Dokku - The smallest PaaS implementation you've ever seen
An open source PAAS alternative to Heroku. Dokku helps you build and manage the lifecycle of applications from building to scaling.
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Dokku is an open-source, Docker-powered mini-Heroku PaaS for self-hosted app deployment via git push on a single server.
🚀 Overview
Dokku lets you deploy Heroku-compatible apps with git push, building via buildpacks and running in Docker containers. It solves vendor lock-in and Heroku costs by giving full control on your own hardware/cloud VM. Built for devs wanting simple, extensible PaaS without complexity. Created as the smallest self-hosted Heroku clone.
✨ Key Features
- Git push deploys with Heroku buildpack support
- Isolated Docker containers per app
- Extensible via plugins (any language)
- Simple core; optional plugins for extras (databases, SSL, etc.)
🛠 Tech Stack
Docker core; Bash scripts; Git for deploys; Heroku buildpacks; supports Ubuntu/Debian; plugin system.
👥 Who Is This For?
This project is useful for:
- Devs avoiding Heroku lock-in/costs
- Self-hosters on cheap VMs/hardware
- Teams deploying multiple apps simply
- Heroku users wanting open-source alternative
📸 Screenshots / Demo
- Website: https://dokku.com
- GitHub: https://github.com/dokku/dokku
🔥 Project Status
- 🟢 Actively building
Last updated: 2026-01-31 (v0.37.6 released Jan 2026)
❓ FAQ
Is this project free?
Yes — fully free and open source (MIT license).
Is the source code available?
Yes — https://github.com/dokku/dokku
Can I contribute?
Yes — PRs, issues, plugins welcome on GitHub; sponsor via OpenCollective/Patreon.
What's coming next?
Ongoing compatibility, plugin ecosystem, stability; path toward 1.0 with better features.
📬 Contact & Links
- Website: https://dokku.com
- Docs: https://dokku.com/docs
- GitHub: https://github.com/dokku/dokku
- Releases: https://github.com/dokku/dokku/releases
Built with ❤️ and kept warm on WarmIndex.
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