Deploying a ClearFlask App

ClearFlask is the open-source customer feedback and feature request platform that empowers organizations to listen, prioritize, and respond to customer needs with unprecedented clarity and efficiency. With ClearFlask, you can collect structured customer feedback, manage feature requests through a transparent voting system, create public roadmaps that build customer trust, and analyze feedback at scale using AI-powered insights. Perfect for product teams, SaaS companies, community managers, and organizations seeking deeper customer engagement, ClearFlask transforms unstructured feedback into actionable product intelligence while giving customers a voice in your product development process.

This comprehensive guide walks through deploying ClearFlask to Klutch.sh using a Dockerfile for reliable, containerized deployment. You’ll learn how to set up ClearFlask with persistent storage for file uploads and assets, create a production-ready Dockerfile, configure the web interface, set up authentication and authorization, integrate payment processing with Stripe, enable email notifications, implement security best practices, configure custom domains, set up monitoring, and troubleshoot common issues. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a production-ready ClearFlask instance running on Klutch.sh’s global infrastructure with automatic HTTPS, optimized performance, and reliable hosting for customer feedback management at scale.

Prerequisites

Docker installed locally for testing (optional but recommended)
Git installed locally and a GitHub account (Klutch.sh uses GitHub as the only git source)
Klutch.sh account with access to the dashboard at klutch.sh/app
Text editor or IDE for code editing (VS Code recommended)
Node.js knowledge (helpful but not required)
Basic networking knowledge: Understanding of HTTP/HTTPS and DNS
PostgreSQL database (recommended for production use)

Understanding ClearFlask Architecture

Technology Stack

Backend:

Node.js/Express.js or Spring Boot (configurable)
WebSocket support for real-time updates
PostgreSQL database for persistent storage
Elasticsearch (optional) for advanced search and analytics
Redis (optional) for caching and session management

Frontend:

React-based web application
Real-time notification support
Responsive design for desktop, tablet, mobile
Admin dashboard for configuration

Key Features

Feedback Collection:

Custom feedback forms and fields
Structured feedback categories
Attachment support for screenshots and documents
Feedback versioning and history tracking

Feature Requests:

Transparent feature request voting system
Community voting and prioritization
Feature status tracking (planned, in-progress, completed)
Linked feedback to feature requests

Product Roadmap:

Public-facing roadmap
Timeline visualization
Status updates and progress tracking
Customer communication and transparency

Analytics and Insights:

Feedback analytics and trends
Sentiment analysis (AI-powered)
Customer segmentation
Export and reporting capabilities
Dashboard customization

User Management:

User authentication and authorization
Role-based access control
Team management
SSO integration (SAML/OAuth)

Integrations:

Stripe integration for monetization
Email notifications
Slack notifications
Webhook support
Third-party tool integrations

Project Setup

1. Create Project Directory

Create a project directory for ClearFlask deployment:

mkdir clearflask-deployment
cd clearflask-deployment
git init

2. Create Directory Structure

Create necessary directories:

mkdir -p {uploads,data,backup,scripts,config}

Resulting project structure:

clearflask-deployment/
├── Dockerfile
├── entrypoint.sh
├── config/
│   └── default.env
├── scripts/
│   └── init-db.sh
├── data/
│   └── (persistent database)
├── uploads/
│   └── (file uploads and attachments)
├── .dockerignore
├── .gitignore
└── README.md

3. Create .gitignore File

Create .gitignore to exclude unnecessary files:

.env.local
.env.*.local
*.log
*.swp
.DS_Store
.vscode
.idea
node_modules/
data/
uploads/
backup/
tmp/
dist/
build/

4. Create .dockerignore File

Create .dockerignore to exclude files from Docker build:

.git
.gitignore
*.log
.env.local
node_modules
data/
uploads/
backup/
tmp/
.DS_Store
.vscode
.idea
.npm
coverage/

Creating a Production Dockerfile

Create a Dockerfile for production deployment:

