Deploying a ClipCascade App

ClipCascade is a modern, open-source video hosting and adaptive bitrate streaming platform designed for creators, media companies, and organizations seeking a self-hosted alternative to commercial video platforms. With ClipCascade, you can build a complete video ecosystem featuring adaptive bitrate streaming (HLS/DASH), automatic video transcoding, user authentication and management, video analytics and insights, community engagement features, monetization capabilities, and advanced content management—all with complete control over your data and platform infrastructure. Whether you’re launching a video streaming service, building a creator economy platform, distributing educational content, or managing enterprise video assets, ClipCascade provides the foundation for scalable, reliable video delivery across devices and network conditions.

This comprehensive guide walks through deploying ClipCascade to Klutch.sh using a Dockerfile for reliable, containerized deployment. You’ll learn how to set up ClipCascade with persistent storage for video files and streaming manifests, create a production-ready Dockerfile, configure the web interface, set up video transcoding pipelines, manage users and permissions, enable community features, implement monetization options, integrate with CDN providers, implement security best practices, configure custom domains, set up monitoring and logging, and troubleshoot common issues. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a production-ready ClipCascade instance running on Klutch.sh’s global infrastructure with automatic HTTPS, optimized performance, and reliable hosting for video streaming 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, DNS, and streaming protocols
PostgreSQL database (recommended for production use)
FFmpeg for video transcoding and streaming manifest generation (included in Docker image)

Understanding ClipCascade Architecture

Technology Stack

Backend:

Node.js/Express.js server with modern async patterns
PostgreSQL database for persistent storage and metadata
FFmpeg for video transcoding and encoding
DASH-server for dynamic adaptive streaming
Redis (optional) for caching, sessions, and real-time features
WebSocket support for real-time notifications

Frontend:

Modern web application with responsive design
Video.js or similar HTML5 video player
Adaptive bitrate streaming support (HLS/DASH)
Mobile-optimized interface
Admin dashboard for configuration

Key Features

Video Streaming:

Adaptive bitrate streaming (HLS/DASH)
Automatic video transcoding
Multiple quality levels (4K, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p)
Thumbnail generation and previews
Subtitle and caption support
Live streaming capabilities

User Management:

User registration and authentication
Role-based access control
User profiles and preferences
API key management
Session management
SSO integration support

Content Management:

Video metadata management
Playlist and collection support
Video categorization and tagging
Advanced search and filtering
Bulk operations
Content scheduling

Analytics and Monitoring:

Video view analytics
User engagement metrics
Geographic analytics
Device and browser analytics
Streaming quality metrics
Bandwidth monitoring

Monetization:

Ad insertion and management
Premium/paid content support
Revenue tracking
Viewer statistics
Pay-per-view capabilities
Subscription management

Community Features:

Comments and discussions
Video ratings and reviews
Sharing and social integration
Notifications system
Activity feeds
Recommended content

Project Setup

1. Create Project Directory

Create a project directory for ClipCascade deployment:

mkdir clipcascade-deployment
cd clipcascade-deployment
git init

2. Create Directory Structure

Create necessary directories:

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

Resulting project structure:

clipcascade-deployment/
├── Dockerfile
├── entrypoint.sh
├── config/
│   └── default.env
├── scripts/
│   └── init-db.sh
├── uploads/
│   └── (original uploaded videos)
├── streaming/
│   └── (transcoded streaming files)
├── cache/
│   └── (cached data)
├── data/
│   └── (database files)
├── .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/
uploads/
streaming/
cache/
backup/
data/
tmp/
dist/
build/
.npm

4. Create .dockerignore File

Create .dockerignore to exclude files from Docker build:

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

Creating a Production Dockerfile

Create a Dockerfile for production deployment:

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

WORKDIR /app

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

# Clone and install ClipCascade
RUN git clone https://github.com/clipcascade/clipcascade.git . && \
    npm ci && \
    npm run build && \
    npm prune --production

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

WORKDIR /app

# Install runtime dependencies including FFmpeg
RUN apk add --no-cache \
    tini \
    curl \
    ffmpeg \
    imagemagick \
    libpng \
    libjpeg-turbo \
    libwebp \
    postgresql-client

# Copy built application from builder
COPY --from=builder /app/node_modules ./node_modules
COPY --from=builder /app/dist ./dist
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/streaming /app/cache /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 ClipCascade from source with all dependencies
Production stage: Lightweight runtime with only production dependencies
FFmpeg integration: Included for video transcoding and streaming
Data persistence: /app/uploads for originals, /app/streaming for transcoded files, /app/cache for caching
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 ClipCascade 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

# Set file permissions
chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app/uploads /app/streaming /app/cache /app/logs 2>/dev/null || true

echo "ClipCascade 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 clipcascade:latest .

