coolify/.ai/core/project-overview.md
Andras Bacsai 3f7c5fbdf9 Consolidate AI documentation into .ai/ directory
- Create .ai/ directory as single source of truth for all AI docs
- Organize by topic: core/, development/, patterns/, meta/
- Update CLAUDE.md to reference .ai/ files instead of embedding content
- Remove 18KB of duplicated Laravel Boost guidelines from CLAUDE.md
- Fix testing command descriptions (pest runs all tests, not just unit)
- Standardize version numbers (Laravel 12.4.1, PHP 8.4.7, Tailwind 4.1.4)
- Replace all .cursor/rules/*.mdc with single coolify-ai-docs.mdc reference
- Delete dev_workflow.mdc (non-Coolify Task Master content)
- Merge cursor_rules.mdc + self_improve.mdc into maintaining-docs.md
- Update .AI_INSTRUCTIONS_SYNC.md to redirect to new location

Benefits:
- Single source of truth - no more duplication
- Consistent versions across all documentation
- Better organization by topic
- Platform-agnostic .ai/ directory works for all AI tools
- Reduced CLAUDE.md from 719 to ~320 lines
- Clear cross-references between files
2025-11-18 14:58:59 +01:00

4.4 KiB

Coolify Project Overview

What is Coolify?

Coolify is an open-source & self-hostable alternative to Heroku / Netlify / Vercel. It's a comprehensive deployment platform that helps you manage servers, applications, and databases on your own hardware with just an SSH connection.

Core Mission

"Imagine having the ease of a cloud but with your own servers. That is Coolify."

  • No vendor lock-in - All configurations saved to your servers
  • Self-hosted - Complete control over your infrastructure
  • SSH-only requirement - Works with VPS, Bare Metal, Raspberry PIs, anything
  • Docker-first - Container-based deployment architecture

Key Features

🚀 Application Deployment

  • Git-based deployments (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gitea)
  • Docker & Docker Compose support
  • Preview deployments for pull requests
  • Zero-downtime deployments
  • Build cache optimization

🖥️ Server Management

  • Multi-server orchestration
  • Real-time monitoring and logs
  • SSH key management
  • Proxy configuration (Traefik/Caddy)
  • Resource usage tracking

🗄️ Database Management

  • PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB
  • Redis, KeyDB, Dragonfly, ClickHouse
  • Automated backups with S3 integration
  • Database clustering support

🔧 Infrastructure as Code

  • Docker Compose generation
  • Environment variable management
  • SSL certificate automation
  • Custom domain configuration

👥 Team Collaboration

  • Multi-tenant team organization
  • Role-based access control
  • Project and environment isolation
  • Team-wide resource sharing

📊 Monitoring & Observability

  • Real-time application logs
  • Server resource monitoring
  • Deployment status tracking
  • Webhook integrations
  • Notification systems (Email, Discord, Slack, Telegram)

Target Users

DevOps Engineers

  • Infrastructure automation
  • Multi-environment management
  • CI/CD pipeline integration

Developers

  • Easy application deployment
  • Development environment provisioning
  • Preview deployments for testing

Small to Medium Businesses

  • Cost-effective Heroku alternative
  • Self-hosted control and privacy
  • Scalable infrastructure management

Agencies & Consultants

  • Client project isolation
  • Multi-tenant management
  • White-label deployment solutions

Business Model

Open Source (Free)

  • Complete feature set
  • Self-hosted deployment
  • Community support
  • No feature restrictions

Cloud Version (Paid)

  • Managed Coolify instance
  • High availability
  • Premium support
  • Email notifications included
  • Same price as self-hosted server (~$4-5/month)

Architecture Philosophy

Server-Side First

  • Laravel backend with Livewire frontend
  • Minimal JavaScript footprint
  • Real-time updates via WebSockets
  • Progressive enhancement approach

Docker-Native

  • Container-first deployment strategy
  • Docker Compose orchestration
  • Image building and registry integration
  • Volume and network management

Security-Focused

  • SSH-based server communication
  • Environment variable encryption
  • Team-based access isolation
  • Audit logging and activity tracking

Project Structure

coolify/
├── app/                    # Laravel application core
│   ├── Models/            # Domain models (Application, Server, Service)
│   ├── Livewire/          # Frontend components
│   ├── Actions/           # Business logic actions
│   └── Jobs/              # Background job processing
├── resources/             # Frontend assets and views
├── database/              # Migrations and seeders
├── docker/                # Docker configuration
├── scripts/               # Installation and utility scripts
└── tests/                 # Test suites (Pest, Dusk)

Key Differentiators

vs. Heroku

  • Self-hosted (no vendor lock-in)
  • Multi-server support
  • No usage-based pricing
  • Full infrastructure control

vs. Vercel/Netlify

  • Backend application support
  • Database management included
  • Multi-environment workflows
  • Custom server infrastructure

vs. Docker Swarm/Kubernetes

  • User-friendly web interface
  • Git-based deployment workflows
  • Integrated monitoring and logging
  • No complex YAML configuration

Development Principles

  • Simplicity over complexity
  • Convention over configuration
  • Security by default
  • Developer experience focused
  • Community-driven development