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Deploying a WordPress App

Introduction

WordPress powers millions of sites and is easy to customize with plugins and themes. This guide shows how to containerize WordPress with a Dockerfile, connect it to MySQL, persist uploads, and deploy it to Klutch.sh over HTTP.

Prerequisites

  • GitHub repository containing your Dockerfile.
  • MySQL database (managed or deployed separately).
  • Klutch.sh project ready in klutch.sh/app.

Project structure

.
└── Dockerfile

Sample Dockerfile

FROM wordpress:6.5-php8.2-apache


# Default WordPress port
ENV APACHE_PORT=80
EXPOSE 80

Required environment variables

  • WORDPRESS_DB_HOST – MySQL host and port
  • WORDPRESS_DB_USER
  • WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD
  • WORDPRESS_DB_NAME
  • APACHE_PORT=80

Optional environment variables

  • WORDPRESS_TABLE_PREFIX=wp_
  • WORDPRESS_DEBUG=false
  • WP_MEMORY_LIMIT=256M

Persistence

Persist plugins, themes, and uploads:

  • Mount path: /var/www/html/wp-content
  • Size: based on expected media, plugins, and themes

Networking

  • Protocol: HTTP
  • Internal port: 80
  • Users reach https://example-app.klutch.sh while Klutch.sh routes to port 80 inside the container.
Terminal window
curl -I http://localhost

Deployment on Klutch.sh

  1. Push your Dockerfile to GitHub.
  2. In klutch.sh/app, create a new app and select GitHub as the source.
  3. Klutch.sh automatically detects the Dockerfile in the repository root.
  4. Select HTTP traffic and set the internal port to 80.
  5. Add environment variables for WORDPRESS_DB_HOST, WORDPRESS_DB_USER, WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD, and WORDPRESS_DB_NAME. Mark secrets as sensitive.
  6. Attach a persistent volume at /var/www/html/wp-content sized for uploads and custom code.
  7. Deploy. Finish the WordPress setup wizard and start installing themes or plugins.

Verification

  • UI: open https://example-app.klutch.sh and confirm the WordPress site loads.

  • Quick check:

    Terminal window
    curl -I https://example-app.klutch.sh

Next steps

  • Configure HTTPS at the edge and set your site URL in WordPress settings.
  • Enable backups for MySQL and the /var/www/html/wp-content volume.
  • Add caching and security plugins to harden your site.