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Deploying a Lowcoder App

Introduction

Lowcoder is an open-source low-code platform for building internal tools. Deploying Lowcoder with a Dockerfile on Klutch.sh gives you reproducible builds, managed secrets, and persistent storage for apps and assets—all managed from klutch.sh/app. This guide covers installation, repository prep, a production-ready Dockerfile, deployment steps, Nixpacks overrides, sample API usage, and production tips.

Prerequisites

  • A Klutch.sh account (create one)
  • A GitHub repository containing your Lowcoder code/config (GitHub is the only supported git source)
  • Docker familiarity and Node.js 18+ knowledge
  • PostgreSQL credentials (required)
  • Storage for uploads, logs, and cache (recommended)

For onboarding, see the Quick Start.

Architecture and ports

  • Lowcoder serves HTTP; set the internal container port to 3000.
  • PostgreSQL should run as a separate Klutch.sh TCP app, exposed on port 8000, connected internally on 5432.
  • Persistent storage is recommended for uploads and logs.

Repository layout

lowcoder/
├── Dockerfile              # Must be at repo root for auto-detection
├── package.json
├── pnpm-lock.yaml          # or yarn.lock / package-lock.json
├── .env.example            # Template only; no secrets
├── public/                 # Static assets
├── uploads/                # Optional uploads/logs (mount as volume)
└── README.md

Keep secrets out of Git; store them in Klutch.sh environment variables.

Installation (local) and starter commands

Install dependencies and run locally before pushing to GitHub:

Terminal window
pnpm install
pnpm build
pnpm start -- --port 3000

Optional helper start.sh for portability and Nixpacks fallback:

#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
pnpm prisma migrate deploy || true
exec pnpm start -- --port 3000

Make it executable with chmod +x start.sh.

Dockerfile for Lowcoder (production-ready)

Place this Dockerfile at the repo root; Klutch.sh auto-detects it (no Docker selection in the UI):

FROM node:18-alpine AS build
WORKDIR /app


COPY package.json pnpm-lock.yaml* yarn.lock* package-lock.json* ./
RUN corepack enable
RUN pnpm install --frozen-lockfile


COPY . .
RUN pnpm build


FROM node:18-alpine
WORKDIR /app
ENV NODE_ENV=production PORT=3000


COPY --from=build /app /app
RUN corepack enable && pnpm install --prod --frozen-lockfile


EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["pnpm", "start", "--", "--port", "3000"]

Notes:

  • Add build tools (apk add --no-cache python3 make g++) in the build stage if native modules are required.
  • Keep uploads/ writable and mount it as a volume for assets and logs.

Environment variables (Klutch.sh)

Set these in the Klutch.sh app settings (Secrets tab) before deploying:

  • NODE_ENV=production
  • PORT=3000
  • DATABASE_URL=postgres://<user>:<password>@<host>:<port>/<db>
  • APP_BASE_URL=https://example-app.klutch.sh
  • JWT_SECRET=<secure-jwt-secret>
  • Any OAuth/provider keys your Lowcoder app uses

If you deploy without the Dockerfile and need Nixpacks overrides:

  • NIXPACKS_BUILD_CMD=pnpm install --frozen-lockfile && pnpm build
  • NIXPACKS_START_CMD=pnpm start -- --port 3000
  • NIXPACKS_NODE_VERSION=18

These keep Lowcoder compatible with Nixpacks defaults when a Dockerfile is absent.

Attach persistent volumes

In Klutch.sh storage settings, add mount paths and sizes (no names required):

  • /app/uploads — for user-generated content and assets.
  • /app/logs — optional if you store logs locally.

Ensure these paths are writable inside the container.

Deploy Lowcoder on Klutch.sh (Dockerfile workflow)

  1. Push your repository (with the Dockerfile at the root) to GitHub.
  2. Open klutch.sh/app, create a project, and add an app.
  1. Connect the GitHub repository; Klutch.sh automatically detects the Dockerfile.
  2. Choose HTTP traffic for Lowcoder.
  3. Set the internal port to 3000.
  4. Add the environment variables above (database URL, JWT secret, provider keys, and any NIXPACKS_* overrides if you temporarily deploy without the Dockerfile).
  5. Attach persistent volumes for /app/uploads (and /app/logs if used), selecting sizes that fit your storage needs.
  6. Deploy. Your Lowcoder instance will be reachable at https://example-app.klutch.sh; attach a custom domain if desired.

Sample API usage

Fetch a list of apps via API (replace placeholders):

Terminal window
curl -X GET "https://example-app.klutch.sh/api/apps" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <token>"

Health checks and production tips

  • Add a reverse proxy probe to / or a lightweight status route.
  • Enforce HTTPS at the edge; forward HTTP to port 3000 internally.
  • Keep lockfiles committed and Node version pinned; test upgrades before applying.
  • Monitor PostgreSQL performance and tune connection pools.
  • Rotate secrets regularly and store them only in Klutch.sh secrets.
  • Monitor disk usage on uploads/logs and resize volumes before they fill.

Lowcoder on Klutch.sh combines reproducible Docker builds with managed secrets, optional persistent storage, and flexible HTTP/TCP routing. With the Dockerfile at the repo root and port 3000 configured, you can deliver reliable low-code apps without extra YAML or workflow overhead.