# === Build Stage ===
FROM node:20-alpine AS builder

WORKDIR /app

# Install dependencies
RUN apk add --no-cache python3 make g++ cairo-dev jpeg-dev pango-dev giflib-dev

# Clone and build ClearFlask from source
RUN git clone https://github.com/clearflask/clearflask.git . && \
    npm ci && \
    npm run build && \
    npm prune --production

# === Production Stage ===
FROM node:20-alpine

WORKDIR /app

# Install runtime dependencies
RUN apk add --no-cache tini curl

# Copy built application from builder
COPY --from=builder /app/node_modules ./node_modules
COPY --from=builder /app/dist ./dist
COPY --from=builder /app/public ./public
COPY --from=builder /app/package*.json ./

# Create app user
RUN addgroup -g 1001 -S nodejs && \
    adduser -S nodejs -u 1001

# Create data directories
RUN mkdir -p /app/uploads /app/data /app/logs && \
    chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app

# Copy entrypoint script
COPY entrypoint.sh /entrypoint.sh
RUN chmod +x /entrypoint.sh

# Use tini to handle signals properly
ENTRYPOINT ["/sbin/tini", "--"]

# Health check
HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --start-period=40s --retries=3 \
    CMD curl -f http://localhost:3000/health || exit 1

# Expose port
EXPOSE 3000

# Set user
USER nodejs

# Start application
CMD ["node", "dist/server.js"]

Dockerfile Explanation

Build stage: Compiles ClearFlask from source with all dependencies
Production stage: Lightweight runtime with only production dependencies
Data persistence: /app/uploads for file attachments and /app/data for database
Non-root user: Runs as nodejs user for security
Health checks: Automatic container health monitoring
Signal handling: Uses tini for proper signal handling
Multi-stage build: Reduces final image size significantly

Create Entrypoint Script

Create entrypoint.sh for initialization:

#!/bin/sh

set -e

echo "Starting ClearFlask initialization..."

# Wait for database if needed
if [ -n "$DATABASE_URL" ]; then
    echo "Waiting for database to be ready..."
    timeout 30 sh -c 'until nc -z $(echo $DATABASE_URL | sed "s/.*@//g" | cut -d: -f1) $(echo $DATABASE_URL | sed "s/.*://g" | cut -d/ -f1); do sleep 1; done' || true
fi

# Run migrations if needed
if [ "$RUN_MIGRATIONS" = "true" ]; then
    echo "Running database migrations..."
    npm run migrate || true
fi

echo "ClearFlask startup complete. Starting server..."

# Start the application
exec node dist/server.js

Building the Dockerfile Locally (Optional)

Test the Dockerfile locally:

# Build the Docker image
docker build -t clearflask:latest .

# Run the container locally (for testing only)
docker run -d \
  --name clearflask-test \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -e NODE_ENV=production \
  -v clearflask-uploads:/app/uploads \
  -v clearflask-data:/app/data \
  clearflask:latest

# Wait for container to start
sleep 10

# Access the application
# http://localhost:3000

Deploying with Docker on Klutch.sh

Klutch.sh automatically detects a Dockerfile in your repository root and uses it for deployment.

Prerequisites for Docker Deployment

Your ClearFlask project pushed to GitHub with Dockerfile
Database credentials prepared (PostgreSQL recommended for production)
Planned storage for file uploads and attachments

Steps to Deploy with Docker

Prepare Your Repository

Commit and push all necessary files:

git add Dockerfile entrypoint.sh .dockerignore
git commit -m "Add Docker deployment configuration for ClearFlask"
git push origin main

Log In to Klutch.sh Dashboard
Go to klutch.sh/app and sign in with your GitHub account.
Create a Project
Navigate to the Projects section and create a new project for your ClearFlask instance.
Create an App
Click “Create App” and select your GitHub repository containing the ClearFlask Docker configuration.
Select the Branch
Choose the branch you want to deploy (typically main).
Configure Traffic Type
Select HTTP as the traffic type for ClearFlask (a web application).
Set the Internal Port
Set the internal port to 3000 – this is the port where ClearFlask server listens.

