I've been working in web development for a while, mostly helping clients set up their sites on AWS, which they manage after I configure everything. But now I'm starting a few projects for myself, and I'm exploring my hosting options. I typically use Lightsail for clients since they prefer a straightforward solution, but I'm not a fan of Amazon and would love to find a more affordable hosting provider. For my personal projects, I'm moving towards using Kotlin with Ktor and Kotlin Multiplatform, so I'm curious about how to configure a single VPS to manage multiple projects using these technologies. Any hosting or setup recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
For a clean setup, I recommend using a single VPS to run containerized Ktor services with Nginx or Caddy as a reverse proxy. That way, you can avoid using Apache altogether! Plus, using Docker can help you isolate each project, reducing the risk of one app affecting another. As for hosting providers, I’d check out Hostinger; their website builder is excellent for managing non-core pages without complicating your infrastructure.
You don't have to stick with AWS! You can actually host your sites on a Raspberry Pi at home, using a free Cloudflare plan to proxy your traffic. But if you're looking for something a bit more stable, maybe think about a VPS instead. You shouldn’t feel boxed in by AWS at all!
I wish I could host at home, but my internet isn't stable enough for a production site.
This is really useful advice! I already use Nginx and Docker in my homelab, so it makes sense to do the same for my projects. Maybe Hostinger's prices aren’t so bad after all, especially when you consider the exchange rate.