Dokku

Docker powered mini-Heroku. The smallest PaaS implementation you've ever seen.

Overview

Dokku is a lightweight, self-hosted Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that brings Heroku-like deployment capabilities to your own infrastructure. Built on Docker, Dokku enables you to deploy applications using simple git push commands while handling all the complexity of containerization, routing, SSL certificates, and scaling behind the scenes. It's designed to be simple to install, easy to use, and powerful enough for production workloads.

Key Features

Simple Git-Based Deployment

• Git Push Deploy: Deploy applications with a simple git push dokku main
• Automatic Detection: Automatically detects application type and configures deployment
• Zero-Config Deployment: Many applications deploy without any configuration files
• Branch Support: Deploy different branches to different environments
• Rollback Support: Easy rollback to previous deployments
• Deploy Hooks: Custom scripts that run during deployment process

Application Management

• Multiple Applications: Host multiple applications on a single server
• Process Scaling: Scale application processes up or down
• Environment Variables: Secure environment variable management
• Custom Domains: Easy custom domain configuration with SSL
• Health Checks: Built-in application health monitoring
• Log Management: Centralized logging for all applications

Buildpack Support

• Heroku Buildpacks: Full compatibility with Heroku buildpacks
• Multi-Language: Support for Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, Go, and more
• Dockerfile Support: Deploy applications using Dockerfiles
• Custom Buildpacks: Create and use custom buildpacks for specific needs
• Cloud Native Buildpacks: Support for Cloud Native Buildpack specification
• Lambda Builder: Experimental support for serverless deployments

Infrastructure & Scaling

• Docker Integration: Built on Docker for containerization and isolation
• Load Balancing: Built-in load balancing with nginx
• SSL/TLS Support: Automatic SSL certificate management with Let's Encrypt
• Storage Management: Persistent storage with volume mounting
• Database Support: Easy database provisioning with official plugins
• Backup & Restore: Built-in backup and restore capabilities

Technology Stack

• Core: Shell scripts with modular plugin architecture
• Containerization: Docker for application isolation and deployment
• Reverse Proxy: nginx for routing and load balancing
• Process Management: systemd for service management
• Storage: Docker volumes and host filesystem mounting
• Networking: Docker networking with custom configurations
• SSL/TLS: Let's Encrypt integration for automatic certificates
• Monitoring: Built-in health checks and process monitoring

Use Cases

Development Teams

• Create staging and testing environments quickly
• Deploy feature branches for review and testing
• Prototype new applications without infrastructure setup
• Learn deployment best practices in a safe environment
• Test different application configurations and scaling scenarios

Small to Medium Businesses

• Host multiple applications on a single server cost-effectively
• Reduce infrastructure complexity compared to enterprise solutions
• Maintain control over deployment environment and data
• Scale applications as business grows
• Implement CI/CD pipelines with simple tooling

Educational Institutions

• Teach students about deployment and DevOps practices
• Provide isolated environments for student projects
• Demonstrate containerization and scaling concepts
• Run workshops and bootcamps with minimal setup
• Create reproducible learning environments

Personal Projects

• Deploy side projects and portfolios
• Host multiple websites and applications
• Experiment with new technologies and frameworks
• Create development environments for open source contributions
• Build and deploy automation tools and utilities

Self-Hosting Benefits

Cost Efficiency

• Single Server: Run multiple applications on one server instead of separate hosting
• No Vendor Fees: Avoid monthly platform fees and usage-based pricing
• Resource Optimization: Efficient resource usage with Docker containerization
• Long-term Savings: Significant cost reduction compared to managed PaaS solutions
• Predictable Costs: Control infrastructure costs with your own hardware

Complete Control

• Infrastructure Independence: No vendor lock-in or platform dependencies
• Custom Configuration: Modify and extend functionality to meet specific needs
• Security Control: Implement your own security policies and access controls
• Data Sovereignty: Keep all application code and data on your infrastructure
• Network Control: Configure networking and firewall rules according to requirements

Learning & Development

• DevOps Skills: Learn deployment, scaling, and infrastructure management
• Docker Proficiency: Gain hands-on experience with containerization
• System Administration: Develop skills in Linux server management
• Automation Practice: Create and maintain deployment automation
• Problem Solving: Troubleshoot and optimize deployment processes

Installation & Setup

Quick Installation

# Download and run the installation script
wget -NP . https://dokku.com/install/v0.35.19/bootstrap.sh
sudo DOKKU_TAG=v0.35.19 bash bootstrap.sh

# Configure your server domain
sudo dokku domains:set-global dokku.me

# Add your SSH key
cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub | sudo dokku ssh-keys:add admin

# Create your first app
sudo dokku apps:create my-app

Application Deployment

# On your local machine
git clone https://github.com/heroku/ruby-getting-started
cd ruby-getting-started
git remote add dokku [email protected]:my-app
git push dokku main

Database Setup

# Install PostgreSQL plugin
sudo dokku plugin:install https://github.com/dokku/dokku-postgres.git

# Create and link database
sudo dokku postgres:create my-database
sudo dokku postgres:link my-database my-app

Plugin Ecosystem

Official Plugins

• Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch
• Storage: Persistent storage management and backup solutions
• Networking: Advanced routing and load balancing options
• Security: Let's Encrypt SSL, HTTP authentication, and access control
• Monitoring: Application metrics, logging, and health checks
• Deployment: Advanced deployment strategies and rollback options

Community Plugins

• Additional Databases: InfluxDB, CouchDB, RethinkDB
• Message Queues: RabbitMQ, Apache Kafka
• Caching: Memcached, Varnish
• Monitoring: Grafana, Prometheus integration
• CI/CD: Jenkins, GitLab CI integration
• Backup: Automated backup solutions

Advanced Features

Zero Downtime Deployments

• Rolling Updates: Deploy new versions without service interruption
• Health Checks: Verify application health before switching traffic
• Rollback Capability: Quick rollback if deployment issues occur
• Load Balancer Integration: Seamless traffic switching during deployments

Scaling & Performance

• Horizontal Scaling: Add more application instances to handle increased load
• Resource Limits: Set CPU and memory limits for applications
• Auto-scaling: Plugin support for automatic scaling based on metrics
• Performance Monitoring: Track application performance and resource usage

Security Features

• Process Isolation: Each application runs in isolated Docker containers
• User Management: Multi-user support with SSH key management
• SSL/TLS: Automatic HTTPS with Let's Encrypt certificates
• Network Security: Configurable firewall rules and network policies

Alternatives Comparison

| Feature | Dokku | Heroku | CapRover | Coolify | | ------------------- | ----- | ------ | -------- | ------- | | Open Source | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | | Self-Hosting | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | | Git Deploy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Buildpack Support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Web UI | 🔌 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Database Management | 🔌 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Auto SSL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Cost | Free | 💰 | Free | Free |

Resources

• Official Documentation
• GitHub Repository
• Community Slack
• Plugin Directory
• Tutorial Videos
• Migration Guides