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Kamal

Command-line tool that deploys web apps packaged as Docker containers to servers over SSH, with zero-downtime switching.

Kamal deploys web apps that run in Docker containers to servers it reaches over SSH. The command-line tool builds the image, pushes it to a registry, pulls it onto each server and starts a new container. kamal-proxy then routes traffic to the new container once it answers its health check. The project was originally built for Rails apps and works with any web app that can be containerized. It was formerly known as MRSK.

Kamal is installed with gem install kamal, or run from a Docker container when Ruby is not available. The installation guide says that the first setup installs Docker on any server that lacks it, which needs root access over SSH.

Identity

Status
Active
Maintainer
37signals LLC4
Maintained by
Company
First release
20237
Headquarters
United States5

Rendering and deploy

Runs as
Dev only3
Install with
gem install kamal3

Releases

Current major version
27
Last release
2026-06-187

Adoption

GitHub stars
14,6922
Contributors
1678

Why these figures do not compare

Sources

  1. 2026-10-28: links, Categories
    kamal-deploy.org/
  2. 2026-10-28: links, Written in, License, GitHub stars
    api.github.com/repos/basecamp/kamal
  3. 2026-10-28: links, Runtime, Install with, Runs as
    kamal-deploy.org/docs/installation/
  4. 2026-10-28: Maintainer
    37signals.com/terms
  5. 2026-10-28: Headquarters
    37signals.com/privacy
  6. 2026-10-28: License model
    github.com/basecamp/kamal/blob/main/README.md
  7. 2026-10-28: First release, Current major version, Last release
    api.github.com/repos/basecamp/kamal/releases
  8. 2026-10-28: Contributors
    api.github.com/repos/basecamp/kamal/contributors

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