[PaaS Recap] Software and Servers...

Tl;DR

Ive recently heard that buying a NAS seems to make things much easier/better/faster than a MiniPC + Docker.

Time to prove that’s not always true, especially with these PaaS Tools available.

Consider this a PaaS 101 if you dont know what im talking about.

Intro

So you’ve been around even when ATI was still a thing.

Hardware Throwback

From a PIII to…MiniPCs

You were using Linux OS’s when nobody was.

And now apple ecosystem is so confortable that makes anything else scary?

Pleeeeeease…

Few months ago, I wrote about different PaaS Tools

And more recently, I made a VPS recap on where to deploy your SaaS/apps.

Playing with other dev’s apps baremetal, without containers is a no go and everytime I vibe code sth I dont consider it finished until it works within Make and a container.

Next level goes if you are confortable with Selfhosting via container ymls within a HomeLab:

SelfHosting Docs

Docs to setup a homelab

HomeLab Repo

Docker Configs for your server

And…last level: The builder:

UmbrelOS, Cosmos Server or tools like Coolify, Dokploy….and many others are great.

Media Server with Jellyfin

Media Tools for your HomeLab

This feels like time for a PaaS recap: focusing on how to deploy your SaaS/apps and/or create a platform for users to self-service from OSS projects.

Intro

If you are also new to HomeLabs and/or Linux.

These are some reasons for you to stay:

Media Server with Jellyfin

Media Tools for your HomeLab

You can even run a Jellyfin Media server with a Opi SBC!

And forget about mandatory cloud subscriptions to get a notepad running

I want to make a recap of PaaS Tools available.

Its been a while since I started selfhosting with the Pi, so hopefully this will come handy to people getting started.

PaaS Tools

I was collecting the configurations for these tools before:

With this post, Ive made sure they are on the new repo and working:

HomeLab Repo

Docker Configs for your server

Today, we are going to see:

1. LocalStack
2. RuntiPi
3. UmbrelOS - Not a PaaS, but having a OS inside a docker container and just click to deploy apps is fantastic
4. Coolify and Dokploy

Others First

LocalStack

LocalStack is a tool designed for developers who want to test AWS functionalities locally.

It provides an emulated environment of AWS services, solving issues related to unpredictable billing and resource management during development.

• Purpose: LocalStack emulates AWS API functionality.
• Problem Solved: Allows local testing without involving AWS services directly.
• Installation:
  • Sign up with a GitHub account.
  • Use brew install localstack/tap/localstack-cli for installation on macOS.
  • Requires Docker to function as a local “mini-cloud” operating system.
• Basic Use:
  • Set environment variables for AWS access.
  • Create services like S3 buckets using standard AWS commands.
  • Offers a Community Image for free usage.
• Limitations:
  • Not all AWS services are fully emulated; some are available only in the Pro version.
  • Works with a single API endpoint unlike AWS’s regional separation.
• Key Features:
  • Supports essential services like EC2.
  • Allows basic CRUD operations.
  • Requires understanding of feature coverage before use.

Runtipi

• https://github.com/runtipi/runtipi with AGPL-v3!

Runtipi is a homeserver for everyone!

One command setup, one click installs for your favorites self-hosted apps. ✨

Got to know this one thanks to awsomedockercompose

DokPloy vs Coolify

Like the well known Coolify and Dokploy:

Wait: Coolify is PHP based vs Dokploy that is NextJS based

But for pragmatic users, who want to build on top of such tools:

Dokploy on a VPS

I wrote about Dokploy here

Where to Deploy

A VPS Recap on Hetzner, DO to ship PoCs and more

About Benchmarking POST

CPU vs RAM vs Disk vs Internet

Setting up Coolify on a Pi

Because why not.

Selfhosting Docs

Use a PI, an old laptop and these docs to start your HomeLab

OSS OS inside containers

How could we think that running windows inside a container is the only possible OS that allow it.

Remember, we even had web tops!

