# DreamServer | Light Heart Labs | Knowledge Base | Instagit

Local AI anywhere, for everyone — LLM inference, chat UI, voice, agents, workflows, RAG, and image generation. No cloud, no subscriptions.

GitHub Stars: 1.5k

Repository: https://github.com/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer

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## Articles

### [How Dream Server Manages Environment Validation During Installation](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-server-manage-environment-validation-during-installation)

Discover how Dream Server uses a Bash script to validate your environment configuration against a JSON Schema during installation, ensuring a smooth setup.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [Dream Server Installation Process: A 13-Phase Technical Guide](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-are-the-key-phases-in-dream-server-installation-process)

Explore the 13-phase Dream Server installation process. This technical guide covers preflight checks to post-install health, detailed in modular Bash scripts. Install Dream Server efficiently.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How Dream Server Handles Port Conflicts When Merging Docker Compose Files](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-server-handle-potential-port-conflicts-when-merging-docker-compose-files)

Dream Server actively prevents Docker Compose port conflicts with pre-runtime validation and environment-driven substitution. Learn how Dream Server ensures seamless merges.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [What Is resolve-compose-stack.sh in DreamServer?](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-is-scripts-resolve-compose-stack.sh-script-responsible-for)

Discover the purpose of resolve-compose-stack.sh in DreamServer. This script dynamically builds your Docker Compose configuration by merging base services and extensions.

- Tags: internals
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How Dream Server Manages GPU-Specific Configurations in Docker Compose](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-are-gpu-specific-configurations-handled-in-docker-compose-stack)

Learn how Dream Server manages GPU-specific configurations in Docker Compose. Discover dynamic stack assembly using vendor overlays and a resolver script for efficient hardware utilization.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [What Is the Purpose of `docker-compose.base.yml` in Dream Server?](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-is-purpose-of-docker-compose.base.yml-in-dream-server)

Discover the purpose of docker-compose.base.yml in Dream Server. This file defines the core service stack for LLM inference, chat UI, and dashboard, serving as the foundation for your Dream Server setup.

- Tags: internals
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How to Preview the Resolved Docker Compose Stack Without Starting Services in DreamServer](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/can-i-preview-resolved-docker-compose-stack-without-starting-services)

Preview your Docker Compose stack without starting services using DreamServer's resolve-compose-stack.sh script. See the exact configuration before deployment.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How Dream Server Layers Docker Compose Files for GPU Overlays](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-server-docker-compose-layering-work-with-gpu-overlays)

Discover how Dream Server layers Docker Compose files for efficient GPU overlays. Understand CPU-agnostic services and GPU-specific overrides for your AI workloads.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [Dream CLI Model Management Commands: Inspecting and Switching Local LLM Tiers](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-commands-are-available-in-dream-cli-for-model-management)

Manage local LLM tiers with Dream CLI model commands. Inspect current models, list available tiers, and swap hardware-optimized models easily.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How the Dream CLI Switches Between Local and Cloud AI Models](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-cli-facilitate-switching-between-local-and-cloud-ai-models)

Discover how the Dream CLI seamlessly switches between local and cloud AI models by managing the MODEL_PROVIDER variable and regenerating Docker Compose for your Light-Heart-Labs DreamServer.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How to View Service Logs Using the Dream CLI](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-can-i-view-logs-of-specific-service-using-dream-cli)

Easily view service logs with the Dream CLI. Stream real-time Docker output for any service using the dream logs command. Learn more about this essential feature.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [Essential Dream CLI Commands for Managing DreamServer Services](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-are-essential-commands-for-managing-services-with-dream-cli)

Master Dream CLI commands like dream status, logs, and restart to efficiently manage your DreamServer services. Simplify container orchestration with this essential guide.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How to Enable or Disable Extensions Using the Dream CLI](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-do-i-enable-or-disable-extensions-using-dream-cli)

Easily enable or disable extensions in your DreamServer project using the Dream CLI. Learn the simple commands to manage your extension services with precision.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How Docker Compose Files Are Merged and Resolved for the Dream Server Stack](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-are-docker-compose-files-merged-and-resolved-for-dream-server-stack)

Learn how Dream Server merges Docker Compose files programmatically by layering configurations, injecting extensions, and appending overrides for deterministic commands.

- Tags: internals
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [Service Extension Manifest Structure in Dream Server: Complete YAML Reference](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-is-structure-of-service-extension-manifest-in-dream-server)

Explore the service extension manifest structure in Dream Server. This YAML reference details Docker Compose integration, port mapping, health checks, and feature flags for seamless service extension.

- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How to Add Custom Services Using the Dream Server Extension System](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-server-extension-system-allow-adding-custom-services)

Learn how the Dream Server extension system adds custom services using a declarative architecture. Auto-register services and validate Docker Compose without core code changes.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [What Information Is Included in the Dream Server Tier Configuration?](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-information-is-included-in-tier-configuration-for-dream-server)

Discover what information is in the Dream Server tier configuration. Learn about model identifiers, download URLs, and GPU settings that define LLM execution.

- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How to Manually Force a Specific Hardware Tier During Dream Server Installation](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-can-i-manually-force-specific-hardware-tier-during-dream-server-installation)

Manually force a specific hardware tier during Dream Server installation using the --tier flag or TIER environment variable. Take control of your server configuration.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [Hardware Tier Mapping in Dream Server: Configuration and Implementation Guide](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-is-hardware-tier-mapping-in-dream-server-and-how-is-it-configured)

Learn about hardware tier mapping in Dream Server. This guide explains how it auto-matches host GPUs to optimal LLM binaries, configuring model weights and backend parameters for efficient performance.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How Dream Server Detects NVIDIA, Intel Arc, and AMD GPUs: Complete Technical Guide](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-server-perform-gpu-detection-for-different-hardware-vendors)

Discover how Dream Server's detect_gpu function identifies NVIDIA Intel Arc and AMD GPUs via vendor specific stages for optimal performance. Learn the technical details.

- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [What Is the INSTALL_PHASE Variable in the Dream Server Installer?](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-is-the-purpose-of-install_phase-variable-in-dream-server-installer)

Understand the INSTALL_PHASE variable in the Dream Server installer. Track installation stages, get precise errors, and enable resumable installs.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [Dream Server Installer Architecture: Main Components and Design](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/what-are-the-main-components-of-dream-server-installer-architecture)

Explore the Dream Server installer architecture. Discover its modular Bash orchestrator with pure-function libraries and imperative install phases for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

- Tags: architecture
- Published: 2026-05-18

### [How the Dream Server Installer Handles Modularity and Execution Flow](/Light-Heart-Labs/DreamServer/how-does-dream-server-installer-handle-modularity-and-execution-flow)

Discover how the Dream Server installer uses a modular, phase-driven Bash orchestrator for deterministic execution, separating pure functions from install steps with error isolation.

- Tags: internals
- Published: 2026-05-18