How App Platform works

App Platform takes a GitHub repository and turns it into a running app with an HTTPS address. Kubana builds the image, so you don't need a Dockerfile, and runs it for you. You never log in to a server.

The building blocks

• App: one repository, one framework and one size, inside a project.
• Deploy key: a read-only SSH key Kubana generates for each app. You add it to the GitHub repository so Kubana can pull your code but never push to it. Public and private repositories both work.
• Deployment: one build of one commit. Every deployment keeps its build log, so you can see what happened and roll back.
• Domains: every web app gets a Kubana address with HTTPS. You can attach up to 5 of your own domains.

Frontend and backend apps

When you create an app you first choose between Frontends and Backends:

Frontends	Backends
Static sites, Vue, React, Next.js exports	Laravel, Express, Next.js with a server
Kubana builds the app and serves a folder, such as /dist	Kubana runs your app in a container
Can use the free size	Starts at the Small size

Some frameworks are marked Coming soon in the dashboard (Go and Django today). See Laravel requirements for Laravel specifics, including queue workers.

From push to live

1. You push a commit to the branch you picked.
2. With auto-deploy on, GitHub notifies Kubana. Otherwise you choose Deploy in the dashboard.
3. Kubana pulls the commit with the deploy key and builds it. You can follow the build log.
4. The new version replaces the live one and your post-deployment commands run.

What it costs

Apps are billed by the hour from your credit, starting at the first deploy. Up to 2 frontend apps can run on the free size. See Sizes, free apps and billing.

When to use a VPS instead

Choose a VPS when you need root access, custom system packages, a database server, or a service App Platform doesn't run. Choose App Platform when you just want your code online.