run the installer again Sorry about all the trouble. We're looking into fixes.

notduncansmith 12y ago

Great work, guys! I just wanted to let everyone know that there's a HipChat support room[1] for this project, the creators are there and super helpful. Jeffrey and Michael definitely just set a new bar for open-source project support. [1] https://www.hipchat.com/giAT9Fqb5 https://www.hipchat.com/giAT9Fqb5

mchiang 12y ago
Thanks! Sean's pushing out troubleshooting docs so everyone can view them on our docs page [ http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ http://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ ]
thejosh 12y ago
What's wrong with IRC? :)
- notduncansmith 12y ago
  Nothing really, though I've personally never had a great experience with IRC (not the medium's fault of course). I was remarking more on the enthusiasm and helpfulness of the team.

dominotw 12y ago

Isn't this( http://docs.docker.com/installation/mac/ http://docs.docker.com/installation/mac/) the easiest way to use docker on a mac? Its just 3 shell commands and an installer. I am not clear what kitematic is exactly. A UI on top of docker?

mchiang 12y ago
Pretty much just a GUI in our beta. We do some things special like: - Automatically creates a folder under ~/Kitematic for each Volume. - One click NSEnter into any container. - Any container can be accessed at <container_name>.dev (automatically sets up a DNS for you, so you can connect a database too using that URL). We're really just trying to make Docker easier to use for Mac right now. More will come.
- noazark 12y ago
  Hadn't seen the DNS feature yet, that is amazingly useful! Thank you for that.
- Smudge 12y ago
  Does your `.dev` container access conflict with users of pow.cx? Is that configurable?
  - mchiang 12y ago
    Not sure yet. Still doing tests around it. [The goal of this beta release is to find most of the bugs so we can iron it out]. I'm sure we'll iron out most of them in the coming week.
  - tomvest 12y ago
    for me, it does. is there a solution right now? it does not seem to be configurable, or I just cant see it
  - tomvest 12y ago
    oh, there it is... https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic/issues/18 https://github.com/kitematic/kitematic/issues/18

digitalsanctum 12y ago

Is there a roadmap of what's to come? How about linking containers?

mchiang 12y ago
Linking containers is definitely something we're looking into for the future. In this release, there is environment variable support in settings.

toomuchcpu 12y ago

My MacBookPro's fans start running right after I launch this. Activity Monitor shows that the node-helper process is eating up no less than 20% cpu, even when no apps are active. (are all Meteor apps like this?) This looks nice but unless you can fix that I'm just going to stick with using Docker on OSX the hard way.

zek 12y ago
I find that I have a similar issue with all node apps on my Macbook Pro

hibbelig 12y ago

I wish it wasn't necessary to use a VM to run Docker on a Mac. Shouldn't it be easy to get Jails running on OSX, and wouldn't that be a good basis for Docker? (I'm not sure.)

jpgvm 12y ago
You still have the issue of not having an implementation of an Ethernet or network virtualisation features like Crossbow/VImage. Even if you were to solve that you would be stuck with the VFS graph driver unless you could get a CoW filesystem up and running on OSX (maybe revamp the old ZFS port?). Docker is much more than just jailing is basically the problem.
justincormack 12y ago
Well first of all Apple has shown no interest in adding jails to osx. Second, there is not yet a proof of concept implementation of Docker using jails (there are significant differences between the implementation of jails and Linux namespacing). Third, you need a filesystem like zfs, but Apple does not support that. Fourth, all Docker code currently being distributed is for Linux/amd64. Implementing it on FreeBSD would be immensely easier as a first step.
stuaxo 12y ago
Docker is built on linux containers (lxc)

rodrigoavie 12y ago

Thanks!

pearknob 12y ago

Great job. I love tools that make things dead simple :)

nXqd 12y ago

As a devops user, this would be not so useful. It was my first thought when I saw this. But, wait a minute, if this can replace MAMP, or XAMPP, it would be great. It will help the new user get the development environment setting up in no time, isolated environment and beautiful application. It would be a win. Nice work !

lfx 12y ago
For the same reason I use Vagrant. I would like to hear why would anybody use Docker instead of Vagrant and vice versa?
- mikeflynn 12y ago
  One difference is that Vagrant is a full stand-alone server VM rather than a shared container like Docker, so Vagrant is better for housing multiple services in a single Vagrant instance, while Docker is better off housing a single-use application/service. Example: If you wanted to run a complex local dev environment with apache, mysql, memcache, varnish, etc... You could run that all in a single large VM (provisioned and booted by Vagrant) or by multiple Docker containers (one for each service).
- chanux 12y ago
  I don't know about OS X but on Linux Docker is so much better than Vagrant (not really, it's the VMs). But that's just my opinion.

mchiang 12y ago

In case you're having installer issues: https://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ https://kitematic.com/docs/known-issue-fixes/ If that doesn't fix, please submit a bug report: https://kitematic.com/docs/help-us-debug/ https://kitematic.com/docs/help-us-debug/ Feel free to jump in our support chat as well. Sorry for the trouble. We're working on a fix.

mchiang 12y ago
No installation step should take over 1 minute. If it's more than that, there is probably an error.

benologist 12y ago

This is great and I've been wanting to try out Docker for a while. Here's some feedback: 1) I had to delete my existing host-only networks 2) Images could be pre-populated with popular images so you're only a click away from getting started with an app. As a first-time docker user I don't have any of that stuff lying around. Edited to add: 3) A progress indicator would be great creating/starting apps and images 4) am I supposed to install docker separately to access the command line tools?