Docker · Caddy · Cloud — running on one server
A 7-step path to running a real service on a single, well-tuned server.
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Lessons
- 9
- Total time
- 245 min
Running real services on one server
Distributed isn't always the answer. Docker + Caddy + one server can handle most side projects and SaaS MVPs.
By the end:
- Understand Docker and docker-compose patterns
- Auto HTTPS + reverse proxy with Caddy
- Lock everything down with SSH tunnels + 127.0.0.1 binding
- Know AWS essentials (VPC, EC2, RDS, S3, IAM)
- One-line deploy with Fly.io
Prerequisite — getting-started + a domain (DuckDNS works for free).
Lessons
- 1→
Step 1 — Docker basics
35 min
- 2→
Step 2 — docker-compose patterns
30 min
- 3→
Step 3 — Caddy automatic HTTPS
25 min
- 4→
Step 4 — SSH tunnels + loopback binding
25 min
- 5→
Step 5 — AWS essentials — VPC · EC2 · RDS · S3 · IAM
45 min
- 6→
Step 6 — Fly.io one-line deploy
20 min
- 7→
Step 7 — Single-server philosophy
25 min
- 8→
Step 8 — 5-minute deploy with Replit
15 min
- 9→
Step 9 — Free hosting on GitHub Pages
25 min