Add Environment Variables

Configure environment variables for your ClearFlask instance:

NODE_ENV=production
LOG_LEVEL=info

# Database Configuration
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@db.example.com:5432/clearflask
DATABASE_POOL_SIZE=20

# Application Configuration
APP_HOST=example-app.klutch.sh
APP_PORT=3000
APP_SECURE=true

# File Upload Configuration
UPLOAD_PATH=/app/uploads
MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE=104857600
ALLOWED_FILE_TYPES=pdf,doc,docx,xls,xlsx,txt,png,jpg,jpeg,gif

# Session Configuration
SESSION_SECRET=your-super-secret-session-key-change-this
JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this

# Email Configuration
SMTP_HOST=smtp.example.com
SMTP_PORT=587
SMTP_USER=your-email@example.com
SMTP_PASS=your-password
SMTP_FROM=noreply@example.com
SMTP_FROM_NAME=ClearFlask

# Stripe Integration
STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_live_your_key
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_live_your_key

# OAuth/SSO Configuration
OAUTH_ENABLED=false
OAUTH_PROVIDER=google
OAUTH_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id
OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET=your-client-secret

# Feature Flags
ENABLE_REGISTRATION=true
ENABLE_PUBLIC_ROADMAP=true
ENABLE_FEEDBACK_VOTING=true
ENABLE_NOTIFICATIONS=true

# Search and Analytics
ELASTICSEARCH_URL=http://elasticsearch:9200
REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379

RUN_MIGRATIONS=true
TZ=UTC

Replace with your actual values.

Configure Persistent Storage
ClearFlask needs persistent volumes for file uploads and data:
1. After creating the app, go to Volumes
2. Add volume for file uploads:
  - Mount path: /app/uploads
  - Size: 10-50 GiB (adjust based on expected attachments)
3. Add volume for data (if using embedded SQLite):
  - Mount path: /app/data
  - Size: 5-20 GiB
4. Add volume for logs:
  - Mount path: /app/logs
  - Size: 5-10 GiB
Configure Compute Resources
Select appropriate resources:
- Minimum: 1-2 CPU, 1-2 GB RAM (small deployments, <100 users)
- Recommended: 2-4 CPU, 2-4 GB RAM (medium deployments, 100-1,000 users)
- Large: 4-8 CPU, 4-8 GB RAM (large deployments, 1,000+ users)
Select region closest to your primary audience.
Deploy
Click “Create” to start deployment. Klutch.sh will:
1. Build the Docker image
2. Start the ClearFlask container
3. Assign a public URL (e.g., example-app.klutch.sh)
4. Configure HTTPS automatically
Complete Initial Setup
After deployment, access your ClearFlask instance:
1. Navigate to https://example-app.klutch.sh
2. Create your administrator account
3. Configure workspace settings:
  - Workspace name and branding
  - Email notifications
  - Custom domain configuration
  - File upload limits
4. Create feedback boards:
  - Name and description
  - Access control (public/private)
  - Moderation settings
5. Configure integrations:
  - Stripe for payment processing
  - Email for notifications
  - OAuth for authentication
6. Invite team members
Test Functionality
Verify all features are working:
1. Create a test feedback board
2. Submit test feedback
3. Test voting functionality
4. Create a feature request
5. Update feature request status
6. Test file uploads
7. Verify email notifications
8. Review analytics dashboard

ClearFlask Features and Configuration

1. Feedback Boards

Create and manage customer feedback boards:

Board Types:

Public feedback boards (community feedback)
Private feedback boards (internal use)
Department-specific boards
Feature request boards

Board Configuration:

Title, description, and purpose
Access control (public, invite-only, restricted)
Board status and moderation settings
Custom fields and categories
Board branding and theme

Configure feedback boards:

Go to Admin > Boards
Click Create Board
Set board details and access level
Configure moderation options
Set up custom fields
Enable voting and tracking

2. Feedback Collection

Collect structured customer feedback:

Feedback Types:

Bug reports
Feature requests
Enhancement suggestions
General feedback
Custom types

Feedback Features:

Title and description
Attachment support (screenshots, documents)
Category and priority assignment
Status tracking
Comment threads
Email notifications for updates

Submit feedback from customer form:

Display feedback form on your website
Customers submit feedback with attachments
Assign category and priority automatically
Send confirmation email to submitter
Enable customer notifications on status updates

3. Feature Requests and Voting

Manage feature requests with community input:

Voting System:

Customer upvoting and downvoting
Weighted voting (based on user tier)
Vote counts and trending features
Customer transparency on request status

Feature Lifecycle:

Requested state
Planned announcement
In-progress updates
Completed status
Archived features

Manage feature requests:

Go to Features section
Review customer requests by votes
Update feature status
Add implementation details
Send status update notifications

4. Product Roadmap

Create transparent public roadmaps:

Roadmap Visualization:

Timeline view of planned features
Feature status indicators
Customer feedback linked to features
Public vs. internal roadmap

Roadmap Features:

Customizable roadmap display
Time-based organization
Status-based grouping
Share roadmap publicly
Embed roadmap on website

Configure roadmap:

Go to Roadmap settings
Set public/private visibility
Configure roadmap timeline
Link features to roadmap
Set feature visibility rules

5. Analytics and Insights

Track feedback metrics and trends:

Analytics Available:

Feedback volume and trends
Popular feature requests
Customer sentiment analysis
Category distribution
Response time metrics
Voting patterns

Reports:

Feedback summary reports
Feature request rankings
Customer engagement metrics
Team performance analytics
Export data for further analysis

Access analytics:

Go to Analytics dashboard
Select date range and filters
Review feedback trends
Analyze customer segments
Export reports for stakeholders

6. Notification System

Keep users informed of updates:

Notification Types:

Email notifications
In-app notifications
Slack notifications
Webhook notifications
SMS notifications (optional)

Notification Triggers:

New feedback submission
Status updates
Comment replies
Feature progress updates
Board activity summaries

Configure notifications:

Go to Settings > Notifications
Enable notification channels
Set notification frequency
Customize email templates
Test notification delivery

7. User Management

Manage user accounts and permissions:

User Roles:

Administrator: Full system access
Board Moderator: Board-specific moderation
User: Submit feedback and vote
Guest: View-only access (optional)

User Management:

Create and invite users
Assign roles and permissions
Enable/disable user accounts
Set user tier levels (for weighted voting)
Export user lists

Manage users:

Go to Settings > Users
Click Invite User
Set email and role
Configure tier level (if applicable)
Manage permissions per board

8. Integrations

Connect ClearFlask with external tools:

Available Integrations:

Slack: Send notifications to Slack
Stripe: Monetize feedback collection
Webhooks: Custom integrations
Zapier: Automation workflows
Email: Notification delivery
OAuth: User authentication

Configure integrations:

Go to Settings > Integrations
Select integration to enable
Enter credentials and configuration
Test connection
Enable and deploy

Persistent Storage

ClearFlask requires persistent storage for file uploads and data:

Critical Data Directories

/app/uploads/
├── attachments/      (feedback attachments)
├── avatars/          (user avatars)
├── board-images/     (board header images)
└── export/           (exported data files)

/app/data/
└── (local database files if using SQLite)

/app/logs/
└── (application logs)

Adding Persistent Volumes

In Klutch.sh dashboard, go to your ClearFlask app
Navigate to Volumes section
Add volume for /app/uploads:
- Mount path: /app/uploads
- Size: 10-50 GiB
Add volume for /app/data:
- Mount path: /app/data
- Size: 5-20 GiB
Add volume for /app/logs:
- Mount path: /app/logs
- Size: 5-10 GiB

