Girder
For developers: Girder turns any Linux server into your own Heroku so you deploy with git push and skip Kubernetes complexity.
Built by Willem van Zoeren · Developer Tools · Paid
In category: #640 of 989 · Developer Tools
Girder is a Community listing on Launch Llama with 4 total upvotes, founded by Willem van Zoeren who joined in Aug 2026, compared against 6 alternatives.
Community listing
Listing status
4upvotes
Community score
Willem van Zoeren (Joined Aug 2026)
Founder
Compared against 6 alternatives
Market comparison
Launched on Launch Llama Aug 10, 2026 · #81 of 108 that day
About
Girder is a self-hosted PaaS that turns any Linux server into your own Heroku. One static Go binary, no Kubernetes, no cluster fabric:install it on a cheap VPS and every deploy is a git push.
Push to Girder's built-in git server and a pre-receive hook builds your app from its Dockerfile, streaming the log back to your terminal. A failed build rejects the push, so broken code never ships. Healthy deploys roll out with zero downtime; unhealthy ones roll back automatically. Postgres, Redis, and S3 are one command each, with credentials injected as env vars. Custom domains get automatic DNS and Let's Encrypt certificates. Nightly backups, per-database dumps, point-in-time recovery, and restore drills are built in, not bolted on.
Security is the default posture: only ports 80 and 443 face the internet, while git, the dashboard, and databases sit behind Tailscale. An MCP server exposes the whole platform as tools, so AI agents like Claude or Cursor can deploy, debug, and operate your apps for you.
Girder runs on your hardware and is sold as a one-time license with a year of updates. Built for indie hackers, agencies, and small teams who want Heroku's workflow without Heroku's bill, or someone else's computer.
Use Cases
- Deploy a self-built app from Cursor or Claude Code to your own VPS with git push and a live URL
- Add Postgres, Redis, or S3 to an app with one command and have credentials set on the next deploy
- Host several client projects on one server with domains, SSL, backups, and rollbacks handled per app
Who it is for
- AI builders who create apps with coding tools and need a production path for them
- Indie hackers who want to run side projects on their own VPS at a flat cost
- Agencies and freelancers deploying many client apps with one repeatable workflow
Pricing
Girder is a paid product. See the website for current pricing.
FAQ
How is Girder different from Coolify, Dokku, or Dokploy?
Those are free, open source, and good at what they do. Girder is a commercial product with a narrower promise: one static binary, a built-in git server, backups with real restore drills, and support from the people who wrote it. Fewer moving parts, and someone to email when one moves anyway.
Do I need Kubernetes?
No. Docker is the only runtime dependency. Girder is one binary running as one system service, on one server or several.
What servers does it run on?
Any Linux server with a public IPv4. Hetzner is the reference setup, and the installer can provision, patch, and scale nodes for you there, but any provider works.
Does my code leave my server?
No. Girder is the git origin: you push straight to it and the build runs on your hardware. There is no hosted control plane and nothing to phone home to.
Is Girder built for AI coding tools?
Yes. AI tools make building apps fast. Girder is the layer that runs them in production: git push deploys, databases on demand, domains, SSL, backups, and an MCP server so agents can operate the platform for you.
What happens when my update year ends?
Nothing breaks. The software keeps running exactly as installed; you only stop receiving new versions until you renew.
Alternatives
EnkihostNext-generation hosting for Ruby on Rails, Sinatra, and Jekyll. Connect GitHub/GitLab and ship your apps with zero downtime and custom domains.
PinggyFor developers: Pinggy creates instant public URLs for localhost projects with secure tunnels and custom domains so you test webhooks and share work without binaries.More in Developer Tools
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Supporters
2 founders
2 founders supported Girder on Launch Llama.
Reviews
1 comment
Thanks! AI made writing software easy; shipping it still sucked. I kept hitting the same wall: wire Postgres/Redis/S3, domains, TLS, backups yourself, or pay a metered PaaS and hope the bill stays sane. Compose is busywork, K8s for a side project is theater. So I built Girder: git push to your own box, deploys/services/domains/TLS/real backups handled, one static Go binary, public surface basically 80/443, rest on the tailnet. Own the box, keep the Heroku-style workflow
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