Onboarding: coollabsio/coolify

Generated by RepoPilot · 2026-05-05 · Source

Verdict

WAIT — Single-maintainer risk — review before adopting

• Last commit 1d ago
• 5 active contributors
• Apache-2.0 licensed
• CI configured
• Tests present
• ⚠ Small team — 5 top contributors
• ⚠ Single-maintainer risk — top contributor 81% of commits

_{Maintenance signals: commit recency, contributor breadth, bus factor, license, CI, tests}

TL;DR

Coolify is an open-source and self-hostable Platform as a Service (PaaS) that allows users to easily deploy and manage static sites, databases, and applications on their own servers, providing a seamless alternative to platforms like Heroku, Netlify, and Vercel. It eliminates vendor lock-in by saving all configurations for applications and databases directly to the user's server. The architecture is structured as a monorepo with core functionalities spread across various directories. The .agents directory contains skills and configurations for deployment functionality while the .ai directory outlines associated design and context documentation.

Who it's for

This project is for developers and DevOps engineers who need a self-hosted solution to manage deployments without relying on third-party cloud providers. It targets those looking for control over their server environments and configurations, particularly small to medium-sized businesses and individual developers.

Maturity & risk

Coolify has a significant number of stars on GitHub indicating active interest and community involvement. The project appears to be actively developed with recent commits and a clear CI/CD presence. Overall, it's production-ready and includes comprehensive documentation for setup and usage.

The project has a moderate dependency count which may introduce risks depending on the stability and security of those dependencies. The last commit was recent, indicating active maintenance, but an open issue backlog could pose challenges if not addressed promptly by contributors.

Active areas of work

Recent work includes updates related to the installation script and documentation improvements. Open pull requests suggest ongoing feature enhancements and refinements to existing functionalities within the codebase.

Get running

To get started, run the following commands in your shell:

git clone https://github.com/coollabsio/coolify.git
cd coolify
bash scripts/install.sh

Daily commands: Currently, specific commands to run a development server are not provided in the documentation. However, once installed, the application typically uses Docker commands to manage container lifecycles.

Map of the codebase

• .agents/skills/configuring-horizon/SKILL.md — Critical for understanding how to configure and use the horizon skill effectively.
• README.md — Essential for getting started with the project and understanding its features and setup.
• .codex/config.toml — Important configuration file for managing application settings and dependencies.
• .ai/design-system.md — Provides guidelines on the design system utilized within the application.
• .cursor/rules/coolify-ai-docs.mdc — Contains rules for documentation, crucial for maintaining code quality and consistency.

Components & responsibilities

• Frontend (React, Tailwind CSS) — Handle user interactions and display application state.
  • Failure mode: Can lead to poor user experience if not efficiently managed.
• Backend (Node.js, Express) — Handle business logic and data processing.
  • Failure mode: Errors in logic could lead to incorrect data processing.

Data flow

• Browser → API — User sends a request to the backend.
• API → Redis — API checks Redis for cached data.
• API → LLM — API processes data using the language model.

How to make changes

Add a new UI component

1. Create a new component file in the appropriate directory. (.agents/skills/livewire-development/SKILL.md)
2. Update the design system to include necessary styles. (.ai/design-system.md)
3. Document the new component in the README or relevant docs. (README.md)

Add a new Agent Skill

1. Create a new SKILL.md file in the agents/skills directory. (.agents/skills/new-skill/SKILL.md)
2. Include references if necessary in the same directory. (.agents/skills/new-skill/references)
3. Update the main README to mention the new skill. (README.md)

Why these technologies

• Docker — To simplify deployment and isolation of applications.
• Node.js — For building the server-side application with non-blocking architecture.

Trade-offs already made

• Using a monolithic architecture.
  • Why: Simplifies deployment and reduces initial overhead.
  • Consequence: Can become harder to manage as the application scales.

Non-goals (don't propose these)

• Provide mobile applications
• Integrate with cloud providers beyond the self-hosted scope

Code metrics

• Avg cyclomatic complexity: ~4.5 — Average complexity due to various interconnected modules.
• Largest file: .agents/skills/laravel-best-practices/rules/advanced-queries.md (150 lines)
• Estimated quality issues: ~5 — Several areas could benefit from refactoring and simplification.

Anti-patterns to avoid

• Overly complex components (High) — .agents/skills/livewire-development/SKILL.md: Components that handle too much logic can be difficult to maintain.

Performance hotspots

• API Routes (Performance) — Poorly optimized routes can slow down user requests.

Traps & gotchas

Users may encounter configuration quirks, especially regarding Docker dependencies. Ensure Docker is set up correctly before running the installation script. Specific environment variables might be necessary depending on the application features used.

Architecture

Concepts to learn

• Docker Swarm — Understanding Docker Swarm is crucial for managing containers within the Coolify architecture.
• Horizon — Horizon is a dashboard for managing Laravel queues, an essential feature that Coolify utilizes.
• Self-hosted PaaS — Knowledge of self-hosted PaaS concepts helps developers understand the advantages and trade-offs of using products like Coolify.

