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Getting Started

Welcome to Dev Cockpit! This guide will help you get up and running quickly on macOS or Linux.

Prerequisites

Before installing Dev Cockpit, ensure your system meets these requirements:

macOS:

  • Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3/M4 series)
  • macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
  • Terminal application (iTerm2, kitty, or WezTerm recommended)

Linux:

  • x86_64 (amd64) or ARM64 (aarch64) processor
  • Modern distribution (Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora 36+, Arch, etc.)
  • Terminal with true color support (kitty, alacritty, WezTerm recommended)

Both:

  • Internet connection (for installation)

Installation

The easiest way to install Dev Cockpit is using our installation script:

bash
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/caioricciuti/dev-cockpit/main/install.sh)"

This script will:

  1. Download the latest release binary
  2. Install it to /usr/local/bin/devcockpit
  3. Make it executable
  4. Verify the installation

Manual Installation

If you prefer to install manually:

  1. Download the latest release:

    Visit the GitHub Releases page and download the latest devcockpit binary.

  2. Make it executable:

    bash
    chmod +x devcockpit
  3. Move to system path:

    bash
    sudo mv devcockpit /usr/local/bin/
  4. Verify installation:

    bash
    devcockpit --version

Build from Source

For developers who want to build from source:

  1. Clone the repository:

    bash
    git clone https://github.com/caioricciuti/dev-cockpit.git
    cd dev-cockpit/app
  2. Install dependencies:

    bash
    make deps
  3. Build the binary:

    bash
    make build
  4. Install system-wide (optional):

    bash
    make install
  5. Or run locally:

    bash
    ./build/devcockpit

First Run

After installation, launch Dev Cockpit:

bash
devcockpit

On first run, Dev Cockpit will:

  • Create a configuration directory at ~/.devcockpit/
  • Scan your system for installed tools (Homebrew, npm, Docker, etc.)
  • Display the main dashboard with system metrics

Interface Overview

Dev Cockpit uses a Text User Interface (TUI) with the following layout:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Dashboard | Cleanup | Packages | ...       │  ← Module Tabs
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                             │
│          Module Content Area                │
│                                             │
│                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Module Switching:

  • Number keys (1-9): Jump directly to a module
  • Tab: Cycle through modules
  • ← →: Navigate left/right between modules

Module Navigation:

  • ↑ ↓: Move up/down in lists
  • Enter: Select/execute current item
  • Space: Alternative select key
  • ESC: Go back / Close modal / Return to switcher

General:

  • q or Ctrl+C: Quit Dev Cockpit
  • ?: Show help (where available)

Modules

Dev Cockpit includes these modules:

  1. Dashboard - Real-time system monitoring (CPU, GPU, Memory, Disk, Network)
  2. Cleanup - Remove system junk and free up disk space
  3. Packages - Manage Homebrew, npm, and other package managers
  4. Docker - Monitor and manage Docker containers
  5. Process Manager - View and manage running processes
  6. Dev Services - Monitor Homebrew services and dev tools
  7. Quick Actions - Common system fix tasks (platform-aware)
  8. Network - Network diagnostics, port scanning, and quality tests
  9. Security - Security audits (Firewall, Disk Encryption, SIP/Gatekeeper on macOS)
  10. System - System information and diagnostics
  11. Diagnostics - Automated health check with A-F grading
  12. Logs - Aggregated log viewer (system, Homebrew, Docker, app)
  13. Metrics - Historical performance tracking with SQLite
  14. Support - Support the project

Package Manager Detection

Dev Cockpit automatically detects and integrates with:

Homebrew

  • macOS: Automatically detected at /opt/homebrew/bin/brew (Apple Silicon) or /usr/local/bin/brew
  • Linux: Detected at /home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew
  • If not detected, install with:
    bash
    /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

npm (Node Package Manager)

  • Supports NVM (Node Version Manager) installations at ~/.nvm/
  • Supports Homebrew Node installations
  • Supports system Node installations
  • If using NVM, ensure default is set:
    bash
    nvm alias default node

Docker

  • Requires Docker Desktop (macOS) or Docker Engine (Linux)
  • Socket expected at /var/run/docker.sock
  • macOS: Install Docker Desktop from docker.com
  • Linux: Install via your package manager (apt install docker.io, dnf install docker, etc.)

Configuration

Dev Cockpit stores its configuration in ~/.devcockpit/:

~/.devcockpit/
├── config.yaml      # Main configuration
└── debug.log        # Debug logs (if --debug enabled)

Currently, most settings are auto-detected and don't require manual configuration.

CLI Commands

Dev Cockpit supports command-line arguments:

Display help:

bash
devcockpit --help
devcockpit -h

Show version:

bash
devcockpit --version
devcockpit -v

Enable debug mode:

bash
devcockpit --debug

CLI Power Mode:

bash
devcockpit status          # Quick system health overview
devcockpit diag            # Full diagnostics report
devcockpit ps              # Top processes by CPU
devcockpit ps --sort mem   # Top processes by memory
devcockpit services        # Homebrew services status
devcockpit security        # Security check
devcockpit cleanup list    # Cache sizes
devcockpit cleanup empty-trash  # Empty trash

Uninstall Dev Cockpit:

bash
devcockpit uninstall              # Interactive uninstall with prompts
devcockpit uninstall --force      # Uninstall without confirmation

Show log file location:

bash
devcockpit --logs

Tips for Best Experience

  1. Use a modern terminal:

    • macOS: iTerm2, kitty, or WezTerm recommended
    • Linux: kitty, alacritty, or WezTerm recommended
    • Needs true color support for the best visual experience
  2. Recommended terminal size:

    • Minimum: 80 characters × 24 lines
    • Recommended: 120 characters × 40 lines for best experience
  3. Font recommendations:

    • Fira Code (with ligatures)
    • JetBrains Mono
    • Menlo (default macOS monospace)
    • SF Mono
  4. Enable sudo access:

    • Some cleanup operations require sudo
    • You'll be prompted when needed
    • Or run with: sudo devcockpit
  5. Regular maintenance:

    • Run cleanup weekly to keep your system healthy
    • Monitor system metrics to catch issues early
    • Update packages regularly through the Packages module

Next Steps

Now that you have Dev Cockpit installed:

  1. Explore the Dashboard to see your system metrics in real-time
  2. Run a Cleanup to free up disk space
  3. Check your Packages to see what's installed
  4. Customize your terminal for the best visual experience

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues:

Uninstalling

If you need to uninstall Dev Cockpit, use the built-in uninstall command:

bash
devcockpit uninstall

This will:

  • Stop Dev Cockpit if running
  • Remove the binary from /usr/local/bin/devcockpit
  • Prompt to remove configuration directory (~/.devcockpit/)
  • Clean up temporary files

For non-interactive uninstallation:

bash
devcockpit uninstall --force

Manual uninstallation (if needed):

bash
# Remove binary
sudo rm /usr/local/bin/devcockpit

# Remove config directory (optional)
rm -rf ~/.devcockpit

Getting Help

Need assistance?

Welcome to Dev Cockpit - your development command center!

Released under GPL 3.0.