The Missing GUI for Your docker-compose.yml

Adminer is dated. pgAdmin is heavy. QueryGlow is the modern, lightweight container that completes your dev stack—with schema-only AI, web-based access, and dark-mode UI.

Adminer is free but ancient. pgAdmin is free but heavy. QueryGlow: $79 once. Self-hosted, lightweight, source code included.

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  • 512MB RAM
  • 6 Databases
  • Schema-Only AI
  • Web-Based

The Problem with Current Docker DB Tools

You've got a beautiful containerized stack... and then Adminer from 2007.

Adminer Looks Like 2007

Adminer works, but the UI is painful. No AI, no Safe Mode. Just a PHP script from another era.

pgAdmin Feels Slow

pgAdmin users have called it slow for years. Your laptop fan spins up. QueryGlow runs inside a 512MB container limit.

phpMyAdmin is MySQL-Only

Need to switch between Postgres and MySQL? You need two different tools. QueryGlow handles 6 databases in one UI.

No Web Access

Docker containers run headless. You need a web UI to reach your database from any device. Most tools require desktop installs instead.

Add to Your Stack in Minutes

Clone, add to compose, build, done. The same pattern works next to any compose stack — including Supabase self-hosted via Docker, where QueryGlow slots in as the database GUI.

docker-compose.yml
services:
  # Your existing database
  postgres:
    image: postgres:16
    environment:
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD}
    volumes:
      - postgres-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  # Add QueryGlow - the modern GUI
  queryglow:
    build: ./queryglow  # Path to cloned repo
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - SESSION_SECRET=${SESSION_SECRET}
      - DATA_DIR=/app/data
    volumes:
      - queryglow-data:/app/data
    depends_on:
      - postgres

volumes:
  postgres-data:
  queryglow-data:

Step 1

git clone queryglow

Step 2

Add to docker-compose.yml

Step 3

docker compose up --build

QueryGlow vs Docker Alternatives

UI Design

Adminer

Early 2000s PHP

pgAdmin

Functional but dated

QueryGlow

Modern web-based UI

Database Support

Adminer

Many databases

pgAdmin

PostgreSQL only

QueryGlow

6 databases

AI SQL Generation

Adminer

None

pgAdmin

None

QueryGlow

OpenAI, Claude, Gemini

Safe Mode

Adminer

None

pgAdmin

None

QueryGlow

Blocks DROP, limits queries

SSH Tunnels

Adminer

No (needs external)

pgAdmin

Yes

QueryGlow

Yes (paste private key)

CSV Import

Adminer

Basic

pgAdmin

Yes

QueryGlow

INSERT/UPSERT/REPLACE

Credential Encryption

Adminer

None

pgAdmin

Optional

QueryGlow

AES-256-GCM always

Price

Adminer

Free

pgAdmin

Free

QueryGlow

$79 once

Honest note: Adminer and pgAdmin are free. QueryGlow is $79. If you just need basic access and don't care about UI, Safe Mode, or AI—the free tools work fine. QueryGlow is for developers who value a great experience.

Built for Docker Workflows

Lightweight Node.js

512MB RAM minimum, 1GB recommended. Node.js, not Java. Your laptop fan stays quiet.

Docker Networking

Connect to other containers by service name. Use host.docker.internal for host databases.

Multiple Instances

Run dev, staging, and production on the same server. Deploy script auto-finds available ports.

AI SQL Generation

Describe what you want in English. Get working SQL. Supports OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini.

Web-Based Access

Access your Docker databases from any device with a browser. No desktop app needed—just open a URL.

Encrypted Credentials

All saved connections encrypted with AES-256-GCM. Even if someone reads your volume, passwords are safe.

Docker Networking Made Simple

Connecting to Other Containers

Use the Docker service name as the hostname.

Host: postgres
Port: 5432

Connecting to Host Databases

For databases running on your host machine (not in Docker).

Host: host.docker.internal
Port: 5432

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add QueryGlow to my docker-compose.yml?
Clone the QueryGlow repository, add a service block to your docker-compose.yml that builds from the source (build: .), map port 3000, set the SESSION_SECRET environment variable, and optionally map a volume for persistent data. Run docker compose up --build and access QueryGlow at localhost:3000.
How do I connect to my database container from QueryGlow?
Use the Docker service name as the hostname. If your database service is named "postgres" in docker-compose.yml, use "postgres" as the host in QueryGlow. For databases running on your host machine (not in Docker), use "host.docker.internal" as the hostname.
Is QueryGlow better than Adminer?
Different trade-offs. Adminer is free. QueryGlow is $79 once and adds a dark-mode UI, schema-only AI SQL generation, Safe Mode on by default and CSV import with INSERT, UPSERT and REPLACE modes. If you want those, QueryGlow is worth it; if not, Adminer works.
Is QueryGlow better than pgAdmin in Docker?
pgAdmin is PostgreSQL only and its users have called it slow for years. QueryGlow runs inside a 512MB container limit, covers six engines, and adds schema-only AI and Safe Mode. pgAdmin keeps the edge on advanced PostgreSQL-specific administration.
Can I run QueryGlow without persistent storage?
Yes. Skip the volume mapping and QueryGlow runs stateless. Connections will be lost when the container stops, but this is fine for quick database inspections. For persistent connections and settings, map a volume to /app/data.
How much RAM does QueryGlow need?
QueryGlow requires 512MB RAM minimum, with 1GB recommended, and ships with a 512MB container limit. It is built on Node.js, not Java, which keeps the footprint small. For contrast, one DBeaver user reported 4.7GB of RAM use.

Complete Your Docker Stack

Try the live demo first. No signup, no credit card. If it clicks, grab a lifetime license for $79.

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