And one of my recent learnings: UmbrelOS and Cosmos Server, both allow one click deployment of apps

Cosmos Server vs UmbrelOS

Im still hyped with Umbrel os and their tons of Apps, available at one click via UI.

If you need nextcloud or want to practice D&A on crypto - btc node, you are covered: https://apps.umbrel.com/app/

Testing UmbrelOS

UmbrelOS in a container for your lab

Cosmos Server

Docker config

And with a https://github.com/azukaar/Cosmos-Server you can literally: ,Escape the cloud'

Using PaaS to Host Vibe Coded WebApps

This years is been all about using AI to create better Web/Apps.

I still love Streamlit for D&A PoCs, but lets be real, there are other much more flexible fwks.

This has been my journey with web apps up to today.

And you can use any of their docker-compose.yml to host them via the covered PaaS!

At the end, ill also leave some other apps created and released as OSS which you might consider.

Conclusions

There will be more and more tools coming to the PaaS Space.

Because is not just about creating, but deploying the applications so that they are available to the users.

But as of today, having a cloud at home is not that hard.

Like as I read on reddit:

• https://github.com/raghavyuva/nixopus

Open Source Alternative to vercel, heroku, netlify with simplified workflows

They are working towards a v1 as of now!

A Brand around PaaS and OSS Software

Thinking now about this and the DIY/DWY/DFY framework…

graph TD
    A[www.jalcocertech.com] --> B(blog/YT 0$);
    A --> C(DIY 0/$ + time);
    A --> F(DIY & PaaS low $/year low time);
    A --> D(Consult via Cal.com - DWY $$);
    A --> E(Services - DFY $$$);

I thought that a kind of ~ advanced DIY is when someone is able to select the software that they want, via UI and it gets deployed seemlessly.

I had a draft over this idea when I tinkered with Dokploy - Scaling SSG Deployment section

0. Setup a VPS and configure Dokploy
1. Put SSG Themes x DecapCMS inside a docker container

2. Let people come, see and choose which Theme they like (You need a WebApp with user on boarding for this - vibe code it)

3. Once signed up and paid, make the tweaks to the theme via CMS UI only (Flat File AND Git based)
4. This is abstracted - When changes are done, build the SSG and push it to static hosting with the domain configured

Very Important…the user should be empowered to make all the changes to the web on their own.

But whats the problem after having Decap-CMS with a cool UI that makes file changes and is git compatible? :)

5. Get leads, scale it if profitable as per LTV » CaC
6. Get ,richer’ and find other ways to help people (?)

That’s what PaaS are for: help you scale the software that you ship

Bc the software…you can vibe coded it, send it to git and prepare a bundle via containers.

Or just use permissive OSS only.

And for cases like the weddings in the beginning of this year, it could get the job done and fast.

That could be a thing going forward for paas.jalcocertech.com

I guess I will need a linkprofile to avoid loosing my mind with all the options.

Then some cool Landing should be placed at consult.jalcocertech.com with calcom+stripe

Whatever I was doing before this year…

Yea, with ‘Webify’ I intended to do all from scratch: from infra to web/services

To…maybe get paid 100$/year?

No thanks! There is a better way:

• OSS PaaS will do the infra - For 100$ you bring your own OSS app like /WP/Ghost and forget about servers

Further Thoughts on PaaS as a better DIY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl8ebudhqZU

To build an e-commerce system around Coolify that can spin up WordPress or Ghost sites for users on demand, you would need several components working together to automate deployment, user management, and payments:

1. Coolify as Deployment Backend
   Use Coolify’s API or CLI to automate deployment of WordPress or Ghost instances. Coolify can deploy Dockerized or containerized apps from templates or Git repos: so the astro ebooks, linktree etc could also be deployed.

2. E-Commerce Platform / Storefront

   • A web frontend where users can browse WordPress or Ghost site templates, choose options, and pay.
   • Could be a custom React/Vue app or integration with existing e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or headless commerce solutions.
   • Supports payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, etc.).

3. User & Site Management System

   • Backend that manages user accounts and tracks purchased subscriptions or sites.
   • Upon purchase, triggers creation of new WordPress/Ghost site deployment via Coolify API.
   • Maintains credentials and site URLs for users.

