homebutler

Overview

HomeButler is a comprehensive homelab management tool written in Go that provides structured access to server resources without requiring SSH shells. It exposes system information, Docker container status, port mapping, and app inventory through a clean CLI interface. The MCP implementation allows AI agents to inspect server health, diagnose issues, and manage deployments without full system access. The tool focuses on providing actionable insights through JSON-formatted outputs and automated reporting.

Try asking AI

After installing, here are 5 things you can ask your AI assistant:

• status

  Check server status including CPU, memory, disk, and uptime

  Try:Show me the server statusTry:What's the current CPU and memory usage?
• docker_list

  List running Docker containers

  Try:List all running Docker containersTry:Which containers are currently active?
• inventory_scan

  Scan server inventory including containers, ports, and service topology

  Try:Map my server's containers and portsTry:Show me the service topology
• report

  Generate a health report with change summary since last snapshot

  Try:Generate a health report for my serverTry:What changes have occurred since last check?
• install

  Install self-hosted applications like Uptime Kuma or Jellyfin

  Try:Install Uptime Kuma on my serverTry:Deploy Jellyfin with media directory
• backup_drill

  Verify backups can be restored by testing them in isolation

  Try:Test if my backup can be restoredTry:Verify the Uptime Kuma backup is valid
• watch

  Monitor services for crashes and automatically detect flapping

  Try:Start monitoring nginx for crashesTry:Check if any services are flapping
• doctor

  Run diagnostic checks for resource pressure, stopped containers, and backup hygiene

  Try:Run a health check on my serverTry:Check for any system issues
• serve

  Start the web dashboard for visual monitoring

  Try:Start the web dashboardTry:Show me the web interface

Note: Tool names inferred from CLI command examples in the README. Some tools may have different MCP signatures than their CLI counterparts.

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Installation

# One-line install (auto-detects OS/arch)
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Higangssh/homebutler/main/install.sh | sh

# Or via Homebrew
brew install Higangssh/homebutler/homebutler

# Interactive setup — add your servers in seconds
homebutler init

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "homebutler": {
      "command": "homebutler",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

FAQ

What makes HomeButler different from other homelab tools?

HomeButler is CLI-first, JSON-friendly, and doesn't require persistent daemons or databases. It provides structured output suitable for automation and AI interaction, unlike dashboard-centric tools.

How does the MCP server capability work?

HomeButler exposes server information through MCP protocol, allowing AI assistants to access system status, container information, port mappings, and run diagnostics without requiring SSH access.

On Hacker News

Recent discussion from the developer community.

• Show HN: Homebutler – AI manages your homelab without getting shell access▲ 4💬 1
  Story by swq115 · 2026-04-07
• Show HN: Homebutler – Manage multiple servers from chat, single binary▲ 4
  Story by swq115 · 2026-03-02
• Show HN: I replaced Portainer and btop with a single Go binary for my homelab▲ 3💬 2
  Story by swq115 · 2026-03-04

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