> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.repocloud.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Platform Apps Overview

> Advanced deployment options with full root access and dedicated IPv4

## Platform Apps

While RepoCloud's standard deployment options meet most users' needs, some scenarios require greater control and flexibility. For these cases, we offer "Platform Apps" - specialized applications that provide enhanced capabilities for advanced users.

<Note>
  Platform Apps provide deeper system access, dedicated IPs, and more control than standard RepoCloud applications while still benefiting from our managed infrastructure.
</Note>

## What Are Platform Apps?

Platform Apps are specialized deployment options that provide more control and flexibility than standard RepoCloud applications. They function as platforms-within-a-platform, offering deeper access to the underlying system while still benefiting from RepoCloud's managed infrastructure.

Key features of Platform Apps include:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Dedicated IPv4" icon="network-wired">
    Unlike standard apps, Platform Apps come with their own dedicated IPv4 address
  </Card>

  <Card title="Root Access" icon="key">
    Full root/administrator access to your environment
  </Card>

  <Card title="CI/CD Integration" icon="arrows-spin">
    Built-in continuous integration and deployment pipelines
  </Card>

  <Card title="Familiar Interfaces" icon="display">
    Similar experiences to popular platforms like Heroku, Vercel, or Netlify
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Available Platform Apps

RepoCloud currently offers two Platform Apps:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Coolify" icon="snowflake" href="/platforms/coolify">
    Self-hosted Heroku/Netlify alternative with a powerful dashboard and extensive application template library
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dokploy" icon="docker" href="/platforms/dokploy">
    Container management platform that simplifies deploying and managing Docker containers
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## When to Use Platform Apps

Platform Apps are ideal for users who:

1. **Need Root Access**: Require shell access for advanced configuration or troubleshooting
2. **Require Dedicated IP**: Have applications that need their own dedicated IPv4 address
3. **Deploy Custom Applications**: Want to deploy applications not in our standard marketplace
4. **Need Advanced CI/CD**: Require integrated continuous integration and deployment workflows
5. **Prefer Familiar Interfaces**: Want experience similar to Heroku, Vercel, or Netlify

<Note>
  While Platform Apps offer more control, they also require more technical knowledge to manage effectively. They're best suited for users comfortable with server administration concepts.
</Note>

## Technical Considerations

When using Platform Apps, be aware of these technical details:

* **No Autoscaling**: Autoscaling is not available for backends that require a dedicated IPv4 address and root access, so Platform Apps always run on a fixed server size
* **Minimum Server Size**: Platform Apps require at least Tier 4 (4 GB RAM / 2 vCPU); smaller tiers are disabled on the deployment page
* **No Free-Credit Deployment**: Free sign-up credit cannot be used for Platform Apps (which provide full SSH access); you need to deposit at least \$1 of your own credit before deploying one
* **User Responsibility**: With greater control comes more responsibility for security and updates
* **Pricing**: Platform Apps are billed at the same rates as standard applications, but typically consume more resources

## Deployment Process

Deploying a Platform App follows the same general process as standard applications:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select Platform App">
    Choose either Coolify or Dokploy from the marketplace (they're listed under the "Platforms" category)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Resources">
    Select a fixed server size of at least 4 GB RAM / 2 vCPU (the minimum for Platform Apps; autoscaling is not available)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Settings">
    Set up initial authentication and basic configuration options
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy">
    Launch your Platform App instance
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access Platform">
    Use the provided URL to access your Platform App's dashboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy Applications">
    Use the Platform App's interface to deploy your custom applications
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next Steps

Learn more about our available Platform Apps:

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Coolify" icon="snowflake" href="/platforms/coolify">
    Explore the features and capabilities of Coolify
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dokploy" icon="docker" href="/platforms/dokploy">
    Discover how Dokploy can streamline your container deployments
  </Card>
</CardGroup>