Hephy Workflow
An open-source Platform as a Service (PaaS) that adds a developer-friendly layer to any Kubernetes cluster for easy application deployment and management.
What is Hephy Workflow?
Hephy Workflow is an open-source Platform as a Service (PaaS) designed to run on Kubernetes clusters. It provides a developer-friendly layer that simplifies deploying, managing, and scaling applications using Git pushes or Docker images. The project is a community-maintained fork of Deis Workflow, offering a self-hosted alternative to commercial PaaS solutions.
DevOps engineers, platform teams, and developers who want a Heroku-like experience on their own Kubernetes infrastructure, especially those managing application deployments in cloud-native environments.
Developers choose Hephy Workflow because it combines the ease of use of a traditional PaaS with the flexibility and control of Kubernetes, all as a fully open-source, self-hostable solution maintained by an active community.
Overview
Hephy Workflow - An open source fork of Deis Workflow - The open source PaaS for Kubernetes.
Use Cases
Best For
- Teams wanting a self-hosted Heroku alternative on Kubernetes
- Simplifying application deployment workflows for developers using Git
- Managing multiple applications on a single Kubernetes cluster with a unified interface
- Organizations needing a PaaS layer without vendor lock-in
- Platform teams building internal developer platforms
- Migrating from Deis Workflow to a community-supported fork
Not Ideal For
- Teams requiring direct, fine-grained control over Kubernetes APIs and resources
- Organizations that depend on commercial support, SLAs, and frequent vendor updates
- Small-scale projects or prototypes where deploying and maintaining a full Kubernetes cluster with PaaS overhead is disproportionate
Pros & Cons
Pros
Automates builds and deployments via Git push using source-to-image or Docker builds, providing a Heroku-like workflow as highlighted in the Key Features and README.
Includes self-contained components like PostgreSQL, Docker registry, router, and monitoring, reducing external dependencies and simplifying management, per the component list.
Offers the `deis` CLI for easy application lifecycle management, logs, and scaling, abstracting Kubernetes complexity and enhancing productivity.
Actively maintained as a fork after Deis Workflow was discontinued, with regular patch releases and a Slack community for support, evidenced by the release history.
Cons
Requires a pre-existing Kubernetes cluster and installation of multiple components, leading to significant operational overhead and expertise needs.
The latest major release (v2.23.0) was in 2021, indicating infrequent updates that may lag behind newer Kubernetes features and security patches.
Some documentation still references 'Deis' instead of 'Hephy', potentially causing confusion and reflecting challenges in maintaining the fork.
Open Source Alternative To
Hephy Workflow is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a managed Kubernetes container orchestration service on Microsoft Azure that simplifies deploying and managing containerized applications with a PaaS layer.
A cloud platform as a service (PaaS) that enables developers to build, run, and operate applications entirely in the cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
DokkuA docker-powered PaaS that helps you build and manage the lifecycle of applications
caproverScalable PaaS (automated Docker+nginx) - aka Heroku on Steroids
TsuruOpen source and extensible Platform as a Service (PaaS).
EmpireA PaaS built on top of Amazon EC2 Container Service (ECS)
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