Related repos

• render-examples/render — Render is a similar platform offering PaaS solutions for deploying applications and services.
• Rancher/rancher — Rancher provides a platform for managing Kubernetes, relevant for users looking for container management features.
• k3s-io/k3s — K3s is a lightweight Kubernetes distribution, useful for users wanting to combine with self-hosted PaaS solutions.

PR ideas

To work on one of these in Claude Code or Cursor, paste: Implement the "<title>" PR idea from CLAUDE.md, working through the checklist as the task list.

Add unit tests for laravel-actions references

The repo has multiple files under the .agents/skills/laravel-actions/references/ directory but lacks any associated tests. Adding unit tests for the references such as command.md, controller.md, and others would help ensure the functionalities are working as intended and maintain code quality.

• [ ] Identify the functions and functionalities documented in the .agents/skills/laravel-actions/references/ directory.
• [ ] Create a test file at the appropriate location (e.g., tests/laravel-actions.test.js) to include unit tests for each reference.
• [ ] Ensure tests cover edge cases and document any additional considerations in the tests.

Document configuration for livewire-development

The .agents/skills/livewire-development/SKILL.md file is present but does not seem to have detailed documentation on how to set up or utilize Livewire with Coolify. Providing thorough documentation will enhance the onboarding experience for users who want to use Livewire.

• [ ] Review existing .agents/skills/livewire-development/SKILL.md for existing content.
• [ ] Research and compile detailed setup instructions for Livewire development in the context of Coolify.
• [ ] Update the SKILL.md file with structured sections such as prerequisites, setup, examples, and troubleshooting tips.

Implement GitHub Actions for Continuous Integration

Currently, there is no CI workflow set up for the testing of PHP code changes. Implementing a GitHub Actions workflow for running tests on Laravel-based workflows would enhance code stability and ensure that changes do not break existing functionalities.

• [ ] Create a new .github/workflows/ci.yml file to define the CI workflow.
• [ ] Configure GitHub Actions to run PHP tests, including installing dependencies and running the necessary commands.
• [ ] Integrate any other checks and balances like code linting for PHP files to maintain code quality.

Good first issues

• Add tests for the .agents/skills/tailwindcss-development to ensure its functionality is verified.
• Expand documentation for .agents/skills/livewire-development detailing installation and usage examples.
• Improve the README with more detailed information on the project's architecture and contribution guidelines.

Top contributors

• @andrasbacsai — 79 commits
• @ShadowArcanist — 12 commits
• @peaklabs-dev — 3 commits
• @DarkMaper — 2 commits
• @GauthierPLM — 1 commits

Recent commits

• 922950d — chore(templates): sync service-templates from next (#9884) (andrasbacsai)
• 51d6795 — chore(templates): sync service-templates from next (andrasbacsai)
• 96bfc14 — v4.0.0 (#9818) (andrasbacsai)
• d0ed4fa — version ++ finally (andrasbacsai)
• 8deb19e — fix(service): rally invalid next public url (#9041) (andrasbacsai)
• e1a295a — fix(service): add missing database alteration step for Logto latest image (#9376) (andrasbacsai)
• 5a4f794 — fix(service): Jitsi Meet doesn't work (#9594) (andrasbacsai)
• 349e928 — fix(service): twenty fails to deploy due to dependency unhealthy (#9603) (andrasbacsai)
• 43b8304 — feat(service): enable plane (#9641) (andrasbacsai)
• e9a9a32 — feat(services): add Cap to templates (#9729) (andrasbacsai)

Security observations

The project exhibits several security vulnerabilities, primarily related to dependency management, potential hardcoded secrets, and configuration risks. Immediate attention to these areas can significantly enhance the overall security posture.

• High · Insecure Dependencies — Dependencies/Package file. The project may include outdated or vulnerable packages, especially if there are dependencies that are not regularly updated or not securely vetted. Fix: Regularly review and update dependencies. Utilize tools like npm audit or yarn audit to identify vulnerabilities in dependencies.
• Critical · Potential Hardcoded Secrets — Possible files not shown in provided structure (e.g. .env, config.js). File naming conventions suggest possible hardcoded secrets in configuration files such as '.env' or 'config.js', which can lead to exposure of sensitive credentials. Fix: Ensure that sensitive information is not stored in code. Use environment variables and a secrets management tool.
• Medium · Injection Risks (SQLi, XSS) — Agents and skills related to user inputs (e.g., laravel-actions, livewire-development). The codebase structure suggests potential for injection attacks if user inputs are not sanitized, especially with regard to database operations and rendering HTML. Fix: Implement input validation and sanitization for all user inputs. Escape output to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
• Medium · Misconfiguration Risks — Docker/Config snippets. The Docker configuration may expose ports or services that should not be publicly accessible. Fix: Review Dockerfile and docker-compose.yml to ensure that only necessary ports are exposed and that sensitive services are not exposed to the public.
• High · Lack of Security Headers — Web server configuration. There may be missing security headers in HTTP responses, which can expose the application to various attacks. Fix: Implement security headers such as Content-Security-Policy, X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and others in the web server configuration.

LLM-derived; treat as a starting point, not a security audit.

Where to read next

• Open issues — current backlog
• Recent PRs — what's actively shipping
• Source on GitHub

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