---
title: Deploy with a Dockerfile
layout: language-and-framework-docs
redirect_from: /docs/getting-started/dockerfile/
---
<figure class="flex justify-center">
<img src="/static/images/docker.png" alt="Illustration by Annie Ruygt of a whale carrying containers with fish looking on" class="w-full max-w-lg mx-auto">
</figure>
Fly Launch can deploy your app from a [Dockerfile](https://docs.docker.com/reference/dockerfile/+external).
The `fly launch` command detects your Dockerfile, builds it, and then deploys your app. Need some extra config? No sweat, we've got you covered.
## Create and configure your app
Run `fly launch` from your project's source directory.
<div class="important icon">
If you want to configure more than the basic settings, things like secrets or environment variables for example, run `fly launch --no-deploy` so that you can [edit the `fly.toml` file](#more-config) before the first deployment.
</div>
```cmd
fly launch
```
```output
Scanning source code
Detected a Dockerfile app
Creating app in /Users/name/test/my-app-name
We're about to launch your app on Fly.io. Here's what you're getting:
Organization: MyOrg (fly launch defaults to the personal org)
Name: my-app-name (derived from your directory name)
Region: Secaucus, NJ (US) (this is the fastest region for you)
App Machines: shared-cpu-1x, 1GB RAM (most apps need about 1GB of RAM)
Postgres: <none> (not requested)
Redis: <none> (not requested)
? Do you want to tweak these settings before proceeding? Yes
```
Type `n` if you're happy with the defaults listed, otherwise type `y` to open the Fly Launch web page and edit your settings, including:
* Name: Keep the default app name or enter your own.
* Region: Keep the fastest [region](/docs/reference/regions/) (the value of `primary_region` in the `fly.toml` file) as chosen by Fly Launch, or select a different region to deploy to.
* Services: The port for services (the value of `internal_port` in the `fly.toml` file) depends on the `EXPOSE` instruction in your Dockerfile. The default port when the `fly launch` command doesn't find ports set in a Dockerfile is `8080`.
* You can also set a default Machine size and memory, and add and configure Postgres or Redis.
After you click **Confirm Settings**, Fly Launch creates your app, generates a `fly.toml` file for your project with the settings, and then deploys the app.
### Add environment variables and secrets
Most Dockerfiles expect some configuration settings through `ENV`. Add your custom `ENV` settings to the `[env]` section of the generated `fly.toml` file. For example:
```toml
[env]
MY_SPECIAL_ENV = "some_value"
MAX_PLAYER_COUNT = "15"
```
Add the values your Dockerfile requires.
Sometimes you have secrets that shouldn't be checked in to `git` or shared publicly. You can set secrets using the [`fly secrets`](/docs/apps/secrets/#set-secrets) command. For example:
```cmd
flyctl secrets set MY_SECRET=romance
```
```output
Secrets are staged for the first deployment
```
You can list the secrets you've already set using `fly secrets list`. For example:
```cmd
fly secrets list
```
```
NAME DIGEST DATE
MY_SECRET b9e37b7b239ee4aefc75352fe3fa6dc6 1m20s ago
```
The values aren't displayed, since they're secret!
### Deploy your app
If you didn't deploy the new app, or you've made changes and want to redeploy, then you can do that now.
```cmd
fly deploy
```
```output
==> Verifying app config
Validating /Users/name/test/my-app-name/fly.toml
Platform: machines
✓ Configuration is valid
--> Verified app config
==> Building image
Remote builder fly-builder-long-glitter-7257 ready
==> Building image with Docker
...
--> Pushing image done
image: registry.fly.io/my-app-name:deployment-01HGEQ1Z1DPMJ4NMPNHTA09T6T
image size: 141 MB
Watch your deployment at https://fly.io/apps/my-app-name/monitoring
-------
Updating existing machines in 'my-app-name' with rolling strategy
-------
✔ [1/2] Machine 918543b477de83 [app] update succeeded
✔ [2/2] Machine e28697ce6d3986 [app] update succeeded
-------
Visit your newly deployed app at https://my-app-name.fly.dev/
```
By default, `fly deploy` builds the image using a remote builder. If you have Docker running locally and want to build locally, then run `fly deploy --local-only`. After the image is built, the app gets deployed.
### Open your app
Run `fly apps open`, or just go to the URL specified in the output, to open your deployed app in a browser.