# Run the container locally (for testing only)
docker run -d \
  --name clipcascade-test \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -e NODE_ENV=production \
  -e DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/clipcascade \
  -v clipcascade-uploads:/app/uploads \
  -v clipcascade-streaming:/app/streaming \
  clipcascade: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 ClipCascade project pushed to GitHub with Dockerfile
Database credentials prepared (PostgreSQL recommended for production)
Planned storage for video uploads and streaming files
External CDN configured (optional but recommended for production)

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 ClipCascade"
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 ClipCascade instance.
Create an App
Click “Create App” and select your GitHub repository containing the ClipCascade Docker configuration.
Select the Branch
Choose the branch you want to deploy (typically main).
Configure Traffic Type
Select HTTP as the traffic type for ClipCascade (a web application).
Set the Internal Port
Set the internal port to 3000 – this is the port where ClipCascade server listens.

Add Environment Variables

Configure environment variables for your ClipCascade instance:

NODE_ENV=production
LOG_LEVEL=info

# Database Configuration
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:password@db.example.com:5432/clipcascade
DATABASE_POOL_SIZE=20
DATABASE_IDLE_TIMEOUT=30000

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

# File Upload Configuration
UPLOAD_PATH=/app/uploads
STREAMING_PATH=/app/streaming
MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE=5368709120
MAX_VIDEO_DURATION=14400
ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS=mp4,webm,mkv,avi,mov,flv,wmv,3gp,m3u8,ts

# Transcoding Configuration
ENABLE_TRANSCODING=true
TRANSCODING_PRESET=medium
VIDEO_ENCODING_PROFILES=["360p", "480p", "720p", "1080p"]
ENABLE_HLS_STREAMING=true
ENABLE_DASH_STREAMING=true

# Session and Security
SESSION_SECRET=your-super-secret-session-key-change-this
JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this
SESSION_TIMEOUT=3600

# 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=ClipCascade

# CDN Configuration (optional)
CDN_ENABLED=false
CDN_PROVIDER=cloudflare
CDN_ZONE_ID=your-zone-id
CDN_API_TOKEN=your-api-token
CDN_CUSTOM_DOMAIN=cdn.example.com

# Cache Configuration
CACHE_DRIVER=redis
REDIS_URL=redis://redis.example.com:6379
CACHE_TTL=3600

# Analytics Configuration
ANALYTICS_ENABLED=true
ANALYTICS_RETENTION_DAYS=90

# Feature Flags
ENABLE_REGISTRATION=true
ENABLE_COMMENTS=true
ENABLE_SOCIAL_SHARING=true
ENABLE_MONETIZATION=false
ENABLE_LIVE_STREAMING=false
ENABLE_ANALYTICS=true

# FFmpeg Configuration
FFMPEG_PATH=/usr/bin/ffmpeg
FFPROBE_PATH=/usr/bin/ffprobe
FFMPEG_THREADS=4

RUN_MIGRATIONS=true
TZ=UTC

Replace with your actual values.

