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The supported way to self-host SparkyFitness is to run its production Docker Compose stack on a Linux VPS. Create a deployment directory, download the project’s production Compose file and environment template, replace every placeholder secret, set SPARKY_FITNESS_FRONTEND_URL to the exact address people will use, and start the stack with docker compose pull && docker compose up -d. Put PostgreSQL and uploads on persistent host storage, protect the server with a firewall, and use a reverse proxy for HTTPS when the service is public.
What you need before installing
SparkyFitness is packaged for a Docker Compose deployment. The upstream installation material assumes a supported Linux distribution, Docker Engine, and the Docker Compose plugin. You also need administrative access to the VPS, a public IP address, and enough persistent disk space for the database and user uploads.
VPS requirements that are actually documented
The upstream SparkyFitness sources do not publish a guaranteed minimum for CPU cores, RAM, disk capacity, or bandwidth. Do not treat a provider’s arbitrary “minimum” as an official SparkyFitness requirement. Size the VPS for your workload: a small private installation has different needs from a household with many accounts or a public service that accepts frequent uploads.
| Capability | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | A supported Linux distribution with current security updates | Docker and its networking depend on the host kernel and package support. |
| Container runtime | Docker Engine plus the Compose plugin | The documented deployment commands use the docker compose subcommand. |
| Storage | Persistent SSD-backed storage with snapshots or backups | PostgreSQL and uploads must survive container replacement. |
| Network | A public address, DNS control, and firewall rules for the ports you expose | Users must be able to reach the frontend and, for HTTPS, the certificate endpoint. |
| Headroom | CPU and memory beyond the container baseline for PostgreSQL, the application, and the host | There is no published numeric baseline, so observe real use and resize if contention appears. |
Install Docker safely
Install Docker Engine and the Compose plugin using the instructions for your Linux distribution. Confirm both commands work before touching the application:
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docker --version
docker compose versionIf the second command is missing, install the Compose plugin rather than relying on an old standalone docker-compose binary. Add your administrative user to the Docker group only if you understand that Docker-group membership is effectively root-equivalent.
Create the SparkyFitness deployment directory
- Create a dedicated directory and enter it:
mkdir sparkyfitness && cd sparkyfitness - Download the production Compose file from the SparkyFitness project repository and save it in this directory using the filename expected by the project, normally
docker-compose.ymlorcompose.yml. - Download the accompanying environment template into the same directory, then make a private copy for your deployment. Keep the resulting
.envfile out of public repositories and server screenshots.
The exact download URLs can change as the repository is reorganized, so use the files linked by the current upstream README rather than copying an old Compose file from a blog post. Before starting, inspect the Compose file to understand its services, image tags, ports, bind mounts, and health checks.
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Configure every required environment value
Open the environment file and replace all placeholders. The upstream README warns that the server refuses to start while placeholders remain and explains that leaving the published placeholder would otherwise result in a known database password.
Database password
Set SPARKY_FITNESS_DB_PASSWORD to a long, randomly generated value. Use a password that is unique to this installation; never reuse an email, VPS, or operating-system password. Keep the value consistent with the database service configuration and the application’s database connection settings in the template.
API encryption key
SPARKY_FITNESS_API_ENCRYPTION_KEY is documented as a 64-character hexadecimal key. Generate one instead of typing it manually:
openssl rand -hex 32The command emits 32 random bytes as 64 hexadecimal characters. Copy the output exactly, without quotation marks or spaces, and protect it as a secret. Losing it can make encrypted application data unreadable, so store it in your password manager or another controlled secrets archive.
Authentication secret
BETTER_AUTH_SECRET signs authentication sessions. Generate a separate random value; do not reuse the API encryption key. For example:
openssl rand -base64 48Keep this value private and plan any rotation carefully. Changing a signing secret can invalidate existing sessions, and changing encryption material without a documented migration plan can make previously encrypted data unusable.
Frontend URL
Set SPARKY_FITNESS_FRONTEND_URL to the exact URL users will open, including the scheme and, when applicable, the port. The official configuration notes that sign-up fails when this value does not match the real frontend address. Decide whether that address will be a temporary IP and port or a permanent DNS name before creating accounts.
