1
Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Gitea
Development256MB+ RAM
Lightweight self-hosted Git service
gitversion-controlgithub-alternative
Deploy Gitea in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Gitea
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Gitea on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Gitea template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted Git service with PostgreSQL on your VPS, then verify the Gitea initial configuration screen in a browser.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
3
Step 3Search for Gitea
Use the template picker search to find Gitea in the Server Compass template catalog.
4
Step 4Select the Gitea template
Choose the Gitea template. Server Compass fills the Gitea service, PostgreSQL service, persistent Git data and database volumes, and the required database password.
5
Step 5Review the Gitea settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named gitea-demo and used host port 3000.
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Step 6Deploy Gitea
Review the generated environment values, keep the database password masked, confirm the web and SSH ports are available, and click Deploy Now.
7
Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Gitea and PostgreSQL images, starts the containers, and verifies the stack.
8
Step 8Confirm Gitea is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Gitea app is marked Running with its application URL available.
9
Step 9Open Gitea in the browser
Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Gitea initial configuration screen confirms the deployed Git service is reachable and ready for final setup.
After Gitea Opens
- Complete the Gitea installation wizard and create the first administrator account.
- Store the administrator credentials in a secure password manager.
- Keep the database password masked in screenshots and docs.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before inviting users or pushing repositories over the public internet.
- Configure SSH clone URLs and user SSH keys before using Git over SSH.
- Back up both the Gitea data volume and the PostgreSQL data volume before hosting production repositories.
Verified Result
The Gitea app loaded successfully in a browser and displayed the initial configuration screen.
Gitea deployment questions
What does the Gitea template deploy?
It deploys the official Gitea container with PostgreSQL 16, a persistent Gitea data volume, a persistent database volume, web access on port 3000, and Git SSH access on port 2222 by default.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3000, which maps to the Gitea web UI on container port 3000.
Why does the browser verification stop at the initial configuration screen?
A fresh Gitea deployment is considered reachable when the initial configuration screen loads. Completing the wizard creates real administrator credentials, so the public guide stops before account creation.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Gitea template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Do It Yourself
Deploy Gitea via Command Line
Prefer the command line? Follow this step-by-step guide to deploy Gitea manually on your VPS.
1
Connect to Your Remote Server
Begin by establishing a secure connection to your server through the terminal.
terminal
# Access your VPS
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
# With SSH key authentication
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-private-key root@YOUR_SERVER_IPFirst time? Ensure Docker is installed first: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
2
Set Up Your App Folder
Create a dedicated folder for your application files.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/gitea
cd ~/apps/gitea3
Set Up Docker Compose
Create the following docker-compose.yml in your project directory:
docker-compose.yml
services:
gitea:
image: gitea/gitea:latest
ports:
- "3000:3000"
- "2222:22"
environment:
- USER_UID=1000
- USER_GID=1000
- GITEA__database__DB_TYPE=postgres
- GITEA__database__HOST=db:5432
- GITEA__database__NAME=gitea
- GITEA__database__USER=gitea
- GITEA__database__PASSWD=<your-db-password>
volumes:
- gitea_data:/data
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
db:
condition: service_healthy
db:
image: postgres:16-alpine
environment:
- POSTGRES_USER=gitea
- POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- POSTGRES_DB=gitea
volumes:
- postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U gitea"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 5
volumes:
gitea_data:
postgres_data:
Configuration Variables
PORTWeb port(default: 3000)SSH_PORTSSH port(default: 2222)DB_PASSWORDDB password4
Spin Up the Stack
Run Docker Compose to launch your application.
terminal
# Launch the stack
docker compose up -d
# Verify container status
docker compose ps
# Follow the logs
docker compose logs --follow5
Open the Application Port
Configure UFW to allow traffic to your application.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 3000/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:3000Skip the Terminal
Make it simple with Server Compass.
Deploy Gitea with a beautiful UI instead. No SSH, no YAML editing, no terminal commands. Just click, configure, and deploy in under 3 minutes.
- No terminal required
- Point-and-click setup
- Auto SSL certificates
- Rolling deployments
- Health monitoring
- Instant rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Gitea with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Complete installation wizard
2
Create admin account
3
Configure SSH key
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Gitea FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Gitea
How do I deploy Gitea with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Gitea 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 Gitea?
Gitea requires a minimum of 256MB 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 Gitea data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Gitea backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Gitea to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Gitea image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Gitea free to self-host?
Gitea 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.
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