An interactive CLI wizard that generates a ready-to-run homelab in 5 minutes.
No Docker knowledge required. No YAML editing. Just answer a few questions and LabStart builds everything for you.
- ✅ Zero Docker knowledge required - Just answer questions
- ✅ 3 modern dashboards - Dashy, Homepage, or Homarr with glass themes
- ✅ Auto-configures everything - No YAML editing needed
- ✅ Smart setup wizards - WireGuard QR codes, Pi-hole port conflict auto-fix
- ✅ Organized sections - Services grouped by category (Security, Media, Monitoring, etc.)
- ✅ Beginner-friendly - Clear instructions at every step
- ✅ Docker auto-installer - Installs Docker if you don't have it
- ✅ Extensible - Easy to add new services
- ✅ Open source - MIT license, community-driven
LabStart is a wizard, not the software itself. It automates the installation and configuration of popular open-source homelab applications by:
- Asking what services you want
- Auto-generating Docker Compose files
- Configuring dashboards with your selected services
- Starting everything for you
LabStart does NOT create or maintain the services - it simply makes them easier to install and configure. All credit goes to the original developers of each application.
git clone https://github.com/endergate/LabStart.git
cd LabStart
chmod +x labstart.sh
./labstart.shThe wizard will guide you through the rest. Takes about 5 minutes.
Setup Wizard:
Terminal Output:
Dashy Dashboard:
Homepage Dashboard:
In 5 minutes, you go from empty server to fully configured homelab with all services ready to use.
| Manual Setup | LabStart |
|---|---|
| Learn Docker, YAML syntax | Answer simple questions |
| Write docker-compose files | Auto-generated |
| Configure dashboards manually | Pre-configured with organized sections |
| Debug port conflicts | Auto-detects and fixes (Pi-hole) |
| Research each service's setup | Step-by-step wizard with explanations |
| 2-3 hours setup time | 5 - 10 minutes |
LabStart helps you install and configure these open-source applications:
- Dashy by @Lissy93 - Feature-rich dashboard with material glass theme
- Homepage - Modern, fast dashboard with widget support
- Homarr by @ajnart - Sleek dashboard with drag-and-drop customization
- Pi-hole - Network-wide ad blocking via DNS
- AdGuard Home - DNS-based ad blocker with DoH/DoT support
- Uptime Kuma by @louislam - Service uptime monitoring with alerts
- Netdata - Real-time system performance monitoring
- Plex - Popular media server with apps on every platform
- Jellyfin - Free and open-source media system
- Emby - Media server with premium features
- WireGuard - Modern, fast, secure VPN protocol
- Tailscale - Zero-config mesh VPN (easiest option)
- OpenVPN - Traditional VPN, widely supported
- Headscale by @juanfont - Self-hosted Tailscale control server
- Cloudflare DDNS - Keep your Cloudflare domain updated
- DuckDNS - Free subdomain DDNS service
- No-IP - Dynamic DNS provider
Note: LabStart is a configuration tool. All services listed above are developed and maintained by their respective creators. LabStart simply automates their installation and setup.
Some services require additional configuration after installation:
- WireGuard Setup - Generate configs and connect devices
- OpenVPN Setup - Create client certificates and configs
- Headscale Setup - Configure self-hosted mesh VPN
- Homarr Setup - Add service tiles to your dashboard
Containers won't start?
# Check which containers are running
docker ps
# View logs for a specific container
docker logs <container-name>
# Restart a container
docker restart <container-name>Pi-hole fails with port 53 conflict? LabStart auto-detects and fixes this on Ubuntu, but if it fails manually:
sudo systemctl disable systemd-resolved
sudo systemctl stop systemd-resolved
sudo rm /etc/resolv.conf
echo "nameserver 1.1.1.1" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf
docker restart piholeDashboard shows "Host validation failed"? This is fixed in the latest version. Pull the latest changes:
cd ~/LabStart
git pullNeed more help?
Supported Operating Systems:
- Ubuntu 20.04+ (tested on 24.04)
- Debian 11+
- Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) - tested on Pi 4/5 ✅
- Linux Mint
- Pop!_OS
- Other Debian-based distributions with
aptandsystemd
Note: LabStart currently supports Debian-based systems only. Support for RedHat/Fedora, Arch Linux, and other distributions is planned for future releases.
Hardware:
- RAM: 2GB minimum (4GB+ recommended, 8GB+ for media servers)
- Disk: 20GB+ free space (more for media servers)
- Network: Static IP recommended for reliable access
- Raspberry Pi: Pi 4 (4GB+) or Pi 5 recommended for best performance
LabStart will install Docker and Docker Compose for you if they're not already installed.
Want to add a new service to LabStart? Contributions are welcome!
- Fork the repository
- Create a service file in
services/following the existing pattern - Update the wizard menu in
labstart.sh - Test thoroughly
- Submit a pull request
See CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed guidelines.
MIT License - See LICENSE for details
LabStart is a configuration tool. All services it installs are subject to their own licenses:
- Dashy: MIT License
- Homepage: GPL-3.0 License
- Homarr: MIT License
- Pi-hole: EUPL-1.2 License
- (Individual service licenses apply)
LabStart is simply a wizard that makes installation easier. All credit for the actual applications goes to their creators:
- Dashy by Alicia Sykes
- Homepage by the Homepage team
- Homarr by ajnart
- Pi-hole by the Pi-hole team
- Uptime Kuma by Louis Lam
- And all other service developers listed above
LabStart is built for the homelab community, by the homelab community.
- Issues: Report bugs or request features
- Discussions: Ask questions or share setups
- Reddit: Share on r/selfhosted and r/homelab
If LabStart saved you time, consider:
- ⭐ Starring the repo on GitHub
- 🐛 Reporting bugs or suggesting features
- 🤝 Contributing new services or improvements
- 💬 Sharing with the homelab community
Built with ❤️ for the homelab community
Disclaimer: LabStart is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of the applications it helps install.