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Deploying with PaaS: Coolify, Dokku and more

Deploying with PaaS: Coolify, Dokku and more

March 7, 2025

PaaS

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides a platform for customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app.

  • Complete development and deployment environment: PaaS provides a comprehensive suite of tools and services needed for the entire application lifecycle, from coding and testing to deployment and management.
  • Abstraction of infrastructure: PaaS handles the underlying infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking. This allows developers to focus solely on writing code and building their applications.
  • Support for various programming languages and frameworks: PaaS platforms typically support a wide range of programming languages, frameworks, and databases, offering developers flexibility in their technology choices.
  • Scalability and flexibility: PaaS solutions offer easy scalability, allowing applications to automatically adjust resources based on demand. This ensures optimal performance even during peak usage.
  • Managed services: PaaS providers handle routine tasks such as updates, security patches, and backups, freeing up development teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

Examples of popular PaaS providers include:

  • AWS Elastic Beanstalk: Amazon’s PaaS offering.  
  • Google App Engine: Google’s PaaS platform.
  • Microsoft Azure App Service: Microsoft’s PaaS offering.  
  • Heroku: A popular PaaS platform.  
  • Platform.sh: A unified platform for web development and hosting.  
  • Netlify: A platform for building and deploying static websites and web applications.  
  • Vercel: A platform for front-end development, specializing in Next.js deployments.  

PaaS for your Servers

Star History Chart

CapRover

Apache v2 | Scalable PaaS (automated Docker+nginx) - aka Heroku on Steroids

docker run -p 80:80 -p 443:443 -p 3000:3000 -e ACCEPTED_TERMS=true -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v /captain:/captain caprover/caprover
services:
  caprover:
    image: caprover/caprover
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      ACCEPTED_TERMS: "true"
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - /captain:/captain
More a out CapRover 📌

CapRover, a free and open-source Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) for easy application deployment.

What is CapRover?

CapRover is a user-friendly, fully automated application platform, similar to a self-hosted, open-source Heroku. It simplifies deploying various applications like NodeJS, PHP, Java, WordPress, MongoDB, and MySQL.

Setting Up CapRover:

Requires a domain and a Virtual Private Server (VPS). The tutorial uses DigitalOcean for the VPS and Google Domains for the domain. Setup involves:

  • Installing CapRover on the server.
  • Setting up a wildcard domain.
  • Installing the CapRover client on your local machine.

Deploying Applications:

CapRover supports deploying custom applications and one-click apps. The tutorial demonstrates deploying a custom NodeJS application and a one-click WordPress blog, highlighting the straightforward process.

Key Features:

  • HTTPS: Automatic Let’s Encrypt integration for free SSL certificates.
  • Monitoring: Built-in NetData monitoring for CPU and RAM usage, with customizable alerts.
  • One-Click Apps: Over 100 pre-configured applications, including databases, frameworks, and CMS.
  • Auto-Deployment: Integration with GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket for automated deployments on Git push.

Takeaways:

  • CapRover is a free and open-source PaaS simplifying application deployment.
  • Supports a wide range of applications (NodeJS, PHP, Java, WordPress, etc.).
  • Straightforward setup and quick application deployment.
  • Offers valuable additional features like HTTPS, monitoring, one-click apps, and auto-deployment.

Coolify

Application could be any type of web application.

It could be a static site, a NodeJS application, a PHP application, etc.

For complex applications, you can use Docker Compose based deployments or the one-click services.

Apache v2 | An open-source & self-hostable Heroku / Netlify / Vercel alternative.

  • No Features Behind Paywall. Everything is included in the open-source software (OSS) version. And will always be.
  • No Limitations. You have the freedom to host an unlimited number of websites on any quantity of servers without any restrictions.
  • Nice UI. You get a simple and easy to use UI to manage your servers and applications.
  • Open Source. You can see the source code and contribute to it, if you want. You can shape the future of the software.
curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash

https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/1dbmv4d/alternatives_to_vercel_coolify_dokploy_or_caprover/

Dokku

MIT | A docker-powered PaaS that helps you build and manage the lifecycle of applications

services:
  dokku:
    image: dokku/dokku:0.35.15
    container_name: dokku
    network_mode: bridge
    ports:
      - "3022:22"
      - "8060:80"
      - "8443:443"
    volumes:
      - "/var/lib/dokku:/mnt/dokku"
      - "/var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock"
    environment:
      DOKKU_HOSTNAME: dokku.me
      DOKKU_HOST_ROOT: /var/lib/dokku/home/dokku
      DOKKU_LIB_HOST_ROOT: /var/lib/dokku/var/lib/dokku
    restart: unless-stopped
docker exec -it dokku bash

dokku --version
#dokku version 0.35.15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMPKw5VS9pI

# from your local machine
git clone https://github.com/heroku/ruby-getting-started
# on the Dokku host
dokku apps:create ruby-getting-started

QuickStack

GPL v3 | Build, run and monitor your apps on any server from a single, easy-to-use UI.

https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/1igktsv/alternative_to_caprover_and_coolify_quickstack/

curl -sfL https://get.quickstack.dev/setup.sh | sh -
#systemctl --type=service --state=running #see that its running

PaaS QuickStack

Go to localhost:30000

OpenFAAS

CE for boddy only | OpenFaaS - Serverless Functions Made Simple

Reflex. Cooler Web Apps?