Safe, explain-first Docker disk usage inspector and cleanup tool
Project description
Docker Disk Doctor
Docker Disk Doctor is a safe, explain-first CLI tool that shows how Docker is using disk space and what is safe to clean — without blindly running docker system prune.
Built from real homelab and infrastructure pain.
Why this exists
Docker is great… until your disk suddenly fills up.
At that point, most people run:
docker system prune -a
…and hope for the best.
Docker Disk Doctor exists to answer one simple question before you delete anything:
What exactly is using my disk space, and what is safe to remove?
This tool is safe-by-default.
It explains first — you decide what to clean.
Features
- Full breakdown of Docker disk usage:
- Images (used vs unused)
- Containers (running vs stopped)
- Volumes (attached vs orphaned)
- Actual disk usage (MB / GB)
- Clear, readable CLI tables
- Safe-by-default cleanup (nothing is deleted unless you explicitly confirm)
- Designed for homelabs, servers, and real systems
Screenshot
Click to expand example output
Installation
Prerequisites
You need pipx.
On most Debian / Ubuntu systems:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y pipx
pipx ensurepath
You may need to open a new shell after running
pipx ensurepath.
Install Docker Disk Doctor
Install directly from GitHub:
pipx install git+https://github.com/andreasrevdal/docker-disk-doctor.git
This installs the dockerdoctor command globally for your user.
Note: The tool is currently installed directly from GitHub.
A PyPI release (pipx install docker-disk-doctor) may come later.
Usage
Show disk usage breakdown (default)
dockerdoctor
This will display:
- Used vs unused images
- Running vs stopped containers
- Attached vs orphaned volumes
No changes are made to your system.
Cleanup (optional)
Docker Disk Doctor is safe-by-default.
Nothing is deleted unless you explicitly confirm it.
Preview cleanup (dry-run)
dockerdoctor test clean all
You can also preview specific targets:
dockerdoctor test clean images
dockerdoctor test clean volumes
Apply cleanup
dockerdoctor clean all --yes
Or target specific resources:
dockerdoctor clean images --yes
dockerdoctor clean volumes --yes
The
--yesflag is required to prevent accidental data loss.
Safety guarantees
- No automatic deletions
- No force-removal by default
- No surprises
- Docker may refuse to delete resources still in use — those are skipped safely
Support
If this tool saved you time, stress, or disk space,
consider buying me a compute ☕
https://buymeacoffee.com/revdal
License
MIT License
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