> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://test.pzona.fun/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# mkdb: local database containers for developers

> mkdb is a CLI tool for spinning up PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Redis containers locally. Create, manage, and clean up dev databases in seconds.

mkdb gives you a fast, frictionless way to create local database containers for development. With a single command, spin up PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Redis — complete with auto-generated connection strings, encrypted credentials, and automatic cleanup when you're done.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Installation" icon="download" href="/installation">
    Install mkdb on macOS or Linux in under a minute using pre-built binaries or Go.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quick Start" icon="bolt" href="/quickstart">
    Create your first database container and get a connection string in three steps.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Commands" icon="terminal" href="/commands/start">
    Full reference for every mkdb command — flags, examples, and expected output.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configuration" icon="gear" href="/configuration/data-storage">
    Understand how mkdb stores data, manages volumes, and handles TTL expiration.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What mkdb does

mkdb wraps Docker to manage short-lived or long-lived database containers for local development. You get:

* **One command to start** — `mkdb start` prompts for what it needs, or accepts flags for scripting
* **Three database types** — PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Redis, each with sensible defaults
* **Auto-expiring containers** — containers are cleaned up automatically after their TTL expires (default: 2 hours)
* **Encrypted credentials** — passwords are stored with AES-256-GCM and connection strings are ready to paste into `.env` files
* **Volume flexibility** — choose no persistence, a named volume, or a custom bind-mount path

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install mkdb">
    Download a pre-built binary for your platform or install with `go install github.com/pbzona/mkdb@latest`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a database">
    Run `mkdb start` and follow the prompts — or pass `--db`, `--name`, and other flags to skip them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to your database">
    Copy the printed `DB_URL` into your app's environment. Run `mkdb creds get --name mydb` any time to retrieve it again.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clean up when done">
    Run `mkdb rm --name mydb` to remove the container and its volume, or let the TTL handle it automatically.
  </Step>
</Steps>