About this video

• Video Title: Um substituto da Vercel open-source?! Deploy Coolify + Hetzner do zero!
• Channel: Rocketseat
• Speakers: [Not specified in the transcript]
• Duration: 15:25

Overview

This video demonstrates how to set up and deploy applications using Coolify, an open-source alternative to Vercel, in conjunction with Hetzner servers. The presenter walks through the process of creating a Hetzner VPS, installing Coolify on it, and then deploying various services like Redis and N8N, highlighting Coolify's user-friendly interface and cost-effectiveness.

Key takeaways

• Coolify as a Vercel Alternative: Coolify offers an open-source solution for deploying applications with a visual interface, similar to Vercel, but with more flexibility.
• Hetzner for Cost-Effective VPS: Hetzner provides affordable VPS options, making it a budget-friendly choice for hosting Coolify and other applications. A 3 VCPU, 4GB RAM, 2TB bandwidth server costs approximately $9.99/month.
• Ease of Deployment: Coolify simplifies the deployment process for various services, including databases (PostgreSQL, Redis) and applications (Node.js, Java, Rust, Python), by leveraging Docker and offering pre-built templates.
• Customizable Deployments: Users can deploy from GitHub repositories, private repositories, Docker images, Docker Compose files, or Dockerfiles, offering a high degree of customization.
• Domain and SSL Configuration: The video shows how to map a custom domain to the Coolify instance and how it automatically provisions SSL certificates using Let's Encrypt for secure access.

Here's a step-by-step guide based on the video:

Goal: Deploy applications using Coolify on a Hetzner VPS.

Phase 1: Setting Up the Infrastructure

1. Choose a VPS Provider: The video recommends Hetzner for its affordability and performance.
2. Create a Hetzner Server:
   • Log in to your Hetzner Cloud account.
   • Create a new server.
   • Location: Select a region (e.g., US East).
   • Operating System: Choose Ubuntu.
   • Plan: Select a shared CPU plan. For demonstration, a 3 VCPU, 4GB RAM, 80GB SSD, and 2TB bandwidth plan for approximately $9.99/month is shown.
   • SSH Key: Add your public SSH key for secure access. If you don't have one, generate it using ssh-keygen on your local machine. Copy the content of your ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub file.
   • Server Name: Name your server (e.g., "Coolify").
   • Order Server: Finalize the server creation.
3. Note the Server's IP Address: Once the server is provisioned, copy its IP address.

Phase 2: Installing Coolify

1. Connect to the Server: Open your terminal and connect to the newly created VPS using SSH:

   ssh root@<your_server_ip>
   

   (Replace <your_server_ip> with the actual IP address). Confirm the connection when prompted.
2. Download and Run the Coolify Installation Script:
   • Navigate to the Coolify documentation on their website.
   • Copy the installation command (it typically looks like curl -fsSL https://coolify.io/install.sh | bash -s or similar).
   • Paste and execute the command in your server's terminal.
3. Monitor Installation: The script will download necessary packages (like Docker, Nginx, etc.) and configure Coolify. This process may include some lighthearted jokes.
4. Access Coolify Web Interface: Once the installation is complete, the script will provide a URL (using the server's IP address initially) to access the Coolify web interface. Open this URL in your browser.
5. Create Your Coolify Account: Follow the prompts to create your administrator account (username, password with specific requirements). You can skip the onboarding if preferred.

Phase 3: Configuring Coolify and Deploying an Application

1. (Optional) Configure Custom Domain:
   • In Coolify, go to Settings -> Domain Configuration.
   • Go to your domain registrar (e.g., Squarespace in the video).
   • Add an A record for your desired subdomain (e.g., coolify-youtube.yourdomain.dev).
   • Point this A record to your Hetzner server's IP address.
   • Wait for DNS propagation.
   • In Coolify, update the domain settings with your custom domain. Coolify will automatically attempt to provision an SSL certificate (using Let's Encrypt).
2. Create a Project:
   • In Coolify, navigate to Projects.
   • Click Create New Project.
   • Name your project (e.g., "Test YouTube").
   • You can set up different environments (like staging, production, dev) if needed.
3. Add a New Resource (Service/Application):
   • Within your project, click Add New Resource.
   • Choose Deployment Method:
     • From GitHub/GitLab: Connect your repository (public or private with a deploy key).
     • Docker Image: Provide a Docker image name.
     • Docker Compose: Upload your docker-compose.yml file.
     • Dockerfile: Provide a Dockerfile.
     • Templates: Select from a list of common applications (e.g., Redis, PostgreSQL, N8N).
4. Deploying Redis (Example):
   • Select Redis from the templates.
   • Name the service (e.g., "Redis Test").
   • Configure necessary settings (e.g., password, port).
   • Make the service publicly available if needed (e.g., for external access, though often not recommended for databases).
   • Click Start to deploy. Coolify will pull the Docker image and start the Redis container.
5. Deploying N8N (Example):
   • Select N8N (or choose another application like a Node.js app from a GitHub repo).
   • If deploying from a template, configure the service name and any required environment variables or domain mappings.
   • If deploying from a repository with a Dockerfile or docker-compose.yml, select that option and provide the repository URL and branch.
   • Map a custom domain if desired (e.g., n8n.yourdomain.dev). Ensure the DNS is set up as described in step 1.
   • Click Start to initiate the deployment. Coolify will build the image (if necessary) and launch the application.
6. Access Your Deployed Application: Once the deployment is complete, you should be able to access your application via its configured URL (e.g., https://n8n.yourdomain.dev).

Key Coolify Features Mentioned:

• Self-hosted: Install on your own VPS.
• Visual Interface: User-friendly dashboard.
• Service Templates: Easy deployment of common services like databases and tools.
• Repository Integration: Deploy directly from GitHub/GitLab.
• Docker Support: Deploy Docker images, Dockerfiles, and Docker Compose.
• Environment Variables: Manage application settings.
• Domain and SSL: Automatic domain mapping and HTTPS certificate generation.
• Multi-Server Management: A single Coolify instance can manage applications across multiple servers (Destinations).
• Backup Configuration: Can be set up within Coolify.