Deploying a CodeIgniter App

CodeIgniter is a lightweight and powerful PHP framework for building web applications. It is known for its speed, simplicity, and small footprint, making it ideal for developers who want to quickly create robust PHP apps with minimal configuration.

This guide explains how to deploy a CodeIgniter application to Klutch.sh, both with and without a Dockerfile. It also covers installation and provides sample code to get started.

Prerequisites

• PHP 8.1+
• Composer installed (for CodeIgniter 4)
• Git and GitHub account
• Klutch.sh account

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Getting Started: Install CodeIgniter

1. Create a new CodeIgniter 4 app using Composer:

   composer create-project codeigniter4/appstarter my-codeigniter-app
   cd my-codeigniter-app

2. Start the development server:

   php spark serve

   Your app should be running at http://localhost:8080.

Sample Code (app/Controllers/Home.php)

Add a simple controller to your CodeIgniter project:

<?php
namespace App\Controllers;

use CodeIgniter\Controller;

class Home extends Controller
{
    public function index()
    {
        return "Hello from CodeIgniter on Klutch.sh!";
    }
}

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Deploying Without a Dockerfile

1. Push your CodeIgniter app to a GitHub repository.
2. Log in to Klutch.sh.
3. Create a new project and give it a name.
4. Create a new app:
   • Select your CodeIgniter GitHub repository and branch
   • Set the port to route traffic (usually 8080 for CodeIgniter)
   • Choose region, compute, number of instances, and add any environment variables
5. Add a start command in your app settings:

   php spark serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port $PORT

   (Klutch.sh will provide the PORT environment variable.)
6. Click “Create” to deploy. Klutch.sh will build and deploy your app automatically.

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Deploying With a Dockerfile

1. Add a Dockerfile to your project root. Example:

   # Use official PHP image
   FROM php:8.1-cli
   
   # Install Composer
   COPY --from=composer:2 /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composer
   
   # Set working directory
   WORKDIR /app
   
   # Copy app source
   COPY . .
   
   # Install dependencies
   RUN composer install --no-interaction --optimize-autoloader
   
   # Expose port (match your CodeIgniter app)
   EXPOSE 8080
   
   # Start the app
   CMD ["php", "spark", "serve", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "$PORT"]

2. Push your code (with Dockerfile) to GitHub.
3. In Klutch.sh, follow the same steps to create a project and app, but select the Dockerfile option when prompted.
4. Set the service details and environment variables as needed.
5. Click “Create” to deploy. Klutch.sh will build your Docker image and deploy your app.

Note: Your CodeIgniter app should always listen on the PORT environment variable as shown above.

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Resources

• Klutch.sh Documentation
• CodeIgniter Documentation

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Deploying to Klutch.sh is simple and flexible. Choose the method that best fits your workflow and project requirements.