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.
Back to all templates
Saltcorn
Development256MB+ RAM
Open-source no-code application builder
nocodeapp-builder
Deploy Saltcorn in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Saltcorn
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Saltcorn on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Saltcorn template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted no-code application builder with PostgreSQL on your VPS, then verify the first-user setup page.
About 7 minutesBrowser verified
2
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 Saltcorn
Use the template picker search to find Saltcorn in the Server Compass template catalog.
4
Step 4Select the Saltcorn template
Choose the Saltcorn template. Server Compass fills the Saltcorn service, PostgreSQL database service, session secret, database password, and public web port.
5
Step 5Review the Saltcorn settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named saltcorn-demo and used host port 3001.
6
Step 6Deploy Saltcorn
Review the generated environment values, keep secrets masked, confirm the port is 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 Saltcorn and PostgreSQL images, starts the containers, and verifies the stack.
8
Step 8Confirm Saltcorn is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Saltcorn app is marked Running with its application URL available.
9
Step 9Open Saltcorn in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Saltcorn first-user setup page confirms the no-code app builder is reachable and ready for the administrator account.
After Saltcorn Opens
- Create the first administrator user immediately after deployment.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before building production apps or inviting users.
- Keep the session secret and database password private.
- Back up the PostgreSQL data volume before production use.
- Review Saltcorn plugins before installing them in a production workspace.
Verified Result
The Saltcorn first-user setup page loaded successfully from the deployed container.
Saltcorn deployment questions
What does the Saltcorn template deploy?
It deploys Saltcorn with a PostgreSQL database, a generated session secret, a generated database password, and a public web port.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 3001, which maps to the Saltcorn web server on container port 3000.
Why does the guide stop at first-user setup?
A fresh Saltcorn deployment is considered reachable when the first-user setup page loads. Creating the administrator account is the next private setup step.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Saltcorn template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Do It Yourself
Deploy Saltcorn via Command Line
Prefer the command line? Follow this step-by-step guide to deploy Saltcorn manually on your VPS.
1
SSH into Your Server
Launch your preferred terminal and connect to your VPS using SSH.
terminal
# Log into your server
ssh root@<your-server-ip>
# If using key-based auth
ssh -i ~/.ssh/my-key root@<your-server-ip>First time? Docker not installed? Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
2
Create Working Directory
Prepare a directory for your application files and configuration.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/saltcorn
cd ~/apps/saltcorn3
Configure Your Containers
Create the Docker Compose configuration file with these contents:
docker-compose.yml
services:
saltcorn:
image: saltcorn/saltcorn:latest
ports:
- "3000:3000"
environment:
- SALTCORN_SESSION_SECRET=<your-session-secret>
- PGHOST=db
- PGUSER=saltcorn
- PGDATABASE=saltcorn
- PGPASSWORD=<your-db-password>
restart: unless-stopped
depends_on:
db:
condition: service_healthy
db:
image: postgres:16-alpine
environment:
- POSTGRES_USER=saltcorn
- POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
- POSTGRES_DB=saltcorn
volumes:
- saltcorn_db:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
healthcheck:
test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U saltcorn -d saltcorn"]
interval: 10s
timeout: 5s
retries: 5
start_period: 30s
volumes:
saltcorn_db:
Configuration Variables
PORTHost port to expose(default: 3000)SESSION_SECRETSession secretDB_PASSWORDDatabase password4
Deploy with Docker Compose
Launch the application stack using Docker Compose.
terminal
# Deploy the application
docker compose up -d
# Check container health
docker compose ps
# Monitor logs
docker compose logs -f --tail=1005
Open Required Ports
Enable external access by opening the necessary port.
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
There's an easier way. Meet Server Compass.
Deploy Saltcorn with a beautiful UI instead. No SSH, no YAML editing, no terminal commands. Just click, configure, and deploy in under 3 minutes.
- Intuitive dashboard
- Deploy in 3 minutes
- Free SSL included
- Blue-green deploys
- Real-time logs
- Version history
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Saltcorn with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Test the application
2
Set up reverse proxy for HTTPS
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Saltcorn FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Saltcorn
How do I deploy Saltcorn with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Saltcorn 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 Saltcorn?
Saltcorn 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 Saltcorn data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Saltcorn backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Saltcorn to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Saltcorn image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Saltcorn free to self-host?
Saltcorn 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.
Related Templates
View all Development
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file with realtime database, auth, and file storage
Appwrite
Open-source backend-as-a-service - self-hosted Firebase alternative
Parse Server
Open-source backend framework with dashboard
Supabase
Full Supabase self-hosted with Kong, GoTrue Auth, Realtime, and Studio
Ready to Self-Host Saltcorn?
Download Server Compass and deploy Saltcorn to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass