Should I Use Docker Desktop or Portainer on Linux?

If you're looking to keep it simple, why not jump straight into plain Docker Compose? Otherwise, choose whichever option feels comfortable for you. You can always switch later when you feel limited.

I think using Portainer alongside a bit of Docker Compose is a solid approach. Portainer is great for visualizing your Docker setup and managing things with a GUI. It really helps when you're troubleshooting.

I'd recommend going with Docker daemon and Portainer. Honestly, most people don't even use Docker Desktop on Linux—it just doesn't fit well. It's kind of unnecessary since Docker itself works great on Linux without all the extra complications that come with Docker Desktop.

Just a heads up, Docker Desktop doesn’t really belong on Linux as it adds unnecessary complexity. You should transfer your persistent data files manually and then update your Docker Compose files to point to the right paths on your new setup.

You might consider just installing Docker through the terminal. If you're looking for a way to monitor your containers without SSH, then using Portainer as a container might be useful too.