Install & manage apps

Apps run as Docker containers on your server. Bitsmith ships a built-in catalog of app templates, things like Jellyfin, Emby, Nextcloud, Home Assistant, Vaultwarden, qBittorrent, the *arr apps, Syncthing, and Uptime Kuma, plus support for any custom Docker container. Browse the library, pick one, and Bitsmith handles the install. Each app is isolated in its own container.

Install from the library

1. Open Apps and browse the library, filtered by category or by search.
2. Click Add on an app to start the guided install.
3. Set it up:
   • Name, what this app is called on your server.
   • Storage location, which storage space holds its data.
   • Folders, map the app’s data and media to folders you choose. For a media server, point its “Media” folder at your Movies folder, for example. Mark a folder read-only if the app shouldn’t change it.
   • Ports, the address you’ll open the app at. Bitsmith suggests a default.
4. Review and install. The app pulls its image and starts in the background.

If an app needs a folder that doesn’t exist yet, create it first in Files, or make one from the folder picker during install.

Open an installed app

Installed apps appear on the Apps page with a status badge. When an app exposes a web interface, use Open to launch it in a new tab at the port you set.

To run something that isn’t in the library, see Custom apps.

Discovered containers and app leftovers

Bitsmith tracks the Docker containers it didn’t create, so it knows what’s on the machine beyond the apps it manages. When it finds old containers from apps that are no longer tracked, an App leftovers card on the Apps page lists them with their image, with Clean up containers alongside. Cleaning up removes the containers; your storage files are left alone.

Start, stop, restart

Use the power controls on an app’s card or detail page to Start, Stop, or Restart it. A stopped app keeps its data and settings; start it again whenever you want it back. The status badge shows Running, Stopped, or Error.

Read logs

When an app misbehaves or won’t start, open its Logs to see what the container reported. This is the first place to look before asking for help.

Change folders

Open an app’s Folder assignments to change which folders it can reach, or to add another. This is how you point a media server at a new library folder after install.

Update

When a newer version of an app is available, Bitsmith shows an update badge. Open the app and choose to update; it pulls the new image and restarts, keeping your data.

Move to another storage space

To free up a drive or reorganize, use Move to storage to relocate an app’s data to a different storage space. Bitsmith moves the data and repoints the app.

Uninstall

Uninstall removes the app and its container. Bitsmith confirms first. Folders you pointed the app at are your data and are not deleted by uninstalling.