Start/stop docker compose stacks

[victorstan]

Hello, I am testing the app and I am curious if it's possible to start/stop not only a docker container, but a group of containers(created with a docker compose file) from the UI. I currently use arcane for docker containers management, but I'm not sure if that matters.

[deqrocks]

Hi @victorstan
Sorry for the late reply. I didn't get any notification on this discussion and just saw it by accident.

DeQ isn't actually a container manager (although XDA's article claimed that and some other things).
The main purpose around "container management" in DeQ is saving energy. Like starting selected containers only when needed. For example I start Jellyfin and Immich only when i need them.
When I go to bed the Android Pro app stops selected containers and devices automatically when I plug in my phone and wakes them again when i get up and remove the phone from the charger. Maybe that is what you are searching for.

The thing with feature requests like these is, that there is a possible rabbit hole behind that. When we do that, another user will ask for automated container updates and so on... And because that isn't as trivial as it seems, there are specialized products out there for container management.

Possibly a disappointing answer, I know.

[victorstan]

Hi, I totally get the idea and agree with it. I guess I can workaround this using a script.
Thanks for the reply and keep up the good work!

[deqrocks]

Thank you!
Maybe you saw in the other discussion the request for community scripts. This is actually a brilliant idea, because with that we can cover exactly those use cases.
So what we could do is working on this script together and then we can either make it a community or even "official" DeQ script.

[victorstan]

Good to know about the api, I might start using it.
Another thing that can be improved is the update deq to the latest version functionality. For now it can easily be created with a script(the one from docs) but would be nice to have this built in the app.

[deqrocks]

Agreed. For now we have a very extensive roadmap though and auto updates will be the last on the list.

I found a very elegant solution for the WOL problem. Thing is we currently send WOL only theough Tailscale and the server.py. For the simple reason that we assume you have a Pi or something as always-on device.
Now I do understand that when you already got a low power server, an additional device produces further cost. But we run into an issue when you put your DeQ server to sleep and leave your home network. You won't be able to wake it via Tailscale.

So I will pimp the apps. Both free and paid version, to create "DeQ nodes". Means for example you got a tablet at home in your tailscale network and your smartphone in your pocket, also in the tailscale network. Then the DeQ app on your smartphone and on your tablet will communicate with each other. So you send WOL from your phone to the tablet in your home network that will wake the server.
The apps will ping each other constantly. When an app doesn't find another node, it will send a push notification when you're leaving your home SSID and the server is offline: "Warning! You're leaving home. Your server is offline."

This is possibly the most clever solution. As it won't bloat the server.py.
I think this is where I will start because it's needed (I also run only one device at the moment). And it's a complete refactory of the app logic.

[deqrocks]

Good to know about the api, I might start using it. Another thing that can be improved is the update deq to the latest version functionality. For now it can easily be created with a script(the one from docs) but would be nice to have this built in the app.

Here is the full documentation of the HTTP API: https://deq.rocks/documentation.html#http-api

[victorstan]

Yeah, if you don't want to forward o port for wol and/or your isp doesn't provide a ddns address it's impossible to wake a device.

[victorstan]

Thanks for the api docs, will take a look later.

[victorstan]

By the way, I'm still thinking if I should bother about shutting down the server when I'm out and starting it when I need. It might not worth it when you use some apps like immich regularly.
Of course it depends on your hardware power usage, for example my beelink s12 consumes around 7-8 wats in idle with ethernet and a usb hdd attached.
I think the sleep with me feature will make more difference on the power savings.
Just saying this, because you mentioned you have to fully refactor the app, so maybe think twice if it deserves the effort.

[deqrocks]

Well...I was torn about that. But I'll refactor.
It's a flaw that stands against the concept. It has to go. And also I like the idea of DeQ nodes. That's cool. Let's do that.

[deqrocks]

Basic implementation is working already. Still lots of work to do tho.

[victorstan]

Pretty cool !

[deqrocks]

Thanks! And all that without changing a single line in the server.py.
Actually stunning what you can do wirh the power of Android and Tailscale.

[victorstan]

Yep, I've used an old android phone as a media server for about a year, used emby server and an a torrent client with web ui.
Related to tailscale, I use it only as a backup, my primary vpn is wireguard with wg tunnel as the android client, it has an auto connect and split tunneling feature which I miss in tailscale client.

[deqrocks]

I also started with an Android phone as a simple file server. Since then I'm a fan of low power servers. Really turned into a hobby - how much can you get from less 😅 I ended up with a Fujitsu Esprimo Q958 with Raid 1 SSDs and NVME as a boot drive for OMV on which also DeQ lives. 4 Watts idle from the wall. The old I5 8500T is gold for low power servers.

I only read about wireguard. Tailscale is convenient, works well. I know it's wireguard under the hood and all that, but i'm happy with what i got and don't need more. Used cloudflare Zerotrust before for years and I'm happy about everything I don't need to maintain or configure.

Implementation of DeQ nodes is complete. I also updated Sleep With Me to work with it. But I didn't touch Wear OS for several reasons. Will upload the app bundles later to playstore and GitHub after I'm finished writing the documentation. And I will have to test a bit more on a bunch of devices.

[victorstan]

Damn, what a feature delivery speed! Good job.

[deqrocks]

If you happened to buy the paid app, please send your Play Store account mail to dev@deq.rocks and I'll add you to the internal testers. That way you will receive the update immediately without Google's blessings, which sometimes takes up to 48 hours.

[victorstan]

I didn't buy it yet, I am still accommodating to deq ecosystem. The only reason I might buy the pro app is the widgets 😃

[deqrocks]

DeQ node update app release is colliding with the refactoring of server.py to allow for the new extension API. But i'm nearly through it. Extensions work. Full python/ssh/device access granted through the new API. So you can make DeQ whatever you want it to be without any restriction from my side.

BE CAREFUL with 3rd party extensions in the future tho!

Will come with example extensions like on the picture (RSS feed reader + Weather)

Full documentation here: https://deq.rocks/documentation.html#extension-api
@victorstan server.py will be online in around an hour

[victorstan]

That's awesome, thanks for your effort, comprehensive docs and examples ! 🍺

[deqrocks]

You're welcome. Looking forward to your contributions 😉

BTW: did you know I used to absolutely deny feature requests for weather widgets and all that core polluting stuff in the past? I'm glad we got that sorted now: "Yeah sure you can have that. Build your own!" 😁👍

[codedbyistvan]

I’m following this topic as well, and it’s amazing to see how far things have come, congratulations!

[deqrocks]

Yeah, actually pretty intimidating how much power the concept offers.
Thanks Istvan, and thanks for the update script contribution. I also tinkered around a bit with the extension API and will contribute an extension that shows DeQ's CPU and RAM usage.
Also there is a server.py update in the pipeline that solves some issues and adds theme presets.

[deqrocks]