cipi
Cipi is an open-source CLI tool that automates Laravel deployment and hosting on any Ubuntu VPS, turning a fresh server into a multi-app PHP platform with zero-downtime deploys, SSL, database management, and queue workers in minutes. It eliminates the need for a web control panel and lets teams focus on applications rather than infrastructure.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | cipi-sh/cipi |
| Owner | cipi-sh |
| Primary language | Shell |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 1.1k |
| Forks | 216 |
| Open issues | 2 |
| Latest release | 4.7.14 (2026-07-07) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/cipi-sh/cipi |
What cipi is
Cipi orchestrates a LEMP stack (Linux, Nginx, MariaDB, PHP 7.4–8.5) with Deployer-based atomic symlink deployments, per-app Linux user isolation, PHP-FPM pooling, Supervisor queue workers, Let's Encrypt SSL, Fail2ban+UFW firewalling, and optional REST API and MCP server for AI integration. Supports both Laravel (with releases, migrations, webhooks) and custom deployments (classic htdocs clone for simpler apps).
Get the cipi source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/cipi-sh/cipi.gitcd cipi# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Fresh Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04 LTS required; plan migration if existing servers run older or alternate distributions.
- Root SSH access and open ports 22/80/443 are mandatory; ensure firewall and network policies allow these before deployment.
- Initial setup (~10 minutes) is scripted, but production readiness depends on DNS, S3 access (for backups), and optional API/GUI configuration; timeline varies by team familiarity.
- Per-app Linux users and PHP-FPM pools scale linearly; monitor resource contention on high-density VPS (100+ apps) to avoid performance degradation.
- Webhook and auto-deploy workflows require GitHub/GitLab integration or custom Git provider support; verify deployment flow before going live.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Multi-Region or Multi-Cloud Requirement — Cipi is single-server architecture. Multi-region failover, load balancing, and multi-cloud deployments require external orchestration (Kubernetes, managed solutions). Not designed for high-availability clusters.
- Non-Ubuntu OS or Custom OS Versions — Requires Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or 26.04 LTS only. No support for Debian, CentOS, Alpine, or other Ubuntu releases. Teams locked into a different Linux distribution cannot use Cipi.
- Non-PHP Applications — Cipi is PHP and Laravel-centric. Node.js, Python, Go, or other runtimes are not natively supported. Teams deploying polyglot stacks should evaluate platform-agnostic alternatives (Dokku, Coolify, Heroku).
- Compliance-Heavy Regulated Environments — No explicit mention of audit logging, compliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001), or enterprise hardening. Teams in healthcare, finance, or critical infrastructure should perform security review and possibly require additional controls.
License & commercial use
MIT License (permissive open-source). Allows modification, distribution, and private/commercial use without royalties or attribution requirements (though attribution is appreciated). No copyleft restrictions.
MIT license permits commercial use, including hosting as a paid service or integrating into proprietary platforms. No license fee or restrictions apply. However, users assume responsibility for security, compliance, and liability; commercial deployments should include internal security review and validate that isolated sandboxing meets your threat model.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Per-app Linux user isolation, PHP-FPM pooling, and dedicated databases reduce blast radius of single-app compromise. Configs encrypted at rest with AES-256 (Vault). Fail2ban and UFW firewalling included. Webhook HMAC signature verification protects auto-deploy. No mention of intrusion detection, audit logging detail, secret rotation policies, or vulnerability disclosure process. Users should conduct threat modeling and security audit before production use, especially for multi-tenant hosting. Single-server architecture concentrates risk.
Alternatives to consider
Dokku
Lightweight PaaS-like deploy platform supporting multiple languages (Docker-based), simpler than Kubernetes, but less Laravel-specialized and more ops-heavy than Cipi's scripted stack.
Laravel Forge + Envoyer
Managed hosting provisioning and zero-downtime deployment for Laravel, closer to PaaS experience. Paid SaaS with enterprise support, vs. Cipi's self-hosted open-source model. Better for teams avoiding infrastructure management.
Coolify
Open-source Docker-based PaaS alternative, multi-language and multi-cloud capable, similar community/OSS appeal. More complex setup but broader runtime support than Cipi's PHP focus.
Build on cipi with DEV.co software developers
Cipi turns any Ubuntu VPS into a production Laravel host in minutes. Start with a fresh server, one command to install, one to deploy. No web panel. No learning curve. Get started free at cipi.sh.
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cipi FAQ
Can I run non-Laravel apps on Cipi?
Does Cipi support load balancing or multi-region failover?
What are the compliance/audit capabilities?
How many apps can run on a single Cipi server?
Custom software development services
Adopting cipi is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source devops software in production.
Ready to simplify your Laravel deployments?
Cipi turns any Ubuntu VPS into a production Laravel host in minutes. Start with a fresh server, one command to install, one to deploy. No web panel. No learning curve. Get started free at cipi.sh.