# Dokku — The Smallest PaaS Implementation You've Ever Seen

> Dokku is a Docker-powered PaaS that helps you build and manage app lifecycles. git push to deploy, automatic SSL, plugin ecosystem — your own Heroku on a single server.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

## Quick Use

```bash
# Install on Ubuntu 22.04+
wget -NP . https://dokku.com/install/v0.34.8/bootstrap.sh
sudo DOKKU_TAG=v0.34.8 bash bootstrap.sh

# Create app
dokku apps:create my-app

# Deploy with git push
git remote add dokku dokku@your-server:my-app
git push dokku main
```

Your app is live at `http://my-app.your-server.com` with automatic SSL.

## Intro

**Dokku** is the smallest PaaS implementation you've ever seen. Powered by Docker, it provides a Heroku-like experience on your own server — git push deployment, automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt, buildpack and Dockerfile support, and a rich plugin ecosystem for databases, caching, and more.

With 31.9K+ GitHub stars and MIT license, Dokku is the most popular self-hosted PaaS, perfect for indie developers, small teams, and anyone who wants Heroku simplicity without Heroku pricing.

## What Dokku Does

- **Git Push Deploy**: Push code, Dokku builds and deploys automatically
- **Buildpacks**: Auto-detect language and build (Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, etc.)
- **Dockerfile**: Deploy any Dockerfile-based application
- **Docker Image**: Deploy pre-built Docker images directly
- **Automatic HTTPS**: Let's Encrypt certificates provisioned and renewed automatically
- **Zero Downtime**: Zero-downtime deploys with health checks
- **Scaling**: Scale app processes horizontally
- **Plugins**: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, RabbitMQ, and 100+ community plugins
- **Domains**: Custom domain management with automatic routing
- **Environment Variables**: Secure config management

## Architecture

```
Developer
    │
    │ git push dokku main
    │
┌───┴───────────────────────────────────┐
│  Dokku Server                         │
│  ┌─────────┐  ┌────────────────────┐  │
│  │ Git     │──│ Builder            │  │
│  │ Receive │  │ (Buildpack/Docker) │  │
│  └─────────┘  └────────┬───────────┘  │
│                         │              │
│  ┌──────────────────────┴───────────┐ │
│  │  Docker Container (your app)     │ │
│  └──────────────────────────────────┘ │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │  Nginx (reverse proxy + SSL)    │ │
│  └──────────────────────────────────┘ │
└───────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Getting Started

### 1. Install Dokku

```bash
# On a fresh Ubuntu 22.04+ server
wget -NP . https://dokku.com/install/v0.34.8/bootstrap.sh
sudo DOKKU_TAG=v0.34.8 bash bootstrap.sh

# Set domain
dokku domains:set-global your-server.com

# Add your SSH key
echo "your-public-key" | dokku ssh-keys:add admin
```

### 2. Create App

```bash
dokku apps:create my-node-app
```

### 3. Add Database

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

# Create database and link to app
dokku postgres:create my-db
dokku postgres:link my-db my-node-app
# DATABASE_URL is automatically set in app environment
```

### 4. Deploy

```bash
# On your local machine
git remote add dokku dokku@your-server.com:my-node-app
git push dokku main
```

### 5. Enable HTTPS

```bash
dokku letsencrypt:enable my-node-app
# Auto-renews via cron
```

## Common Commands

```bash
# App management
dokku apps:list                          # List all apps
dokku apps:create my-app                 # Create app
dokku apps:destroy my-app                # Delete app

# Configuration
dokku config:set my-app KEY=value        # Set env var
dokku config:show my-app                 # Show all env vars

# Domains & SSL
dokku domains:add my-app example.com     # Add custom domain
dokku letsencrypt:enable my-app          # Enable HTTPS

# Scaling
dokku ps:scale my-app web=3 worker=2     # Scale processes

# Databases (plugins)
dokku postgres:create db1                # Create PostgreSQL
dokku redis:create cache1                # Create Redis
dokku postgres:link db1 my-app           # Link to app

# Logs & debugging
dokku logs my-app -t                     # Tail logs
dokku enter my-app web                   # Shell into container
dokku run my-app npm run migrate         # Run one-off command
```

## Supported Languages

| Language | Detection | Build Method |
|----------|-----------|-------------|
| Node.js | package.json | Buildpack |
| Python | requirements.txt / Pipfile | Buildpack |
| Ruby | Gemfile | Buildpack |
| Go | go.mod | Buildpack |
| PHP | composer.json | Buildpack |
| Java | pom.xml / build.gradle | Buildpack |
| Static | index.html | Buildpack (nginx) |
| Any | Dockerfile | Docker build |

## Dokku vs Alternatives

| Feature | Dokku | Heroku | CapRover | Coolify |
|---------|-------|--------|----------|---------|
| Open Source | Yes (MIT) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Git push deploy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto HTTPS | Let's Encrypt | Built-in | Let's Encrypt | Let's Encrypt |
| Buildpacks | Heroku compatible | Native | Dockerfile | Nixpacks |
| Database plugins | Official | Add-ons | One-click apps | One-click |
| Multi-server | Via plugins | Built-in | Docker Swarm | Yes |
| Pricing | Free (VPS cost) | $5+/dyno/mo | Free (VPS cost) | Free (VPS cost) |
| Best for | Single server | SaaS | Web UI fans | Modern UI fans |

## 常见问题

**Q: Dokku 和 CapRover 怎么选？**
A: Dokku 更贴近 Heroku 体验，命令行操作为主，buildpack 生态成熟。CapRover 有漂亮的 Web UI，更适合不习惯命令行的用户。功能上两者相当，个人偏好决定。

**Q: 一台服务器能跑多少个应用？**
A: 取决于应用资源消耗。一台 4GB RAM 的 VPS 通常可以跑 5-10 个小型 Web 应用（Node.js/Python）+ 对应数据库。建议每个应用设置内存限制。

**Q: 支持多服务器集群吗？**
A: Dokku 默认是单服务器架构。通过 dokku-scheduler-k3s 插件可以扩展到 K3s 集群。对于多服务器需求，也可以考虑 Coolify 或 CapRover。

## 来源与致谢

- GitHub: [dokku/dokku](https://github.com/dokku/dokku) — 31.9K+ ⭐ | MIT
- 官网: [dokku.com](https://dokku.com)

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/ed054bbe-34d8-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: Script Depot