Configure Persistent Storage
ClipCascade needs persistent volumes for video files and streaming manifests:
1. After creating the app, go to Volumes
2. Add volume for video uploads:
  - Mount path: /app/uploads
  - Size: 100-500 GiB (adjust based on expected video library)
3. Add volume for streaming files:
  - Mount path: /app/streaming
  - Size: 200-1000 GiB (adjust for transcoded quality variations)
4. Add volume for cache:
  - Mount path: /app/cache
  - Size: 20-50 GiB
5. Add volume for data and logs:
  - Mount path: /app/logs
  - Size: 10-20 GiB
Configure Compute Resources
Select appropriate resources:
- Minimum: 2-4 CPU, 2-4 GB RAM (small deployments, <100 videos)
- Recommended: 4-8 CPU, 4-8 GB RAM (medium deployments, 100-5,000 videos)
- Large: 8-16 CPU, 8-16 GB RAM (large deployments, 5,000+ videos)
Video transcoding is CPU-intensive, so adequate CPU resources are critical. Select region closest to your primary audience.
Deploy
Click “Create” to start deployment. Klutch.sh will:
1. Build the Docker image
2. Start the ClipCascade container
3. Assign a public URL (e.g., example-app.klutch.sh)
4. Configure HTTPS automatically
Complete Initial Setup
After deployment, access your ClipCascade instance:
1. Navigate to https://example-app.klutch.sh
2. Create your administrator account
3. Configure workspace settings:
  - Platform name and branding
  - Logo and theme
  - Email configuration
  - Transcoding profiles
4. Configure user settings:
  - Registration settings
  - Permission levels
  - API access
5. Set up video transcoding:
  - Quality levels (360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K)
  - Bitrate settings
  - Encoding presets
6. Configure streaming options:
  - Enable HLS/DASH
  - Set segment duration
  - Configure adaptive bitrate logic
7. Set up CDN (if applicable):
  - CDN provider configuration
  - Cache settings
  - Custom domain setup
8. Invite additional administrators
Test Functionality
Verify all features are working:
1. Create a test user account
2. Upload a test video
3. Monitor transcoding queue
4. Test video playback at different qualities
5. Test adaptive bitrate switching
6. Verify HLS/DASH streaming
7. Test user features (comments, sharing)
8. Verify analytics tracking
9. Test admin dashboard
10. Review system health metrics

ClipCascade Features and Configuration

1. Video Upload and Transcoding

Manage video uploads and automatic transcoding:

Upload Features:

Support for multiple video formats
Chunked upload for large files
Upload progress tracking
Automatic format detection

Transcoding Pipeline:

Automatic quality generation
Multiple bitrate encoding
Subtitle extraction
Thumbnail generation
Preview video creation

Configure transcoding:

Go to Settings > Transcoding
Define quality profiles (360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p)
Set bitrate for each quality
Configure encoding preset (fast/medium/slow)
Enable adaptive bitrate
Monitor transcoding queue

2. Adaptive Bitrate Streaming

Configure streaming protocols and quality levels:

Streaming Formats:

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)
DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP)
Progressive download (MP4)

Quality Levels:

4K (2160p) - High bandwidth
1080p - Standard HD
720p - Recommended
480p - Mobile optimized
360p - Low bandwidth
Auto - Client-selected quality

Enable streaming protocols:

Go to Settings > Streaming
Enable HLS and/or DASH
Configure segment duration (6-10 seconds recommended)
Set buffer size
Enable bandwidth adaptation
Configure timeout settings

3. User Management

Manage platform users and access:

User Roles:

Administrator: Full system access
Editor: Video management and analytics
Creator: Upload and manage own videos
Viewer: Watch videos only
Guest: Limited access

User Features:

User profiles with customization
API key generation
Watch history
Favorites and playlists
Subscription management
Privacy settings

Manage users:

Go to Users section
Create user accounts
Assign roles and permissions
Generate API keys
Configure user quotas
Monitor user activity
Manage user bans

4. Video Management

Organize and manage video content:

Video Metadata:

Title, description, tags
Category and playlist assignment
Thumbnail selection
Privacy levels (public/private/unlisted)
Scheduling and publishing

Video Organization:

Collections and playlists
Category structure
Tagging system
Advanced search filters
Bulk operations

Manage videos:

Go to Videos section
Review video metadata
Monitor transcoding status
Configure access permissions
Set monetization options
Manage collections
View analytics per video

5. Analytics and Reporting

Track video performance and user engagement:

Analytics Metrics:

Video view counts
Watch duration and engagement
Geographic viewer distribution
Device and browser analytics
Streaming quality metrics
Bandwidth usage
Error rates

Reports Available:

Video performance reports
User engagement reports
Streaming quality reports
Revenue reports (if monetized)
System health reports

Access analytics:

Go to Analytics dashboard
Select date range and filters
View video performance metrics
Analyze user geography
Track streaming quality
Monitor bandwidth usage
Export reports in multiple formats

6. Community Features

Enable engagement and community building:

Features:

Comments and discussions on videos
Video ratings and reviews
Social sharing integration
Notifications system
Activity feeds
User subscriptions
Recommended content

Configure community:

Go to Settings > Community
Enable comments and ratings
Configure moderation
Set notification preferences
Enable social sharing
Configure recommendations engine
Set up activity feeds

7. Monetization

Enable revenue generation (optional):

