stackd

Local database and service manager for macOS.

Create global named instances of MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Valkey, Mailpit, Meilisearch, and MinIO — then connect any Laravel project to them. Built to sit alongside Laravel Valet without Docker.

Why stackd?

• Services — MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Valkey, Mailpit, Meilisearch, and MinIO
• Global instances — one MySQL for all your apps, not a container per project
• Laravel-friendly — stackd env overwrites your .env for every installed service (and uses your project folder as the DB name)
• No Docker required — downloads (or builds) native binaries on demand
• macOS native — binds to 127.0.0.1, optional LaunchAgent start-at-login
• TablePlus & browser ready — stackd open launches the right client

Requirements

• macOS
• PHP 8.2–8.5
• Xcode Command Line Tools (Valkey / MariaDB compile)
• cmake and OpenSSL for MariaDB (stackd can install these via Homebrew when prompted)
• Avoid Homebrew MySQL/Postgres/Redis on the same ports — stackd create detects them and can uninstall

Installation

Via Composer (recommended)

composer global require vblinden/stackd

This installs the prebuilt PHAR from the package (builds/stackd). Make sure Composer's global bin directory is on your PATH.

PHAR

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vblinden/stackd/master/bin/install.sh | bash

Or install manually:

curl -fsSL https://github.com/vblinden/stackd/releases/latest/download/stackd -o stackd
chmod +x stackd
sudo mv stackd /usr/local/bin/stackd
stackd doctor

Default credentials

Service	Username	Password
MySQL / MariaDB	root	(empty)
PostgreSQL	laravel	(empty)
MinIO	stackd	secretkey
Meilisearch	—	random master key (shown on create)

Quick start

# Interactive picker
stackd create

# Or create directly
stackd create mysql
stackd create valkey
stackd create mailpit

# From a Laravel project root — writes .env for all installed stackd services
stackd env
stackd env --show   # print only

# Open clients
stackd open mysql      # TablePlus
stackd open mailpit    # Browser

# Check health
stackd doctor
stackd status

create starts the instance immediately and can optionally add it to start-at-login.

Commands

Command	Description
stackd create / add	Create (and start) a service instance
stackd start [service] [name]	Start an instance, or all instances when no service is given
stackd stop [service] [name]	Stop an instance, or all instances when no service is given
stackd restart <service> [name]	Restart an instance
stackd status	Show all instances
stackd list	List instances as a table
stackd delete / remove / uninstall	Delete an instance and its data
stackd env [service] [name]	Write .env keys for installed stackd services
stackd env --show	Print variables instead of writing
stackd open <service> [name]	Open TablePlus or the web UI
stackd logs <service> [name]	Tail instance logs
stackd doctor	Diagnose install & dependencies
stackd autostart …	Manage LaunchAgent start-at-login

Run stackd with no arguments for the home screen (running services + command list).

How it works

Instances live under ~/.stackd/:

~/.stackd/
├── registry.json       # Instance metadata
├── autostart.json      # Start-at-login entries
├── binaries/           # Downloaded / built binaries
├── instances/
│   └── mysql/default/
│       ├── data/
│       ├── logs/
│       └── …
└── logs/

Binaries are fetched the first time you create a service. MariaDB and Valkey compile locally; other services use official release archives.

Services are tuned for local macOS use: smaller memory footprints, less aggressive disk sync, and background process priority so idle instances are easier on battery. Restart existing instances (stackd restart <service>) to pick up the new settings.

Building a PHAR

composer install
php stackd app:build stackd --build-version=v1.0.4
php builds/stackd --version

Commit builds/stackd before tagging. Packagist serves that PHAR via composer global require; tagged releases (v*) also attach it to the GitHub release.

Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome on GitHub.

License

MIT