Dokku

Dokku is an open-source, self-hosted web app and server platform. It provides a platform as a service (PaaS) implementation that allows users to deploy applications using Docker containers on their own dedicated infrastructure. The software is installed on a virtual machine and managed primarily via a command line interface, giving users a private environment to host web applications without relying on third party cloud providers.

Users deploy applications by pushing code via Git, which triggers the build and deployment process on the server. Dokku handles the container isolation and application lifecycle, making it suitable for developers who want the workflow of a managed cloud platform while maintaining full control over the underlying server and data. This setup removes the need for manual server configuration for every new project, as the platform automates the process of turning a Git push into a running application.

Key features

• Deployment of applications via Git
• Docker-powered container isolation
• Buildpack support for various programming languages
• Global domain configuration via command line
• SSH key management for secure application deployment
• Support for Ubuntu and Debian operating systems
• Compatibility with amd64 and arm64 architectures

Dokku is designed for installation on a fresh virtual machine running Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or Debian 11 and newer. It uses a bootstrap script for installation and requires an SSH keypair to manage application deployments, which can be imported manually or automatically during the setup process. The architecture focuses on minimalism, providing the core functionality of a PaaS without the overhead of larger orchestration systems. This makes it an ideal choice for small to medium projects where a full Kubernetes cluster would be excessive.

It serves as a lightweight deployment tool for developers and DevOps engineers who require a private, containerized environment for hosting web applications on their own hardware or virtual private servers.