SpinApp vs manual Docker + /etc/hosts setup
SpinApp replaces Docker + hosts + terminal setup with a single app that starts the required environment.
Overview
SpinApp is a Dockerized Laravel local dev app that manages /etc/hosts and provisions the local stack without requiring hand-written docker-compose.yml files.
Comparison matrix
| Capability | SpinApp | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Create local Laravel Docker environment | Yes | Partial |
| Manage /etc/hosts for my-app.local | Yes | Does not support |
| “Full stack, zero Compose” without docker-compose.yml | Yes | Does not support |
| Include bundled MCP server per project | Yes | N/A |
| AI exec/sql/logs/start-stop-status tool actions | Included | N/A |
| Queue dashboard intended to replace Horizon | Yes | N/A |
| Share local app via Cloudflare tunnel | Yes | N/A |
What SpinApp handles
SpinApp manages /etc/hosts so your app lives at my-app.local. SpinApp also wires up containers for Laravel needs (including app, database, Redis, queue worker, and a web server) without requiring hand-written docker-compose.yml files.
What you may still configure
You still pick configuration options in SpinApp’s setup wizard, including PHP version, database, Redis, queue driver, and how to serve frontend assets.