I ditched my paid wiki for DokuWiki in a Docker container, and my documentation finally makes sense

At a glance:

• Switched from paid wiki services to DokuWiki running in a Docker container on a NAS.
• DokuWiki stores documentation as plain text files, enabling easy backups, portability, and cross-page linking via namespaces.
• Author uses DokuWiki for long‑term project docs (Docker configs, networking, server setups) while keeping quick notes in Google Keep or SimpleNote.

Published Jun 27, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT, Dhruv Bhutani has been writing about consumer technology since 2008, offering deep insights into the personal technology landscape through features and opinion pieces. He writes for XDA-Developers, where he focuses on topics like productivity, networking, self-hosting, and more. Over the years, his work has also appeared in leading publications such as Android Police, Android Authority, CNET, PCMag, and more.

Why DokuWiki fits the author's workflow

Dhruv Bhutani explained that he needed a robust system for information he planned to keep for years, such as home server configurations, Docker Compose files, networking notes and Linux commands. He said he "needed a spot where I could basically have all my project documentation permanently" and did not want to pay a subscription for what had become his personal database. The move to DokuWiki was driven by the frustration of losing insight into how services were installed after rebuilding them, a situation he summed up with the phrase "once bitten, twice shy".

DokuWiki addresses this by treating every page as a plain text file that can link to other pages, turning a collection of disconnected notes into a searchable knowledge base. The author highlighted the use of namespaces to separate topics like self-hosted applications, networking and photography-related settings, which keeps everything tidy without relying on complicated folder hierarchies on his NAS. When revisiting a project after six months, he can start from the main page and follow a trail of links, just as he would explain the project to someone else.

As the author notes, DokuWiki is an open-source wiki tool that lets you easily document your homelab without requiring a database.

How the setup works and what to watch next

The wiki runs inside a small Docker container on his NAS, meaning the entire application is isolated and easy to manage via standard Docker commands. Because DokuWiki stores each page as a text file, backups are as simple as copying the container’s data folder, and the files remain readable even if he ever stops using the software. He noted that the platform‑agnostic nature of the pages makes migration straightforward—nothing is trapped in a proprietary format or complex database.

Although the interface looks reminiscent of 90s-era wikis, the author finds the simplicity a strength, pointing out built-in revision history that automatically saves every edit, allowing him to compare versions and restore a working configuration when needed. He also mentioned experimenting with plugins for syntax highlighting and better navigation, and said he still uses Google Keep or SimpleNote for quick, disposable information while reserving DokuWiki for long-term documentation such as Docker container specs, networking changes and server configurations, and even travel planning.

He concluded that DokuWiki "hasn't replaced every notes app for me" but solves the one problem of permanent, linked documentation well, and he wishes he had installed it earlier.