# Planka — Self-Hosted Trello-Like Project Management

> Planka is a real-time, self-hosted kanban board for project management with drag-and-drop cards, file attachments, and multi-user collaboration.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Planka — Self-Hosted Trello-Like Project Management

## Quick Use
```bash
docker compose up -d  # Using the official docker-compose.yml from the repo
# Open http://localhost:1337 — default login demo@demo.demo / demo
```

## Introduction
Planka is a free, open-source, self-hosted project management tool inspired by Trello. It provides real-time kanban boards with a clean, modern interface for teams who want full control over their project data without relying on third-party SaaS platforms.

## What Planka Does
- Manages projects with kanban boards, lists, and draggable cards
- Updates boards in real-time across all connected users via WebSockets
- Supports file attachments, checklists, labels, and due dates on cards
- Provides user and role management with per-board access control
- Delivers email notifications for card assignments and due date reminders

## Architecture Overview
Planka runs on a Node.js backend using the Sails.js framework with a React frontend. PostgreSQL stores all project data, and real-time updates are pushed through WebSockets. File attachments are stored on the local filesystem or configurable storage. The entire stack runs behind a single Docker Compose setup.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy with Docker Compose including PostgreSQL as the database
- Set `SECRET_KEY`, `BASE_URL`, and database credentials in environment variables
- Configure SMTP settings for email notifications on card events
- Mount a volume for `/app/public/user-avatars` and `/app/private/attachments`
- Enable OIDC or LDAP authentication for enterprise single sign-on

## Key Features
- Real-time collaboration lets multiple users edit the same board simultaneously
- Clean, intuitive UI closely mirrors the familiar Trello-style experience
- Markdown support in card descriptions for rich formatting
- Activity log tracks all changes to cards, lists, and boards with timestamps
- Internationalization with support for over 20 languages

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Trello** — cloud SaaS with free tier limits; Planka is fully self-hosted and free
- **Wekan** — feature-rich but heavier; Planka is lighter with a cleaner UI
- **Focalboard** — Mattermost-integrated boards; Planka is standalone and simpler
- **Taiga** — agile project management; Planka focuses on pure kanban simplicity
- **Plane** — more complex with issues and cycles; Planka keeps it simple with boards

## FAQ
**Q: Can I import from Trello?**
A: Planka supports importing Trello JSON exports. Export your Trello board and import it through the Planka interface.

**Q: How many users can it handle?**
A: Planka works well for small to medium teams. WebSocket-based real-time updates scale to dozens of concurrent users per board.

**Q: Is there a mobile app?**
A: No dedicated mobile app yet, but the responsive web interface works well on tablets and mobile browsers.

**Q: Does it support multiple boards per project?**
A: Yes. Each project can contain multiple boards, and users can be assigned to specific projects with role-based access.

## Sources
- https://github.com/plankanban/planka
- https://docs.planka.cloud/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/f7aef9df-39c1-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: AI Open Source