# I consolidated 12 apps into 4 Docker containers and my homelab runs smoother than ever

![Why I use Nextcloud instead of OneDrive](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/06/reasons-to-use-nextcloud-instead-of-onedrive.jpg?&fit=crop&w=1600&h=900)

[ ![4](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fauthors%2F64106d718bc30-20210716_130159722_iOS.jpg?fit=crop&w=90&h=90) ](/author/parth-shah/)

By  [Parth Shah](/author/parth-shah/)

Published Mar 12, 2026, 7:30 AM EDT

Parth, a seasoned tech writer, wields the keyboard (or pen) with finesse to unravel the intricacies of both Windows and Mac operating systems. He has covered evergreen content on mobile devices and computers for multiple publications over the last six years. You can find his work on AndroidPolice, GuidingTech and TechWiser. Whether it’s demystifying system updates, deciphering error codes, or exploring hidden features, Parth’s prose guides readers through the binary maze. When not immersed in tech jargon, you’ll find him sipping chai, pondering the next software review, and occasionally indulging in a friendly debate about mechanical keyboards. 

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Did your homelab start as a weekend project and slowly turn into a digital jungle? For me, it started as a couple of useful services and eventually turned into 12 different apps, each with its own issues, resources, and maintenance headaches.

I finally decided to put a stop and spent the weekend consolidating. I managed to pack different services into just four highly efficient Docker containers, and the difference is night and day. My entire workflow is faster, cleaner, and actually manageable.

![Top Docker containers for productivity](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/best-docker-containers-for-productivity.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=220&h=182&dpr=2) Related

#####  [ 7 Docker containers I use to boost my productivity ](/docker-containers-to-boost-productivity/ "7 Docker containers I use to boost my productivity")

Docker containers that turned me into a productivity ninja

Posts [ 15 ](/docker-containers-to-boost-productivity/#threads "Total Posts")

By  [Parth Shah](/author/parth-shah/ "Posts by Parth Shah")

##  Nextcloud 

###  Personal cloud and storage 

![All files listed in Nextcloud](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/06/why-i-use-nextcloud-over-onedrive-2.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2)

Nextcloud is the ultimate ‘Swiss Army Knife.’ It allowed me to delete a handful of single-purpose apps that were just eating up RAM. If you look at my old setup, it had a container for everything: a dedicated file browser, a contact/calendar sync server, a photo gallery, and a basic notes app.

It was a maintenance nightmare. I used to run a lightweight tool like FileBrowser just to move documents around. Nextcloud didn’t just replace it; it upgraded it. With the native desktop and mobile sync clients, I now have a seamless way to keep my Work and Home folders in sync across all my devices.

Nextcloud’s Photos app is also fast. It handles the auto-upload from my phone perfectly. Aside from that, Nextcloud handles my basic notes, calendars, and contacts like a pro.

The app does feel bloated at times, so I would like to see better efficiency in future updates. The initial setup does feel daunting at times. You need to spend some time setting it up as per your preferences.

##  Super Productivity 

###  All-in-one workflow engine 

![Super Productivity task details](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/07/reasons-to-use-super-productivity-6.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2)

If Nextcloud was the back-end powerhouse of my consolidation, Super Productivity was the front-end miracle. I used to have a tab open for a task list, a windows for a Pomodoro timer, and a spreadsheet for time tracking. It was a mess that killed my focus before I even started working.

Before Super Productivity, I had a Trello-like board for projects, a TickTick clone for daily tasks, and a standalone Pomodoro timer.

[Super Productivity](https://www.xda-developers.com/entire-productivity-stack-is-just-these-docker-containers/) offers Kanban boards where I can create tasks under different columns and add relevant details. I can even add separate tasks, set a timer, and glance over weekly reports at the end of a busy Friday.

The beauty of Super Productivity in a Docker environment is its privacy-first architecture. Unlike other tools that require a massive SQL database, I run it as a lightweight web instance.

I also want to highlight the user interface here. It’s neat, user-friendly, and doesn’t require rocket science to get started.

##  Outline 

###  High-performance knowledge base 

[Outline](https://www.xda-developers.com/moved-second-brain-local-docker-container-productivity-tripled/) is the brain of my entire operation. Before that, I had my documentation was a mess of Markdown files, a self-hosted Wiki, and a hundred saved messages in Discord. It was the most disorganized part of my organizational system.

If you have used Notion or one of its clones before (like Craft), you will find yourself right at home with Outline.

Outline uses the same slash command to add different types of elements to a page. There is even a neat Home page where I can check recently viewed, recently updated, and pinned items.

Outline also offers integration with popular apps and services like Google Analytics, Slack, GitHub, Zapier, and more. You need to go to the Settings > Integration menu to connect these apps.

There are ample customization options to change the look and feel of the app and documents. I can add an emoji as a favicon, create templates, and even change the color of icons. It’s a no-brainer in my productive Docker setup.

![Accessing a Swarm cluster on Portainer](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/10/docker-swarm-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=220&h=182&dpr=2) Related

#####  [ I run 8 Docker containers on 4GB of RAM, and performance is flawless ](/run-docker-containers-on-4-gb-ram-at-high-performance/ "I run 8 Docker containers on 4GB of RAM, and performance is flawless")

From backups services to media streaming, my 4GB RAM laptop defies expectations with a carefully curated selection of Docker containers.

Posts [ 4 ](/run-docker-containers-on-4-gb-ram-at-high-performance/#threads "Total Posts")

By  [Abhishek Kumar Mishra](/author/abhishek-kumar-mishra/ "Posts by Abhishek Kumar Mishra")

##  Portainer 

###  The centralized command center 

![Portainer dashboard](https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/10/portainer-is-game-changing-container-for-my-home-lab-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2)

Portainer was the tool that allowed me to finally see my Docker infrastructure instead of just guessing how it was performing. I used to live in the command line. While I still love the CLI, doing it for 12 different apps was exhausting.

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Portainer replaced the need for constant SSH sessions. Now, if I need to check why a container is looping or tweak an environment variable, I do it in three clicks from a beautiful UI.

I used to run [Dozzle](https://www.xda-developers.com/dozzle-perfect-self-hosted-container-monitoring-logging-tool/) just to have a readable way to view my logs in real-time. Portainer has this baked in perfectly. I can see live logs, filter for errors, and even download them for troubleshooting without needing a separate container running 24/7 just to watch the others.

I even tried the dedicated Docker desktop app, but it didn’t cut it for me due to several reasons.

I used to have a messy collection of scripts to keep my images fresh. Portainer’s Stacks feature (which uses Docker Compose under the hood) makes updates trivial. I can pull the latest image and redeploy with a single toggle.

##  Your homelab is bloated 

Overall, your homelab should serve you, not the other way around. Moving from 12 different apps to four Docker containers let me reclaim my time. My server is faster, my backups are smaller, and my docker-compose.yml is finally something I can read without a headache.

  * [ Productivity & Creativity Tools ](/productivity/ "Productivity & Creativity Tools")