Monetization Options:

Ad revenue sharing
Premium/paid content
Subscription tiers
Pay-per-view
Viewer sponsorship
Affiliate programs

Configure monetization:

Go to Monetization settings
Enable revenue models
Configure ad partners
Set subscription tiers
Create premium content
Track earnings
Configure payouts

8. CDN Integration

Optimize video delivery globally:

CDN Benefits:

Global video distribution
Lower latency for viewers
Reduced bandwidth costs
Improved streaming quality
Better analytics

Configure CDN:

Go to Settings > CDN
Select CDN provider
Enter API credentials
Configure cache settings
Set custom domain (CNAME)
Configure origin settings
Monitor CDN performance

Persistent Storage

ClipCascade requires substantial persistent storage for video files:

Critical Data Directories

/app/uploads/
└── original/         (original uploaded videos)

/app/streaming/
├── hls/              (HLS streaming manifests and segments)
├── dash/             (DASH streaming manifests and segments)
├── mp4/              (progressive MP4 files)
└── thumbnails/       (video thumbnails and previews)

/app/cache/
└── (temporary cache files)

/app/logs/
└── (application logs)

Adding Persistent Volumes

In Klutch.sh dashboard, go to your ClipCascade app
Navigate to Volumes section
Add volume for /app/uploads:
- Mount path: /app/uploads
- Size: 100-500 GiB
Add volume for /app/streaming:
- Mount path: /app/streaming
- Size: 200-1000 GiB
Add volume for /app/cache:
- Mount path: /app/cache
- Size: 20-50 GiB
Add volume for /app/logs:
- Mount path: /app/logs
- Size: 10-20 GiB

Storage Planning

Plan storage based on expected usage:

Example calculation for 1000 videos:
- Original videos: 1000 × 2GB = 2000 GB
- 1080p quality: 1000 × 500MB = 500 GB
- 720p quality: 1000 × 300MB = 300 GB
- 480p quality: 1000 × 150MB = 150 GB
- 360p quality: 1000 × 50MB = 50 GB
- Thumbnails/manifests: 50 GB

Total: ~3000 GB (3 TB) minimum

Scale proportionally based on actual library size

Backup Strategy

Implement regular backup routine:

#!/bin/bash
# Weekly backup script

BACKUP_DIR="/backups/clipcascade"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
RETENTION_DAYS=90

# Create backup directory
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR

# Backup database
pg_dump -h $DATABASE_HOST -U $DATABASE_USER $DATABASE_NAME | \
    gzip > $BACKUP_DIR/db_$DATE.sql.gz

# Backup configuration
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/config_$DATE.tar.gz /app/config/ 2>/dev/null || true

# Note: Video files are typically backed up via CDN or object storage
# Consider implementing incremental backups to cloud storage

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

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

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
Editor: Video and user management
Creator: Upload and manage own content
Viewer: Watch and interact
Guest: Limited view-only access

Configure in admin panel:

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

3. Content Security

Protect platform from malicious content:

Configuration:
- File type validation and enforcement
- Video codec validation
- File size and duration limits
- Malware scanning integration
- Rate limiting on uploads
- Content filtering rules

4. Video Security

Protect video content and access:

Access control per video (public/private)
Geo-blocking capabilities
Hotlink protection
Download restrictions
Digital rights management (DRM)
Watermarking support

5. Database Security

Secure database connections:

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

6. API Security

Secure API endpoints:

- Require API authentication via tokens
- Generate secure API keys
- Set API rate limits
- Log all API access and errors
- Restrict API permissions per scope
- Rotate keys regularly
- Enable HTTPS for all API calls
- Implement CORS properly

7. File Upload Security

Protect uploaded files:

Validate file types and extensions strictly
Implement virus scanning
Store uploads outside web root
Randomize file names on storage
Restrict file access by permission
Set upload size and rate limits
Implement content scanning

Performance Optimization

1. Video Transcoding Optimization

Optimize transcoding performance:

Configuration:
- Encoding preset: medium (balance speed/quality)
- Bitrate settings per quality level
- Parallel transcoding workers
- Queue management and prioritization
- CPU affinity for encoding processes

Environment variables:

TRANSCODING_PRESET=medium
FFMPEG_THREADS=4
MAX_PARALLEL_ENCODES=2
VIDEO_ENCODING_TIMEOUT=7200

2. Streaming Optimization

Optimize streaming delivery:

