Friendica

Application512MB+ RAM

Decentralized social network with cross-platform support

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socialfediverseactivitypub

Deploy Friendica in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Friendica

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

CLI Deployment

Deploy Friendica Yourself

Want full control? Here's how to deploy Friendica yourself using Docker Compose.

Remote into Your Server

Initiate a secure shell connection to your server using the command below.

terminal

# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip

# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ip

First time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Create the App Directory

Organize your deployment by creating a dedicated project folder.

terminal

# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/friendica
cd ~/apps/friendica

Write Your docker-compose.yml

Create a new docker-compose.yml file and paste this configuration:

docker-compose.yml

services:
  friendica:
    image: friendica:latest
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    environment:
      - MYSQL_HOST=db
      - MYSQL_DATABASE=friendica
      - MYSQL_USER=friendica
      - MYSQL_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - FRIENDICA_URL=<your-friendica-url>
      - FRIENDICA_ADMIN_MAIL=<your-admin-email>
    volumes:
      - friendica_data:/var/www/html
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      db:
        condition: service_healthy

  db:
    image: mariadb:11
    environment:
      - MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-db-root-password>
      - MARIADB_DATABASE=friendica
      - MARIADB_USER=friendica
      - MARIADB_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
    volumes:
      - mariadb_data:/var/lib/mysql
    restart: unless-stopped
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "healthcheck.sh --connect --innodb_initialized"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

volumes:
  friendica_data:
  mariadb_data:

Required Settings

PORTHost port(default: 8080)

FRIENDICA_URLURL

ADMIN_EMAILAdmin email

DB_PASSWORDDB password

DB_ROOT_PASSWORDRoot password

Launch the Containers

Start the services and tail the logs to verify startup.

terminal

# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d

# Verify deployment
docker compose ps

# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f

Open Firewall Ports

Open the required port in your firewall to allow access.

terminal

# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080

Skip the Terminal

Want the easy way? Try Server Compass.

Skip the terminal and deploy Friendica with a visual interface. Configure everything with clicks, not commands.

Visual config editor
Instant deployment
Automatic HTTPS
Smooth updates
Live monitoring
Quick rollbacks

Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

Friendica FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Friendica

How do I deploy Friendica with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Friendica from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for Friendica?

Friendica requires a minimum of 512MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Friendica data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Friendica backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Friendica to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Friendica image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Friendica free to self-host?

Friendica is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.