This week’s goal
Decide how Docker fits without letting it become a junk drawer with YAML.
Docker is useful. Docker is also very good at making you feel organised while quietly spreading files across the server like confetti.
What I actually did
I created a simple folder pattern:
/srv/docker/service-name/Each service gets:
- its own folder
- its own compose file
- clear volume paths
- notes about ports and backups
I did not add ten services. I tested the pattern first.
This was less exciting than spinning up everything I have ever seen on a self-hosting list, but much healthier for the server and my attention span.
What broke, or nearly did
I nearly copied a compose file without properly reading the volume paths.
This is how people end up with important data living somewhere called /var/lib/surprise.
What I’m keeping
- One folder per service
- Clear volume paths
- Compose files included in backups
- No mystery containers
SmallGrid takeaway
Docker is easiest to live with when the boring rules come first. Decide where things live before adding services, not after the server becomes a YAML allotment.