Tutorials covering: - Getting Started (setup wizard, timezone, deployment modes) - Theme Customization (theme builder, presets, color customization) - Viewing Logs (log viewer, live streaming, filtering) - Quick Search (keyboard shortcuts, navigation) - Backup & Restore (manual/automated backup, restore workflow) - Stats Monitoring (resource monitor, live stats, alerts) Also includes: - Self-contained HTML getting started guide - 30+ screenshots capturing UI workflows - Issues/notes documenting test instance observations Workflows documented: - Light theme screenshots - Dark theme screenshots (partial - theme builder) - App selector (noted as empty in test instance) - Theme builder modal - Logs viewer - Quick search - Backup modal - Stats monitoring Total: 6 tutorial files, 30+ screenshots, 1 HTML guide
4.7 KiB
4.7 KiB
DashCaddy Getting Started Guide
A practical guide to getting started with DashCaddy — the self-hosted app dashboard.
Table of Contents
- Getting Started — First-time setup and configuration
- Theme Customization — Customize the dashboard appearance
- Viewing Logs — Monitor service logs in real-time
- Quick Search — Fast access to services and settings
- Backup & Restore — Protect your configuration
- Monitoring Resources — Track CPU, memory, and disk usage
Getting Started
Learn how to log in, configure your timezone, and choose a deployment mode.
What you'll learn:
- How to log in with TOTP authentication
- How to select your timezone
- How to choose a deployment mode (Simple, Home Lab, Public, Custom)
- How to complete or skip the initial setup wizard
Theme Customization
Make DashCaddy your own with custom themes and colors.
What you'll learn:
- How to open the Theme Builder
- How to use preset themes (Dark, Light, Nord, Dracula, etc.)
- How to customize colors for backgrounds, text, accents, and status indicators
- How to save, import, and export themes
Viewing Logs
Monitor your services with real-time log streaming.
What you'll learn:
- How to access the logs viewer
- How to navigate and filter log entries
- How to use live log streaming
- How to control the number of displayed log lines
Quick Search
Find services and settings instantly.
What you'll learn:
- How to open Quick Search (Ctrl+K / Cmd+K)
- How to search for services and settings
- How to navigate and select results with keyboard shortcuts
- Keyboard shortcuts: ESC, ↑↓ Navigate, Enter Select
Backup & Restore
Protect your configuration with full backups.
What you'll learn:
- How to create a manual backup
- What's included in a full backup (services, credentials, themes)
- How to restore from a backup file
- How to set up automated backups
- How to view backup history
Monitoring Resources
Track CPU, memory, network, and disk usage in real-time.
What you'll learn:
- How to access the Resource Monitor
- How to interpret live stats and historical summaries
- How to set up alerts for resource thresholds
- Understanding CPU, memory, network, and disk metrics
Common Tasks
Adding Your First App
Note: App deployment requires the app catalog to be configured with your DashCaddy instance.
- Navigate to TOOLS → App Selector
- Browse available apps or use Quick Search
- Select an app template
- Configure the app settings (URL, subdomain, credentials)
- Deploy and verify
Checking Service Health
- Navigate to STATUS → Health Status
- View the health overview for all services
- Check individual service status cards
- Review any active incidents
Updating Services
- Navigate to ADMIN → Updates
- View available updates
- Review changelogs and release notes
- Apply updates to individual services or all at once
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+K / Cmd+K |
Open Quick Search |
↑ / ↓ |
Navigate in Quick Search |
Enter |
Select in Quick Search |
ESC |
Close modal / Cancel |
Troubleshooting
Can't log in with TOTP
- Ensure your device clock is synchronized (TOTP is time-based)
- Try regenerating the code — they expire every 30 seconds
- Contact your administrator if the code is consistently rejected
Dashboard shows no services
- Services need to be added via the App Selector
- Check that Docker is running on your server
- Verify network connectivity to your services
Logs show "Loading..."
- The service may not have generated any logs yet
- Check that the service is actually running
- Verify the logging system is configured correctly
Theme changes not saving
- Click "Save Theme" before closing the Theme Builder
- Check browser console for JavaScript errors
- Try a different browser if issues persist
Next Steps
- Complete the initial setup wizard
- Add your first service via App Selector
- Customize the theme to your liking
- Set up automated backups
- Explore the Admin section for advanced settings
- Join the community for tips and support
This guide was created for DashCaddy version as deployed on test.dashcaddy.net