Backup Strategy

Implement regular backup routine:

#!/bin/bash
# Daily backup script

BACKUP_DIR="/backups/clearflask"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
RETENTION_DAYS=30

# Create backup directory
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR

# Backup uploads
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/uploads_$DATE.tar.gz /app/uploads/

# Backup database (if using PostgreSQL via CLI)
# pg_dump -h $DB_HOST -U $DB_USER $DB_NAME | gzip > $BACKUP_DIR/db_$DATE.sql.gz

# Delete old backups
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "*_*.tar.gz" -mtime +$RETENTION_DAYS -delete
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "db_*.sql.gz" -mtime +$RETENTION_DAYS -delete

# Upload to remote storage
# aws s3 sync $BACKUP_DIR s3://my-backup-bucket/clearflask/

Security Best Practices

1. HTTPS/SSL Enforcement

Klutch.sh automatically provides HTTPS for your web interface. All traffic is encrypted by default.

2. Authentication and Authorization

Implement strong access control:

User Roles:

Administrator: Full system access
Moderator: Board moderation and user management
User: Submit feedback and vote
Guest: View-only access (optional)

Configure in admin panel:

Go to Settings > Users
Create user accounts with appropriate roles
Set password requirements
Enable two-factor authentication (if available)
Regular access audits

3. Data Privacy

Protect user data:

Configuration:
- Anonymize user data (optional)
- Restrict data exports to authorized users
- Set data retention policies
- Enable GDPR compliance mode
- Configure privacy notices
- Implement data encryption

4. Feedback Security

Secure feedback submission:

CAPTCHA protection for public forms
Rate limiting on submissions
Spam filtering and moderation
Attachment type restrictions
Virus scanning on uploads
Access control per board

5. API Security

If enabling API access:

- Require API authentication
- Generate secure API keys
- Set API rate limits
- Log all API access
- Restrict API permissions
- Rotate keys regularly
- Enable HTTPS for API endpoints

6. Database Security

Secure database connections:

Use strong database passwords
Enforce SSL/TLS for database connections
Restrict database access to application
Regular database backups
Encryption at rest (if available)
Enable database audit logging

7. File Upload Security

Protect uploaded files:

Validate file types and extensions
Scan uploads for malware
Store uploads outside web root
Implement virus scanning
Restrict file access by permission
Set upload size limits

Performance Optimization

1. Caching Strategy

Implement multi-layer caching:

Application Caching:
- Cache board data
- Cache user profiles
- Cache feedback listings
- Redis for distributed caching

Browser Caching:

Configure in reverse proxy (if available):
- Cache static assets (CSS, JS, images)
- Set 1-year expiration for immutable assets
- Implement cache busting for updates

2. Database Optimization

Optimize database performance:

Configuration:
- Add appropriate indexes on common queries
- Enable query caching
- Optimize table structure
- Regular VACUUM/ANALYZE
- Connection pooling (max 20 connections)

3. Search Optimization

Optimize feedback search:

- Enable Elasticsearch for full-text search
- Index frequently searched fields
- Implement faceted search
- Cache search results
- Implement search analytics

4. Resource Monitoring

Monitor system resources:

# Monitor memory usage
free -h

# Monitor disk usage
df -h /app/uploads /app/data

# Monitor CPU usage
top

# Check Node.js process
ps aux | grep node

# View application logs
docker logs <container_id>

5. Connection Pooling

Configure database connection pooling:

MAX_DB_CONNECTIONS=20
DB_IDLE_TIMEOUT=900000
DB_ACQUISITION_TIMEOUT=30000

Monitoring and Logging

1. Access Application Logs

View ClearFlask logs through Klutch.sh:

Go to your app in Klutch.sh
Click Logs
Filter by time range and log level

2. Configure Structured Logging

Configure logging levels:

LOG_LEVEL=info

Available levels:
- error: Errors only
- warn: Warnings and errors
- info: Info, warnings, errors (default)
- debug: Debug messages and above
- trace: All messages

