Self-host ctk
Browser visual editor for Docker Compose and Kubernetes
- Stars
- 302
- Port
- 9001 (Backend API server)
- Requires
- PostgreSQL
What is ctk?
Container Tool Kit (CTK) is a browser-based visual editor for designing Docker Compose and Kubernetes configurations. Users can describe their stack in plain language and an LLM agent creates services, networks, and volumes, which can then be inspected and edited visually. The graph view stays in sync with the YAML, and manifests can be exported directly from the browser. The frontend runs locally with npm, while the optional backend stack (for project persistence and authentication) uses Docker Compose with PostgreSQL. The project is MIT-licensed and supports AI-assisted building via MCP.
Should you self-host ctk?
ctk scores 42/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #122 of 166 in Developer Tools. It has 302 GitHub stars.
There was no stable release in the past 12 months, so check the repository's recent activity before you rely on it.
Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. It is MIT-licensed and written mostly in Typescript.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is openhands (87/100, 92 079 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See ctk vs openhands side by side.
Features
- AI-assisted manifest generation
- Browser-based, no backend required for generation
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) Support
- Project persistence with authenticationRequires backend stack with PostgreSQL
- Visual Docker Compose Builder
- Visual Kubernetes manifest builder
- YAML-graph sync
ctk README
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