Docker Deploy

If your application already has a Docker image, or you want to use a custom Dockerfile for full control over the build process, Docker deployment is the most direct option.

Using Public Images

You can deploy directly from Docker Hub or other public image registries:

1. Create a new application in the Piora dashboard
2. Select “Docker Image” as the deployment source
3. Enter the image name and tag

# Image name examples
nginx:alpine
node:20-alpine
postgres:16
ghost:5-alpine

Specify Image Tags

We recommend using specific version tags rather than latest to ensure deployment reproducibility. For example, use node:20.11-alpine instead of node:latest.

Using Private Registries

Piora supports connecting to private image registries:

Docker Hub Private Repositories

Add Docker Hub credentials in the application settings:

• Username — Your Docker Hub account
• Password/Token — Docker Hub access token

GitHub Container Registry (GHCR)

ghcr.io/your-org/your-image:latest

Requires a GitHub Personal Access Token with read:packages permission.

Self-Hosted Registries

Supports any private registry compatible with Docker Registry API v2:

registry.example.com/your-image:latest

Port Configuration

When deploying Docker images, you need to specify the port your application listens on:

Setting	Description	Example
Container port	Port the app listens on inside the container	3000
Protocol	HTTP or TCP	HTTP

Traefik automatically routes external traffic to the specified container port — no manual port mapping needed.

Environment Variables

Set environment variables for containers in the dashboard:

NODE_ENV=production
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:pass@db:5432/app
REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379
SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key

Sensitive Information

Environment variables are stored encrypted in the Piora platform. Never put sensitive information directly in your Dockerfile or image.

Persistent Storage

Docker containers are stateless by default — data is lost when containers restart. If your application needs persistent data:

1. Add a “Volume” in the application settings
2. Specify the mount path inside the container

# Example: mount a data directory
Container path: /app/data
Volume name: my-app-data

Health Checks

Configure health checks to ensure containers are running correctly before receiving traffic:

• Check path — HTTP endpoint (e.g., /health)
• Check interval — Time between each check
• Timeout — Maximum time to wait for a response
• Retries — How many consecutive failures before marking unhealthy

Updating Images

When you need to update to a new image version:

1. Update the image tag (if using a fixed version)
2. Click “Redeploy” in the dashboard
3. Piora pulls the latest image and performs a rolling update

If using the latest tag, clicking redeploy will automatically pull the newest version.