3. Monitor Real-Time Metrics

Track real-time performance:

Metrics to monitor:
- Active user sessions
- Request response times
- Database query performance
- File upload metrics
- Search query performance
- API response times
- Memory and CPU usage

4. Health Checks

Configure health monitoring:

#!/bin/bash
# Health check script

# Check HTTP endpoint
curl -f http://localhost:3000/health || exit 1

# Check database connectivity
curl -f http://localhost:3000/health/db || exit 1

# Check critical services
curl -f http://localhost:3000/health/services || exit 1

exit 0

5. Monitoring Integration

Integrate with monitoring services:

Prometheus: Metrics collection
Grafana: Visualization dashboards
DataDog: Infrastructure monitoring
New Relic: Performance monitoring
Sentry: Error tracking

Custom Domains

To use a custom domain with your ClearFlask instance:

1. Add Domain in Klutch.sh

In the Klutch.sh dashboard, go to your app settings and add your custom domain (e.g., feedback.example.com).

2. Update DNS Configuration

Update your DNS provider:

CNAME: feedback.example.com → example-app.klutch.sh

3. Update Environment Variables

Update ClearFlask configuration:

APP_HOST=feedback.example.com
APP_SECURE=true

Redeploy the application to apply changes.

4. Verify DNS Propagation

Check DNS resolution:

nslookup feedback.example.com
# or
dig feedback.example.com CNAME

Once propagated, your ClearFlask instance will be accessible at your custom domain with automatic HTTPS.

Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Container Won’t Start

Error: Container exits immediately or doesn’t respond

Solutions:

Check Docker logs: docker logs container_id
Verify Dockerfile builds locally: docker build -t clearflask:test .
Ensure environment variables are set correctly
Check for missing dependencies in build
Verify entrypoint script has execute permissions

Issue 2: Cannot Access Web Interface

Error: 503 Service Unavailable or connection timeout

Solutions:

Verify ClearFlask is running: Check container status
Verify port 3000 is exposed and traffic is HTTP
Check firewall rules: Ensure port 3000 is accessible
Verify DNS resolution: dig example-app.klutch.sh
Check application logs for startup errors
Wait for full initialization: Container may need time on first start

Issue 3: File Uploads Not Working

Error: Upload fails or file not saved

Solutions:

Verify persistent volume is mounted: Check /app/uploads exists
Check disk space: df -h /app/uploads
Check file permissions: Ensure container user can write
Verify file size under limit: Check MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE
Review application logs for upload errors
Check browser console for client-side errors

Issue 4: Database Connection Issues

Error: “Cannot connect to database” errors

Solutions:

Verify database is running and accessible
Check DATABASE_URL environment variable format
Test database connection manually
Verify database credentials are correct
Check firewall allows database access
Verify database user has proper permissions
Check database logs for connection issues

Issue 5: Email Notifications Not Sending

Error: Users don’t receive email notifications

Solutions:

Verify SMTP credentials are correct
Check SMTP configuration: SMTP_HOST, SMTP_PORT, SMTP_USER, SMTP_PASS
Test SMTP connection manually
Check email sender address: SMTP_FROM
Review application logs for email errors
Verify firewall allows outgoing email traffic
Check spam/junk folder for emails

Issue 6: Performance Issues

Error: Slow response times or high latency

Solutions:

Monitor resource usage: CPU, memory, disk
Check database query performance
Enable caching if available
Increase container resources in Klutch.sh
Review search performance (if using Elasticsearch)
Archive old feedback to reduce database size
Check network bandwidth usage
Monitor third-party API calls

Issue 7: Data Loss or Corruption

Error: Missing feedback or data after restart

Solutions:

Verify persistent volumes are mounted correctly
Check volume mount paths in Klutch.sh
Verify data persisted after container stop
Check disk space hasn’t run out
Review backup strategy and recent backups
Restore from backups if necessary
Check for database corruption: Run integrity checks

