The last time I talked about Docker, I mentioned several containers that I keep running 24/7.These are containers that I never spin down unless I'm updating them manually.Some readers had some fantastic suggestions for containers I hadn't tried yet.
And for those who asked about containers that I don't actually keep running, I got to thinking about it, and there are definitely a few Docker containers that I only spin up when I need them.I was surprised to see that they're actually some of the most important containers I use.Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover Pair Drop A convenient syncing tool Close I work with a lot of different devices.
It could be a phone, a Kindle Fire tablet, an Android tablet, a Raspberry Pi, a desktop, or a laptop.I use a lot of these devices to do various projects and work.So naturally, I need something that I can use to sync them.
The easiest tool I found is actually PairDrop.As much as I love Syncthing, I've actually found this Docker container to be a little bit more intuitive and easier to use.I’ve installed it across every device I use.
It’s as easy as dragging and dropping the files you want to send, then opening Pair Drop on the other device.It just works, and it’s become a favorite app that I only spin up when I need it.Omni-tools The Leatherman of Docker Containers Omni-tools is one of those containers that I only recently discovered but have definitely incorporated into my workflow.
Funny enough, I originally learned about it when I was researching Docker apps to run on an Android phone.In the past few weeks, I've actually used it for editing video on the fly, processing photos, and handling some post-production tasks.It doesn't have to be on 24/7, because it's a very task-specific container.
I like it a lot, and it's become another one of the most important containers that I rarely have to spin up.Auto Budget An alternative to spreadsheets There was definitely a time when I would spend more effort making spreadsheets to cover budgets and payments than I'd probably care to admit.I'd make them colorful, add a whole bunch of different formulas, and have several tabs to track things.
But I've been using Auto Budget now for several months.I've never felt the need to spin it up every time I get on my computer because it's just not necessary.I can spin up the container every two weeks when I sit down to do budgets, save my work, and retrieve it on demand.
Vaultwarden My new favorite password manager I've used a lot of different password managers in the past.There was LastPass before the big breach.I used KeePass for a while.
Eventually, I stopped saving my most important passwords in apps.My solution? Paper and pen.That has been the most convenient way to handle password management in recent months.
When I started looking into more Docker Containers to try, I came across Vaultwarden.It immediately drew me in, and I've been using it to store some of my less important passwords.I only spin it up when I need to log into a particular site (that has a password stored in the Vault).
It's pretty handy, but there's no need to have it running until I need it.FreshRSS My most important Docker Container In 2026, I feel that having an RSS feed is one of the most valuable things you can do to get the information you need.I read a ton about tech, music, comics, science, and some world news every single day.
And while it might seem odd to some, FreshRSS is the most important container I use.But I only spin it up when I need to on my PC.I experimented with having it run constantly on my phone, but it didn't work out.
But there's too much information out there, and I can easily get overwhelmed or frustrated if I have to look things up the old-fashioned way.I don't rely on AI summaries or curated AI articles, because I like to read and understand on my own.FreshRSS makes that possible.
While it does kind of fall into the realm of productivity, it's really about managing information overload and having a clean, seamless reading experience.Koillection A seldom-used but vital tracking tool A few months ago, I wrote about a Docker container that I use frequently to track my physical media collection called Koillection.I'm an avid comic book and omnibus collector, in addition to having a sizable music collection, so I found Koillection to be exactly what I needed to keep my organized chaos in check.
I haven't picked up anything in a while, and I realized that I actually keep this container spun down completely until I need to either add something to my collection or update it.It's important to me because if I don't keep track of things, I'll either duplicate them or get so overwhelmed that I'll never read or listen to what I own.While it's not a productivity tool or anything like that, it's and I think worth mentioning as one that I don't keep running often.
Docker is still great, even if you don't keep Containers up all the time The beauty of using Docker is that it can be multifunctional, with always-on apps or be just as useful with dedicated apps you only spin up on occasion.This list only represents a handful of my seldom-used apps.But I'm always expanding my Docker Stack and looking for new apps to try.
Related 3 Docker containers worth running on your Android phone Running a tiny home lab, squeezed onto an Android device.Posts 5 By David J.Buck
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