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Discover top open-source software, updated regularly with real-world adoption signals.
Discover top open-source software, updated regularly with real-world adoption signals.
Docker-powered mini-Heroku for self-hosted application deployment
Dokku is a lightweight, self-hosted Platform-as-a-Service that uses Docker to help you build and manage application lifecycles with Heroku-like simplicity.
Dokku is the smallest PaaS implementation you'll find—a Docker-powered platform that brings Heroku-style deployment workflows to your own infrastructure. Designed for developers and teams who want simple git-push deployments without vendor lock-in or complex orchestration overhead, Dokku transforms a single VM into a fully functional application platform.
Ideal for startups, indie developers, and small teams running Ubuntu or Debian servers, Dokku supports buildpack-based deployments across multiple languages (Go, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, JavaScript, and more). Whether you're prototyping new ideas or running production workloads on a budget, Dokku delivers a familiar developer experience with minimal operational complexity.
Installation takes minutes on a fresh VM. Once configured with SSH keys and domain settings, you can deploy applications via git push, manage SSL certificates, configure databases, and scale services—all through a straightforward CLI. Dokku integrates with Docker's ecosystem while abstracting away container orchestration, making it accessible to teams without Kubernetes expertise. The MIT-licensed project is actively maintained with comprehensive documentation and community support.
When teams consider Dokku, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Rapid MVP Deployment
Launch multiple prototype applications on a single $10/month VPS with git-push simplicity, avoiding expensive PaaS bills during validation phases.
Agency Client Hosting
Consolidate dozens of small client websites and apps on dedicated servers with isolated containers, SSL automation, and straightforward maintenance.
Internal Tool Infrastructure
Deploy internal dashboards, APIs, and microservices behind your firewall without cloud vendor dependencies or complex Kubernetes overhead.
Cost-Optimized Production
Run production workloads for small SaaS products or side projects at fraction of Heroku costs while maintaining familiar deployment patterns.
Dokku replicates Heroku's git-push deployment workflow and buildpack support but runs on your own infrastructure. You gain cost savings and control but manage the underlying server yourself.
Dokku is designed for single-server deployments. For multi-server orchestration, consider Kubernetes or Docker Swarm. Dokku excels at simplicity on modest infrastructure.
Dokku supports any language with Heroku buildpacks—including Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, and Scala. You can also deploy via Dockerfile for custom environments.
No. Dokku abstracts Docker complexity behind a simple CLI. You interact with familiar commands like 'git push' and 'dokku apps:create' rather than managing containers directly.
Yes, for single-server or modest-scale production apps. Many teams run production services on Dokku. Evaluate your availability, scaling, and disaster recovery requirements first.
Project at a glance
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