Issue 8: High Disk Usage

Error: /app/uploads or /app/data volume fills up

Solutions:

Monitor disk usage: du -sh /app/uploads /app/data
Clean up old/archived feedback
Implement data retention policies
Compress old export files
Delete temporary uploaded files
Review backup retention settings
Increase volume size if needed

Best Practices

1. Feedback Management

Manage customer feedback effectively:

Respond to feedback promptly
Close feedback with explanations
Link feedback to features/releases
Tag and categorize feedback properly
Archive completed items regularly
Keep feedback board clean and organized

2. Moderation Best Practices

Moderate community interactions effectively:

Review submissions before publication (if needed)
Filter spam and inappropriate content
Ensure constructive feedback tone
Manage duplicate submissions
Block spam and abusive users
Document moderation policies

3. User Engagement

Maximize customer engagement:

Communicate feature status regularly
Update customers on planned features
Share product roadmap publicly
Encourage customer voting and feedback
Respond to comments and questions
Show appreciation for engaged customers

4. Data Management

Properly manage feedback data:

Regular backups of all data
Archive completed feedback
Export important data periodically
Document feedback outcomes
Clean up old temporary data
Secure sensitive customer information
Maintain audit trail of changes

5. User Administration

Manage user accounts effectively:

Create appropriate role hierarchy
Regular access reviews
Disable unused accounts
Rotate API keys periodically
Strong password policy
Enable MFA where available
Document user responsibilities

6. Performance Tuning

Continuously optimize performance:

Monitor metrics regularly
Optimize database indexes
Enable caching strategically
Clean up logs and old data
Tune timeout settings appropriately
Test under expected load
Identify and fix bottlenecks

7. Security Maintenance

Keep your instance secure:

Regular security updates
Monitor for vulnerabilities
Review access logs regularly
Audit permission settings
Update dependent packages
Test security measures
Document security policies

8. Integration Management

Manage third-party integrations:

Regular integration testing
Monitor integration health
Update credentials regularly
Document integration setup
Test webhook delivery
Monitor API usage and limits
Archive old integration logs

9. Documentation

Maintain comprehensive documentation:

Board setup procedures
User guides for customers
Moderation guidelines
Admin procedures and workflows
System configuration details
Emergency contact information
Post-deployment review templates

10. Community Building

Foster a healthy feedback community:

Engage with customers regularly
Highlight customer suggestions in releases
Build community around product
Create feedback best practices guide
Recognize engaged customers
Share product development stories

Verifying Your Deployment

After deployment completes:

Check the App URL: Visit https://example-app.klutch.sh
Create Admin Account: Complete initial setup
Configure Settings: Set workspace details and branding
Create Feedback Board: Set up your first feedback collection board
Test Feedback Form: Submit test feedback from the form
Test Attachments: Upload file attachments
Test Voting: Test upvoting and downvoting
Verify Storage: Confirm files persist in volumes
Check Email: Verify notification emails send correctly
Review Performance: Monitor dashboard responsiveness

If your ClearFlask instance doesn’t work as expected, review the troubleshooting section and check the Klutch.sh dashboard logs for detailed error messages.

External Resources

Deploying ClearFlask to Klutch.sh using Docker provides a powerful, open-source customer feedback and feature request platform with complete control over your infrastructure. By following this guide, you’ve learned how to create a production-ready Dockerfile, configure persistent storage for file uploads and data, set up real-time user feedback collection, manage feature requests with community voting, create transparent product roadmaps, implement secure authentication and authorization, integrate payment processing with Stripe, enable email notifications, implement security best practices, optimize performance, configure custom domains, monitor system health, and troubleshoot common issues. Your ClearFlask instance is now running on Klutch.sh’s global infrastructure with professional-grade hosting, automatic HTTPS, and scalable infrastructure for managing customer feedback at scale. For additional help or questions, consult the official ClearFlask documentation or contact Klutch.sh support.