What is Gokku?

Gokku is a lightweight, git-push deployment system designed for Go applications (but supports Python, Node.js, and more).

The Name

Gokku = Go + Dokku

It's inspired by Dokku but focuses on:

• Go-first design
• Simpler configuration
• Docker-native deployment
• Zero-downtime deployments

Core Philosophy

1. Git-Push Simplicity: Deploy with git push, just like Heroku
2. Configuration as Code: Everything in gokku.yml
3. Sensible Defaults: Minimal config required
4. Docker-Native: All apps run in Docker containers with automatic management

How It Works

Key Features

🚀 Git-Push Deployment

git push production main

That's it. Your app builds, deploys, and restarts automatically.

🔧 Multi-Language

• Go: Compiled in Docker with automatic Dockerfile generation
• Python: Docker with automatic dependency detection
• Node.js: Docker with npm/yarn support
• Ruby, Rust, etc: Via custom Dockerfile

⚙️ Zero Config (Almost)

Minimal gokku.yml:

apps:
  api:
    path: ./cmd/api

Everything else has defaults:

• Language: Go
• Environment: production
• Branch: main

🐳 Docker Native

All apps run in Docker containers:

apps:
  api:
    path: ./cmd/api
  
  worker:
    lang: python
    path: ./worker

Both deploy as Docker containers with automatic image management.

Who Is It For?

Perfect for:

• Go developers wanting simple deployments
• Side projects that don't need Kubernetes
• Startups needing fast iteration
• Dev/staging environments
• Learning deployment workflows

Not ideal for:

• Large-scale production (use Kubernetes)
• Windows servers (Linux only)
• Complex orchestration needs

What's Next?

• Getting Started - Install and deploy your first app
• Configuration - Learn about gokku.yml
• Examples - See real-world usage