Hatchbox

Hatchbox is a Rails deployment and hosting management platform designed specifically for Ruby on Rails applications. Think of it as a bridge between complex server management and expensive platform-as-a-service solutions like Heroku. You bring your own servers from any hosting provider like DigitalOcean or AWS, and Hatchbox handles all the configuration, deployment, and maintenance tasks automatically.

The platform sets up everything you need including web servers, databases, SSL certificates, background workers, and cron jobs. What makes it special is the simplicity - you get a Heroku-like experience but with significantly lower costs and complete server control. Hatchbox uses modern tools like Caddy for web serving and provides automatic SSL certificates through LetsEncrypt. Founded by experienced Rails developer Chris Oliver, it specifically addresses the pain points Rails developers face when deploying to production servers.

Getting started with Hatchbox is straightforward and designed for Rails developers at any skill level. First, sign up for a free account and connect your hosting provider like DigitalOcean or AWS. Hatchbox will provision and configure your servers automatically with all necessary components including Ruby, Rails, databases, and web servers.

Here's the typical setup process:

• Connect your Git repository from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket

• Choose your server configuration and hosting provider

• Select which databases you need (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis)

• Configure your domains and SSL certificates

• Deploy your first Rails application

Once deployed, managing your apps is simple through the web dashboard. You can easily add background workers like Sidekiq, set up cron jobs, monitor logs, and manage team access. The platform handles deployments automatically when you push to your main branch. You get full SSH access to your servers for any custom configuration needs, but most users find the web interface handles everything they need for Rails applications.

• Deploy Rails apps to your own servers easily

• Automatic SSL certificates with Caddy and LetsEncrypt

• Background workers and cron job support

• PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Redis database options

• Full SSH access and server control

• Team collaboration with unlimited members

• Git integration for automatic deployments

• Multi-server and load balancer support

• Works with any Ubuntu LTS hosting provider

• Simple web dashboard management