Getting started

AlphaLedger runs as a small container stack and guides you through business and administrator setup in the browser.

Install

1. Open docker-compose.yml and replace every value containing changeme.
2. For HTTPS deployments, set APP_URL to the public https:// address. Leave COOKIE_SECURE at "auto" unless your deployment requires an explicit value.
3. Run docker compose pull, then docker compose up -d. No .env file is required.
4. Open http://localhost:1630 on the Docker host and complete first-run setup. The supplied binding is loopback-only; use an HTTPS reverse proxy for remote access.
5. Enroll the administrator in TOTP and save the one-time recovery key.
6. Add employees and internal projects from Settings and Projects.

Employees clock in, take breaks, and clock out. Completed entries enter the administrator Review queue. Approval calculates and freezes employee pay. When PA is connected, approval also creates idempotent outbox events.

The Overview dashboard summarizes today, the current week and month, project allocation, approval health, recent activity, and accrued pay where the signed-in role is permitted to see it. Charts are rendered from AlphaLedger data without a third-party analytics or charting service.

Project Alpha is optional. An unavailable PA installation never prevents local authentication, timers, approvals, reports, or exports.

Save the one-time recovery key outside the AlphaLedger host. It is required to recover encrypted TOTP and integration credentials if the application data volume is lost.