About Kamal
Kamal is a Docker-based deployment tool that provides zero-downtime deploys, rolling restarts, asset bridging, remote builds, and management of accessory services for production web apps. Originally built for Rails, it works with any containerized app and aims to keep deployments portable across cloud, on-prem, or bare-metal.
Key Features
Kamal supports operators who want to move between clouds or run on their own hardware without vendor lock-in, delivering a practical, Docker-centered workflow:
Auto-provisioning of new servers
Add a brand-new Ubuntu host to Kamal and it’s provisioned with Docker, ready to run your app.
Zero-downtime deploys and rolling restarts
Deploy updates without taking the live app offline; restarts are controlled to preserve service availability.
Asset bridging and remote builds
Build assets and move them across environments, coordinating builds remotely as part of the deployment flow.
Docker-based images and CI readiness
Deployments leverage Docker images; these images can be reused in CI and benefit from Docker layer caching to speed updates.
Summary
Best for DevOps teams deploying containerized apps across cloud and on-prem, Rails shops seeking portable production workflows, and startups needing hardware-agnostic scalability.
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