## Stateful apps
Lots of apps have some state that they want to keep. Learn more about the options for [databases and storage](/docs/database-storage-guides/) on Fly.io.
## Grow and scale
Check out some of the ways you can increase availability, capacity, and performance with Fly.io:
* Follow the blueprint for [extra Machines for more resilient apps](/docs/blueprints/resilient-apps-multiple-machines/)
* Read up on [App availability and resiliency](/docs/reference/app-availability/)
* [Autoscale Machines based on load or custom metrics](/docs/reference/autoscaling/)
* [Scale Machine CPU and RAM](/docs/apps/scale-machine/)
* [Scale Machine count](/docs/apps/scale-count/)
* Try out [Fly GPUs](/docs/gpus/)
If you have questions, need help, or want to talk about what you're building, visit our [community forum](https://community.fly.io).
The fly launch command detects your Dockerfile, builds it, and then deploys your app. Need some extra config? No sweat, we’ve got you covered.
Create and configure your app
Run fly launch from your project’s source directory.
If you want to configure more than the basic settings, things like secrets or environment variables for example, run fly launch --no-deploy so that you can edit the fly.toml file before the first deployment.
fly launch
Scanning source code
Detected a Dockerfile app
Creating app in /Users/name/test/my-app-name
We're about to launch your app on Fly.io. Here's what you're getting:
Organization: MyOrg (fly launch defaults to the personal org)
Name: my-app-name (derived from your directory name)
Region: Secaucus, NJ (US) (this is the fastest region for you)
App Machines: shared-cpu-1x, 1GB RAM (most apps need about 1GB of RAM)
Postgres: <none> (not requested)
Redis: <none> (not requested)
? Do you want to tweak these settings before proceeding? Yes
Type n if you’re happy with the defaults listed, otherwise type y to open the Fly Launch web page and edit your settings, including:
Name: Keep the default app name or enter your own.
Region: Keep the fastest region (the value of primary_region in the fly.toml file) as chosen by Fly Launch, or select a different region to deploy to.
Services: The port for services (the value of internal_port in the fly.toml file) depends on the EXPOSE instruction in your Dockerfile. The default port when the fly launch command doesn’t find ports set in a Dockerfile is 8080.
You can also set a default Machine size and memory, and add and configure Postgres or Redis.
After you click Confirm Settings, Fly Launch creates your app, generates a fly.toml file for your project with the settings, and then deploys the app.
Add environment variables and secrets
Most Dockerfiles expect some configuration settings through ENV. Add your custom ENV settings to the [env] section of the generated fly.toml file. For example:
Sometimes you have secrets that shouldn’t be checked in to git or shared publicly. You can set secrets using the fly secrets command. For example:
flyctl secrets set MY_SECRET=romance
Secrets are staged for the first deployment
You can list the secrets you’ve already set using fly secrets list. For example:
fly secrets list
NAME DIGEST DATE
MY_SECRET b9e37b7b239ee4aefc75352fe3fa6dc6 1m20s ago
The values aren’t displayed, since they’re secret!
Deploy your app
If you didn’t deploy the new app, or you’ve made changes and want to redeploy, then you can do that now.
fly deploy
==> Verifying app config
Validating /Users/name/test/my-app-name/fly.toml
Platform: machines
✓ Configuration is valid
--> Verified app config
==> Building image
Remote builder fly-builder-long-glitter-7257 ready
==> Building image with Docker
...
--> Pushing image done
image: registry.fly.io/my-app-name:deployment-01HGEQ1Z1DPMJ4NMPNHTA09T6T
image size: 141 MB
Watch your deployment at https://fly.io/apps/my-app-name/monitoring
-------
Updating existing machines in 'my-app-name' with rolling strategy
-------
✔ [1/2] Machine 918543b477de83 [app] update succeeded
✔ [2/2] Machine e28697ce6d3986 [app] update succeeded
-------
Visit your newly deployed app at https://my-app-name.fly.dev/
By default, fly deploy builds the image using a remote builder. If you have Docker running locally and want to build locally, then run fly deploy --local-only. After the image is built, the app gets deployed.
Open your app
Run fly apps open, or just go to the URL specified in the output, to open your deployed app in a browser.
Stateful apps
Lots of apps have some state that they want to keep. Learn more about the options for databases and storage on Fly.io.
Grow and scale
Check out some of the ways you can increase availability, capacity, and performance with Fly.io:
