How to use the command 'dokku' (with examples)

The ‘dokku’ command is a Docker-powered platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that allows you to easily deploy multiple apps to your server using a single git-push command. This article will explain the different use cases of the ‘dokku’ command and provide examples for each use case.

Use case 1: List running apps

Code:

dokku apps

Motivation:

This use case allows you to list all the running apps on your server. It can be useful when you want to check the status of your deployed apps or manage them.

Explanation:

• dokku: The command to interact with the dokku PaaS.
• apps: The sub-command that lists the running apps.

Example output:

=== My Server Apps
app1
app2
app3

Use case 2: Create an app

Code:

dokku apps:create app_name

Motivation:

This use case is used to create a new app on your server. It is useful when you want to deploy a new application and start managing it with dokku.

Explanation:

• dokku: The command to interact with the dokku PaaS.
• apps:create: The sub-command that creates a new app.
• app_name: The name of the app to be created.

Example output:

Creating app app_name... done

Use case 3: Remove an app

Code:

dokku apps:destroy app_name

Motivation:

This use case allows you to remove an app from your server. It is useful when you want to delete an application and stop managing it with dokku.

Explanation:

• dokku: The command to interact with the dokku PaaS.
• apps:destroy: The sub-command that removes an app.
• app_name: The name of the app to be removed.

Example output:

Destroying app app_name... done

Use case 4: Install plugin

Code:

dokku plugin:install full_repo_url

Motivation:

This use case allows you to install a plugin into your dokku instance. Plugins can extend the functionality of dokku and add additional features or services.

Explanation:

• dokku: The command to interact with the dokku PaaS.
• plugin:install: The sub-command that installs a plugin.
• full_repo_url: The full URL of the plugin’s repository.

Example output:

Installing plugin from full_repo_url... done

Use case 5: Link database to an app

Code:

dokku db:link db_name app_name

Motivation:

This use case is used to link a database to a specific app. It is useful when you want to connect your app to a database and manage the database settings through dokku.

Explanation:

• dokku: The command to interact with the dokku PaaS.
• db:link: The sub-command that links a database to an app.
• db_name: The name of the database to be linked.
• app_name: The name of the app to link the database to.

Example output:

Linking database db_name to app app_name... done

Conclusion

The ‘dokku’ command provides a simple and convenient way to deploy and manage your applications on a Docker-powered PaaS. Whether you need to list running apps, create and remove apps, install plugins, or link databases to apps, ‘dokku’ has you covered. By following the examples provided in this article, you can easily leverage the power of ‘dokku’ to streamline your application deployment process.