Dokku vs Heroku: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this Markdown formatted document, we will explore the key differences between Dokku and Heroku. Dokku and Heroku are both popular platform-as-a-service providers that offer easy deployment and management of applications, but they have distinct differences in terms of architecture, flexibility, deployment process, scalability, and cost considerations.

1. Architecture:

Dokku is built on Docker and uses lightweight containers for application deployment. It provides a Heroku-like experience but requires manual server setup and configuration. On the other hand, Heroku abstracts away the infrastructure and uses dynos as isolated lightweight containers to host applications, making it easier to deploy and manage without worrying about the underlying servers.

2. Flexibility:

Dokku provides more flexibility compared to Heroku, as it allows users to customize and modify the platform according to their specific requirements. Since Dokku is an open-source platform, users have access to the source code and can make changes as needed. However, with Heroku, users have limited control and customization options as the platform is managed and controlled by the Heroku team.

3. Deployment Process:

Dokku offers a simpler deployment process compared to Heroku. With Dokku, you can deploy your application by pushing your code to a remote Git repository, and Dokku automatically builds and deploys the application based on the specified configuration. Heroku, on the other hand, uses a Git-based workflow, where you push your code to a remote Heroku repository, and Heroku's build system takes care of building and deploying the application.

4. Scalability:

Dokku supports horizontal scalability by using Docker containers, allowing you to scale your application by adding more containers as needed. However, managing scaling and load balancing is manual and requires additional configuration. In contrast, Heroku provides an automatic horizontal scaling feature that allows your application to handle increased traffic by adjusting the number of dynos dynamically. Heroku takes care of load balancing and scaling without requiring manual intervention.

5. Cost Considerations:

Dokku is a self-hosted platform, which means you need to set up and manage your own server infrastructure to run Dokku. This can reduce the costs compared to Heroku, especially for larger applications with high traffic, as you only need to pay for the server resources. On the other hand, Heroku is a fully managed platform where you pay for the resources and services provided by Heroku, which can be more expensive, especially for applications with high resource requirements.

Summary:

In summary, Dokku and Heroku have key differences in terms of architecture, flexibility, deployment process, scalability, and cost considerations. Dokku offers more flexibility and customization options, requires manual server setup, and provides a simpler deployment process. Heroku, on the other hand, abstracts away the infrastructure, offers automatic scaling, and is a fully managed platform. Consider your specific requirements and preferences when choosing between between Dokku and Heroku.