Hey everyone! I've created a full PHP web application using Docker (with PHP, MySQL, and Nginx), and it runs perfectly on my local machine—all databases and migrations work great. Now, I'm looking to take it live so my colleagues can access it, but I'm unsure of the best routing from here. What should I do? Should I rent a VPS from services like Hetzner or DigitalOcean and run Docker there? Or maybe use a managed platform that can take care of SSL, domains, and deployment for me? Also, how should I handle my .env file, database credentials, and HTTPS in the production environment? I'm hoping to get a clear step-by-step guide or some hosting recommendations to make my local Docker setup accessible as a live, secure website for my team, whether for internal use or public access. Any insights would be appreciated!
5 Answers
If you're set on simplicity, just grab a domain from GoDaddy and host with 1&1, then you're good to go. That said, I'd advise against using GoDaddy, as I've heard mixed reviews about their services.
Consider getting a DevOps person to assist you, or simply ask ChatGPT for detailed, step-by-step instructions to help you through the hosting process!
Fly.io is a great option if you want something user-friendly. They provide solid documentation for Docker environments that makes the process smoother. Check it out if you want hassle-free deployment!
I would suggest getting a cheap VPS from Linode or DigitalOcean. Also, configuring GitHub Actions can help you with CI/CD, and for SSL, using certbot is a good choice. Just keep in mind that your .env file needs to be handled carefully during setup.
For your setup, I recommend going with a VPS like DigitalOcean. It's straightforward to use, and you can run your docker-compose setup there without issues. Just remember to secure your .env file and set up SSL with Let's Encrypt. I've dealt with MySQL setups before, and sorting out the database credentials and migrations before deploying is key. Once that's in place, deploying becomes much easier.
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