Configuration:
- Segment duration: 6-10 seconds
- Buffer settings optimized for different bandwidth
- Adaptive bitrate algorithm tuning
- Manifest caching
- CDN optimization for segment delivery

3. Caching Strategy

Implement multi-layer caching:

Application Caching:
- Cache video metadata
- Cache user profiles and preferences
- Cache transcoding status
- Cache manifest files
- Redis for distributed caching

4. Database Optimization

Optimize database performance:

Configuration:
- Add indexes on frequently queried fields
- Enable query result caching
- Optimize table structure
- Regular VACUUM and ANALYZE operations
- Connection pooling (max 20 connections)
- Query performance monitoring

5. Resource Monitoring

Monitor system resources:

# Monitor CPU usage (critical for transcoding)
top -u nodejs

# Monitor disk usage
df -h /app/uploads /app/streaming /app/cache

# Monitor memory usage
free -h

# Check transcoding processes
docker exec container_id ps aux | grep ffmpeg

# View application logs
docker logs container_id --tail 100 -f

Monitoring and Logging

1. Access Application Logs

View ClipCascade logs through Klutch.sh:

Go to your app in Klutch.sh
Click Logs
Filter by time range and log level
Search for specific errors or events

2. Configure Structured Logging

Configure logging levels:

LOG_LEVEL options:
- error: Error messages only
- warn: Warnings and errors
- info: Informational messages (recommended)
- debug: Debug-level messages
- trace: All detailed messages

3. Monitor Real-Time Metrics

Track real-time performance:

Metrics to monitor:
- Active user sessions
- Video transcoding queue length
- Transcoding success/failure rates
- Streaming bandwidth usage
- Database connection count
- Storage usage and growth
- CPU utilization (especially during transcoding)
- Memory consumption
- Cache hit rates
- API response times

4. Health Checks

Configure health monitoring:

#!/bin/bash
# Health check script

# Check application health 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 and time-series storage
Grafana: Visualization dashboards and alerting
DataDog: Infrastructure and application monitoring
New Relic: Performance monitoring and APM
Sentry: Error tracking and issue reporting
ELK Stack: Centralized logging and analysis

Custom Domains

To use a custom domain with your ClipCascade instance:

1. Add Domain in Klutch.sh

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

2. Update DNS Configuration

Update your DNS provider with CNAME record:

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

3. Update Environment Variables

Update ClipCascade configuration:

APP_HOST=stream.example.com
APP_SECURE=true
CDN_CUSTOM_DOMAIN=stream.example.com

Redeploy the application to apply changes.

4. Verify DNS Propagation

Check DNS resolution:

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

Once propagated, your ClipCascade 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 clipcascade:test .
Ensure environment variables are set correctly
Check for missing dependencies
Verify entrypoint script has execute permissions
Test database connectivity with credentials

Issue 2: Cannot Access Web Interface

Error: 503 Service Unavailable or connection timeout

Solutions:

Verify ClipCascade 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 Node.js process: docker exec container_id ps aux
Check application logs for startup errors
Wait for initialization: Container may need time on first start

Issue 3: Video Upload Failures

Error: Uploads fail, timeout, or files don’t save

Solutions:

Verify persistent volumes are mounted: Check /app/uploads exists
Check disk space: df -h /app/uploads /app/streaming
Verify file permissions: Container can write to directories
Increase upload limits: Check MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE and timeout settings
Check PHP/Node.js timeout settings
Review application logs for upload errors
Check browser console for client-side issues
Verify video format is supported

Issue 4: Transcoding Issues

Error: Videos don’t encode, encoding fails, or hangs

Solutions:

Verify FFmpeg is available: docker exec container_id ffmpeg -version
Check transcoding queue status in admin panel
Monitor CPU usage: Encoding is CPU-intensive
Check available disk space in /app/streaming
Verify video codec and container compatibility
Review FFmpeg error messages in logs
Increase container CPU resources
Check transcoding timeout settings
Monitor memory usage during transcoding

Issue 5: 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 errors
Ensure database and database tables exist

Issue 6: Streaming Quality Issues

Error: Buffering, playback stuttering, quality issues

Solutions:

Check available bandwidth and network conditions
Monitor streaming server CPU and memory usage
Verify transcoded files exist and are complete
Check CDN configuration if using external CDN
Verify segment file generation and availability
Monitor client connection quality
Check adaptive bitrate algorithm settings
Review player logs for errors

