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Docker · Caddy · Cloud — 10 deploy options

Compare 10 deploy options, from a single Docker + Caddy server to Replit, GitHub Pages, and object storage.

Start with Step 1 →
Difficulty
Intermediate
Lessons
10

Distributed isn't always the answer. Docker + Caddy + one server can handle most side projects, while Replit and GitHub Pages cover the smaller end.

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
  • Instant browser deploy with Replit — zero install steps
  • Free, unlimited static hosting on GitHub Pages
  • Upload files to object storage with RLS and signed-URL access control

Flow

How to choose a deployment target

Execution unit

Package the same application reproducibly with Docker and Compose.

Exposure boundary

Separate HTTPS, proxying, and administrative access with Caddy and SSH tunnels.

Runtime location

Compare a single server and PaaS by fixed cost, operational burden, and traffic charges.

Static and file paths

Choose static hosting and object storage according to transfer volume and access control.

The first half (1–5) is the foundation of running your own infra. The second half (6–10) is a catalogue of PaaS · free hosting · file storage alternatives — pick where to put the same app.

Prerequisite — getting-started + one domain (a placeholder domain is enough for learning).

Lessons

  1. 1

    Step 1 — Docker basics

    →
  2. 2

    Step 2 — docker-compose patterns

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  3. 3

    Step 3 — Caddy automatic HTTPS

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  4. 4

    Step 4 — SSH tunnels + loopback binding

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  5. 5

    Step 5 — AWS essentials — VPC · EC2 · RDS · S3 · IAM

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  6. 6

    Step 6 — Fly.io one-line deploy

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  7. 7

    Step 7 — Single-server philosophy

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  8. 8

    Step 8 — Instant deploy with Replit

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  9. 9

    Step 9 — Free hosting on GitHub Pages

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  10. 10

    Step 10 — Object Storage and File Permissions

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