GitOpsDockerUpdates
title: GitOps Docker Container Updates with Renovate, Gitea, and Komodo radar_quadrant: Techniques radar_ring: Assess radar_position: inner created: 2026-05-26 last_updated: 2026-05-26 tags: [homelab, docker, gitops, renovate, gitea, komodo, automation] source_url: https://nickcunningh.am/blog/how-to-automate-version-updates-for-your-self-hosted-docker-containers-with-gitea-renovate-and-komodo
A homelab GitOps pattern for automating Docker container version updates without manual intervention, combining Renovate (dependency scanning), Gitea (self-hosted Git), and Komodo (container deployment). Described by Nick Cunningham on nickcunningh.am (2025).
Self-hosted Docker Compose stacks accumulate outdated container images over time. Manual checking is error-prone and time-consuming; running latest tags sacrifices reproducibility and introduces unreviewed breaking changes. The equivalent cloud-native solution (Dependabot + GitHub Actions) requires GitHub hosting.
Renovate scans Docker Compose files and container image references in the Git repository, detects new upstream image versions, and opens pull requests with the updated tags. Renovate runs on a schedule (cron or Gitea webhook) and is self-hostable via Docker.
Gitea hosts the repository containing the Docker Compose definitions. Renovate PRs appear here for review. Auto-merge rules can be configured for patch-level updates; minor and major updates require manual approval.
Komodo is a self-hosted container management platform that watches the Git repository and redeploys stacks when changes are merged. It provides the deployment execution layer — equivalent to what GitHub Actions or Watchtower provides in other setups.
- Renovate detects a new image version and opens a PR in Gitea.
- Review (manual or auto-merge by policy) happens in Gitea.
- On merge, Komodo detects the change and redeploys the affected stack.
- No manual SSH, no
docker pull, nodocker-compose upcommands.
Extends the Homelab Backup Strategies and Homelab Kubernetes Patterns blips with an update automation layer. Complements dockcheck (manual update scanning) — this pattern replaces dockcheck's manual workflow with a fully automated GitOps alternative. Gitea and Docker Compose stacks are assumed as prerequisites.
Placed in Techniques / Assess / inner. Concrete, reproducible three-tool pipeline filling a genuine gap for homelab operators running Docker Compose stacks who want GitOps-style update automation without GitHub. Inner position reflects that all three tools (Renovate, Gitea, Komodo) are individually mature and the integration is straightforward. Trial gate: Renovate opening at least one real version-bump PR in Gitea, approved and deployed via Komodo with no manual Docker commands required.