Issue 7: Storage Running Out of Space

Error: Cannot upload new videos, encoding fails

Solutions:

Check disk usage: du -sh /app/uploads /app/streaming
Archive or delete old/test videos
Implement cleanup policies for old content
Increase volume sizes in Klutch.sh
Implement content retention policies
Consider external storage (S3, object storage)
Clean up temporary transcoding files
Monitor storage growth rate

Issue 8: High CPU/Memory Usage

Error: Slow performance, system overload

Solutions:

Monitor active transcoding jobs
Limit concurrent transcoding: MAX_PARALLEL_ENCODES=1
Use faster encoding preset temporarily
Disable unnecessary features
Increase container CPU/memory resources
Implement job queue throttling
Distribute transcoding across time windows
Optimize database queries

Best Practices

1. Content Management

Manage platform content effectively:

Establish clear upload guidelines
Review content regularly
Archive completed/old videos
Maintain proper metadata
Use consistent categorization
Monitor content growth
Implement retention policies
Document content policies

2. Video Transcoding

Optimize transcoding operations:

Monitor transcoding queue daily
Balance quality vs. encoding time
Test codec compatibility
Archive source videos securely
Track encoding metrics
Plan CPU resource scaling
Implement priority queues
Document transcoding settings

3. User Engagement

Maximize user engagement:

Encourage quality uploads
Feature popular content
Respond to user feedback
Implement recommendations
Foster community features
Recognize top creators
Support active users
Build community around platform

4. Performance Tuning

Continuously optimize performance:

Monitor metrics regularly
Profile and optimize hot paths
Implement caching strategically
Use CDN for global distribution
Optimize database queries
Regular performance testing
Identify and fix bottlenecks
Document performance baselines

5. Security Maintenance

Keep platform secure:

Regular security updates
Monitor for vulnerabilities
Review access logs
Audit permission settings
Update dependencies regularly
Implement security scanning
Document security policies
Incident response planning

6. Database Maintenance

Maintain healthy database:

Daily database backups
Regular VACUUM and ANALYZE
Monitor query performance
Archive old data
Clean up temporary data
Monitor database size
Index optimization
Connection pool monitoring

7. Storage Management

Manage storage efficiently:

Monitor usage trends
Implement cleanup policies
Compress old files where applicable
Archive inactive content
Track growth rate
Plan for scaling
Implement retention rules
Document storage policies

8. Capacity Planning

Plan for platform growth:

Track usage trends
Plan CPU scaling for transcoding
Plan storage scaling
Monitor bandwidth growth
Estimate future needs
Document scaling procedures
Budget for infrastructure
Plan architecture improvements

9. Community Building

Foster healthy platform community:

Engage with users actively
Feature quality content
Celebrate creator achievements
Handle conflicts professionally
Maintain code of conduct
Support creator programs
Build creator forums
Recognize community contributors

10. Documentation

Maintain comprehensive documentation:

Upload guidelines
User guides for features
Admin procedures
API documentation
System configuration details
Emergency procedures
Troubleshooting guides
Best practices documentation

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 platform details and branding
Upload Test Video: Upload and monitor transcoding
Verify Transcoding: Monitor quality generation
Test Playback: View at different quality levels
Verify Streaming: Test HLS/DASH streaming
Check Storage: Confirm volumes are working
Test User Features: Test comments, ratings, sharing
Review Admin Panel: Check system health metrics

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

External Resources

Deploying ClipCascade to Klutch.sh using Docker provides a powerful, open-source video hosting and adaptive bitrate streaming platform with complete control over your video infrastructure. By following this guide, you’ve learned how to create a production-ready Dockerfile with Node.js and FFmpeg, configure persistent storage for video files and streaming manifests, set up user management and community engagement features, configure video transcoding pipelines for multiple quality levels, implement adaptive bitrate streaming (HLS/DASH), integrate with CDN providers for global distribution, set up comprehensive analytics and reporting, enable monetization options, implement security best practices, optimize performance for video delivery, configure custom domains, monitor system health, and troubleshoot common issues. Your ClipCascade instance is now running on Klutch.sh’s global infrastructure with professional-grade hosting, automatic HTTPS, scalable storage infrastructure, and reliable infrastructure for managing video hosting and streaming at scale. For additional help or questions, consult the official ClipCascade documentation or contact Klutch.sh support.