4. Automation/orchestration Layer

   • Service or serverless function listening for new orders.
   • Interacts with Coolify API to spin up new containers with WordPress or Ghost.
   • Configures environment variables (database credentials, admin user info) and DNS routing.

5. Database & Persistent Storage

   • Since WordPress and Ghost require databases, you need persistent database instances (MySQL/MariaDB for WordPress, SQLite/MySQL or PostgreSQL for Ghost) managed either by Coolify or externally.
   • Persistent volumes for user content.

6. Domain & SSL Management

   • Automated DNS provisioning or user prompts to configure domains.
   • Automated SSL certificate provisioning via Let’s Encrypt or similar integrated into Coolify or custom layer.

7. Scaling & Monitoring

   • Infrastructure monitoring with alerts.
   • User limits or scaling policies as site numbers grow.

Integration Example Flow

• User visits e-commerce site → selects WordPress/Ghost plan or template → pays → backend service calls Coolify API → deploys new instance with site setup → user receives site access info.

• Coolify can handle container deployment and app lifecycle.

• You need to build or integrate a payment-enabled storefront and user management system.

• Automate deployment triggers via Coolify’s API.

• Ensure persistent database and storage solutions.

• Automate domain and SSL handling for user convenience.

This architecture turns Coolify into a deployment engine behind a full multi-tenant hosted WordPress/Ghost e-commerce platform.

It requires significant development beyond Coolify itself but is fully achievable with Coolify as the core deployment layer.[1][2]

1 2

TinyAuth x PaaS ?

IAM x PaaS ?

Outro

Ive seen quite big organizations building their D&A pipelines on top of OSS like Grafana, superset, minio, Apache Iceberg or…HDFS to name a few.

So, if you are good with servers / homelabs, there is nothign stopping you to go there and provide similar offerings.

Would you become…the next cool platform owner?

Dont believe me? https://autoize.ch/managed-open-source-apps/ There areManaged hosting for open-source applications

• https://www.solarpace.io/
• https://www.cloudron.io/store/io.hackmd.cloudronapp.html
  • https://www.cloudron.io/pricing.html

I see those different to Elestio and company.

More like a: come here, I will tell you which OSS you need to unstuck your business and will set it up for you.

FAQ

• https://www.youtube.com/@elestio/videos

• https://www.youtube.com/@webnestify

• https://www.linode.com/marketplace/apps/linode/saltcorn/

• https://www.trydome.io/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhK0sARGhYc

• https://railway.app/template/LO03gz?referralCode=uch-he

• https://railway.app/pricing

• https://render.com/pricing

• https://elest.io/open-source/rallly

• https://www.pikapods.com/apps

What exactly do you need?

Let’s test these PaaS with some of the selfhostable WebApps I have documented at some point at the HomeLab repo:

HomeLab Repository

Source Code for HomeLab Containers Config

Time Management via PaaS

Time Management?

Yes! Because its all about time and focus.

Specially if you are a PM on your agency.

Business Chat via PaaS

A chat for your business?

Look no further than Matrix: synapse / dendrite / conduit available as flavours of the same.

OSS Office suite

You could use Proton’s docs and sheets

Or just deploy something like this via PaaS to your VPS:

• https://github.com/cryptpad/cryptpad

agpl 3.0 | CryptPad is a free, open-source, and privacy-focused alternative to Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

OSS HelpDesk

• https://github.com/frappe/helpdesk

agpl 3.0 | Modern, Streamlined, Free and Open Source Customer Service Software

With more and more vibe coding tools, you can even offer shift planners for…gyms?

• https://github.com/panteLx/BetterShift

MIT | A modern shift management application built with Next.js and SQLite. BetterShift helps you organize and manage work shifts across multiple calendars with customizable presets, color coding, password protection and external calendar sync.

Other OSS Tools for a Small Business

• https://github.com/snipe/snipe-it

Snipe-IT: Open-source asset management system