README

Local database and service manager for macOS.

Create global named instances of MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Valkey, Mailpit, Meilisearch, and MinIO — then connect any Laravel or Next.js project to them. Built to sit alongside Laravel Valet. Native binaries by default; official Docker images if you want them.

Why stackd?

Services — MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Valkey, Mailpit, Meilisearch, and MinIO
Global instances — one MySQL for all your apps, not a container per project
Laravel and Next.js — stackd env overwrites your .env for every installed service (and uses your project folder as the DB name)
No Docker required — downloads (or builds) native binaries on demand
Optional Docker — stackd runtime docker runs new instances from official images instead
macOS native — binds to 127.0.0.1, optional LaunchAgent start-at-login
TablePlus & browser ready — stackd open launches the right client

Requirements

macOS
PHP 8.2–8.5
Xcode Command Line Tools (Valkey / MariaDB compile, native runtime only)
cmake and OpenSSL for MariaDB (stackd can install these via Homebrew when prompted)
Docker Desktop only if you switch the runtime to Docker
Avoid Homebrew MySQL/Postgres/Redis on the same ports — stackd create detects them and can uninstall

Installation

Via Composer (recommended)

composer global require vblinden/stackd

This installs the prebuilt PHAR from the package (builds/stackd). Make sure Composer's global bin directory is on your PATH.

PHAR

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vblinden/stackd/master/bin/install.sh | bash

Or install manually:

curl -fsSL https://github.com/vblinden/stackd/releases/latest/download/stackd -o stackd
chmod +x stackd
sudo mv stackd /usr/local/bin/stackd
stackd doctor

Default credentials

Service	Username	Password
MySQL / MariaDB	`root`	(empty)
PostgreSQL	`laravel`	(empty)
MinIO	`stackd`	`secretkey`
Meilisearch	—	random master key (shown on create)

Quick start

# Interactive picker
stackd create

# Or create directly
stackd create mysql
stackd create valkey
stackd create mailpit

# From a Laravel or Next.js project root — writes .env for all installed stackd services
stackd env
stackd env --show   # print only

# Open clients
stackd open mysql      # TablePlus
stackd open mailpit    # Browser

# Check health
stackd doctor
stackd status

create starts the instance immediately and can optionally add it to start-at-login.

Next.js apps get Prisma/Drizzle DATABASE_URL, REDIS_URL, and SMTP/EMAIL_* keys (written to .env, or .env.local if that is the only env file). Laravel apps still get DB_* / MAIL_*.

Runtime (native or Docker)

Native binaries are the default. Set the default for new instances once:

stackd runtime              # show: native
stackd runtime docker       # new creates use official images
stackd runtime native       # switch back

stackd create mysql         # uses the current default
stackd create mysql --docker
stackd create valkey --native

Existing instances keep the runtime they were created with. Status, list, and the home screen show native or docker on each instance.

Service	Docker image
MySQL	`mysql:8.4` / `mysql:8.0`
MariaDB	`mariadb:11.4`
PostgreSQL	`postgres:18`
Valkey	`valkey/valkey:8`
Mailpit	`axllent/mailpit`
Meilisearch	`getmeili/meilisearch:v1.51`
MinIO	`minio/minio`

Docker instances still bind 127.0.0.1, use the same ports and credentials, and store data under ~/.stackd/instances/…. There is no host Unix socket — connect with 127.0.0.1 and the instance port (mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3306 -u root). stackd start, stop, logs, env, open, and delete work the same way. Autostart uses --restart unless-stopped so containers come back when Docker Desktop starts.

Native data directories are not migrated into Docker (on-disk layouts differ). Create a new docker instance, or keep the native one. Docker Desktop must be running for docker creates and starts.

Commands

Command	Description
`stackd create` / `add`	Create (and start) a service instance
`stackd start [service] [name]`	Start an instance, or all instances when no service is given
`stackd stop [service] [name]`	Stop an instance, or all instances when no service is given
`stackd restart <service> [name]`	Restart an instance
`stackd status`	Show all instances
`stackd list`	List instances as a table
`stackd delete` / `remove` / `uninstall`	Delete an instance and its data
`stackd env [service] [name]`	Write `.env` keys for Laravel or Next.js projects
`stackd env --show`	Print variables instead of writing
`stackd open <service> [name]`	Open TablePlus or the web UI
`stackd logs <service> [name]`	Tail instance logs
`stackd doctor`	Diagnose install & dependencies
`stackd autostart …`	Manage LaunchAgent start-at-login
`stackd runtime [native\|docker]`	Show or set the default runtime for new instances

Run stackd with no arguments for the home screen (running services + command list).

How it works

Instances live under ~/.stackd/:

~/.stackd/
├── registry.json       # Instance metadata
├── config.json         # Default runtime (native or docker)
├── autostart.json      # Start-at-login entries
├── binaries/           # Downloaded / built binaries
├── instances/
│   └── mysql/default/
│       ├── data/
│       ├── logs/
│       └── …
└── logs/

Binaries are fetched the first time you create a service. MariaDB and Valkey compile locally; other services use official release archives.

Services are tuned for local macOS use: smaller memory footprints, less aggressive disk sync, and background process priority so idle instances are easier on battery. Restart existing instances (stackd restart <service>) to pick up the new settings.

Building a PHAR

composer install
php stackd app:build stackd --build-version=v1.2.0
php builds/stackd --version

Commit builds/stackd before tagging. Packagist serves that PHAR via composer global require; tagged releases (v*) also attach it to the GitHub release.

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md and GitHub Releases.

Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome on GitHub.

License

MIT

vblinden / stackd

Maintainers

Package info

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