Dokku and Coolify are designed to let you deploy and manage applications on your own infrastructure, similar to what Heroku offers, but under your direct control.
Where to Install: Local Machine vs. Cloud VPS/VM
Intended Use: Both Dokku and Coolify are primarily intended to be installed on a dedicated server, which can be a physical machine you own or, more commonly, a virtual private server (VPS) or virtual machine (VM) from a cloud provider (such as AWS, DigitalOcean, Linode, etc.).
- Local Machine: While you technically can install them on your own local machine, this is not typical for production use. Exposing your personal hardware to the internet for public access is generally discouraged due to security, reliability, and networking concerns.
- Cloud VPS/VM: The standard approach is to provision a fresh Linux VPS/VM, install the PaaS software, and then configure networking (DNS, firewalls, etc.) so your applications are accessible from the internet.
Installation and Setup Workflow
1. Provision a Server
- Obtain a VPS or VM running a supported Linux distribution (commonly Ubuntu or Debian).
- Ensure you have SSH access to the server.
2. Install the PaaS Software
- Dokku: Install via a simple shell script. You’ll configure SSH keys for deployment and set up a global domain for your apps.
- Coolify: Install by running an installation script, which also sets up Docker (since Coolify uses Docker for app management).
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3. Configure Networking
- Point your domain (or subdomains) to your server’s public IP using DNS A or CNAME records.
- Set up firewalls to allow HTTP/HTTPS (and any other necessary ports).
- Optionally, set up a reverse proxy (often handled automatically by the PaaS or via built-in Nginx/Traefik).
4. Deploy Applications
- Use Git or the web interface to deploy applications to your PaaS.
- Manage databases and other resources through the PaaS dashboard or CLI.
Typical Use Case
According to Coolify’s and Dokku’s docs.
Coolify
“To start using Coolify, you’ll need a server. This can be a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or any server you can access remotely. The server will host Coolify, which will in turn manage your applications and databases.”
Dokku
“Dokku is an extensible, open source Platform as a Service that runs on a single server of your choice… Dokku is designed for usage on a fresh VM installation.”
Summary
| Option | Typical Use Case | Exposed to Internet? | Recommended for Production? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local machine | Testing, development only | Not recommended | No |
| Cloud VPS/VM | Production, staging, development | Yes (via DNS/proxy) | Yes |