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Examples of the distinction are important: http://203.0.113.10:3004, https://fitness.example.net, and https://fitness.example.net/ may be treated differently by authentication and browser-origin checks. Use the format shown in the current template and keep the value identical to the public origin you configure in the reverse proxy.
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From the deployment directory, pull the images and start the services in detached mode:
docker compose pull
docker compose up -dCheck that containers are running:
docker compose psThen inspect logs for startup errors:
docker compose logs --tail=200
docker compose logs -fOpen the configured frontend URL after the services report healthy. The upstream README’s current example uses port 3004; treat that as a configuration example, not a universal performance or networking requirement. If your Compose file maps another host port, use that mapping in the URL and firewall rule.
Understand the database and persistent volumes
The sample setup separates PostgreSQL from the application service. The application reaches the database through the Compose service name sparkyfitness-db, so the database hostname inside the Compose network is not your public IP and should not be exposed to the internet.
The sample also mounts a host directory at /var/lib/postgresql/data. That mount is what allows database contents to survive a container being recreated. Verify the host-side path in your downloaded Compose file and ensure it is on persistent storage rather than an ephemeral VPS volume.
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Protect uploads as well as PostgreSQL
Find the application upload mount in the Compose file and place its host-side directory on persistent storage. Back up both locations:
- The PostgreSQL host directory containing the database cluster.
- The application directory containing uploaded files and generated assets.
- The environment file, stored separately with restricted permissions or in a secrets manager.
- The Compose file and the exact image or release versions used for a working deployment.
Do not assume a database backup includes files stored in an uploads directory. They are separate recovery assets and must be restored together for a consistent user experience.
Make SparkyFitness reachable over HTTPS
For a public installation, terminate TLS at a reverse proxy and forward requests to the frontend container. This keeps certificate handling at the edge while the Compose application remains on the private Docker network or on a local host port.
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fitness.example.net, pointing to the VPS public IP. Wait for the record to resolve from an external network. - Install and configure a reverse proxy on the VPS or on a separate edge host. Configure it to obtain a certificate for the hostname and proxy requests to the host port published by the SparkyFitness Compose file. If the current example publishes port
3004, the proxy target may behttp://127.0.0.1:3004; confirm the actual mapping first. - Allow only the required public ports through the VPS firewall. A typical HTTPS setup allows TCP 80 for certificate validation and HTTP redirection, and TCP 443 for encrypted traffic. Keep the database port closed to the public internet.
- Change
SPARKY_FITNESS_FRONTEND_URLto the finalhttps://origin, then recreate the application so it reads the new value:docker compose up -d - Open the hostname in a private browser window, sign up or sign in, and confirm that redirects, cookies, and any upload requests remain on the HTTPS hostname.
A mismatch between the URL in the environment file and the URL users actually open is a common cause of failed sign-up. Check scheme, hostname, port, and trailing-path conventions before debugging the database or the browser.
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Firewall and exposure checklist
- Permit SSH only from trusted source addresses where practical, and use key-based authentication.
- Permit the public HTTP/HTTPS ports required by your reverse proxy and chosen certificate workflow.
- If you expose the frontend directly for a private test, permit only the mapped application port and understand that traffic is not encrypted.
- Do not publish PostgreSQL’s port. The application should use the internal service name
sparkyfitness-db. - Review Docker’s interaction with host firewall rules; a published container port can bypass assumptions made from a basic firewall configuration.
- Disable unused services and remove abandoned test containers, images, and credentials.
Backups and recovery planning
A VPS snapshot is useful but is not a substitute for an application-aware backup. Schedule PostgreSQL backups, copy them to storage independent of the VPS, and retain the upload directory on a separate backup target. Encrypt backups because they contain personal fitness information and authentication-related data.
Test a restore before you need it
- Create a disposable test VPS or isolated host.
- Install the same Docker and Compose versions used by production.
- Restore the PostgreSQL backup into the expected host directory or database service.
- Restore the application upload directory and the matching environment values.
- Start the stack with the tested Compose and image versions.
- Verify login, representative records, and uploaded files before deleting the test environment.
No restore-test result is guaranteed by the project documentation; the value of a backup is established only when you can recover from it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Updating without breaking the installation
The official README describes SparkyFitness as under active development and warns that breaking changes may occur. It advises against automatic container updates and recommends reviewing release notes before upgrading.
Use a controlled update process:
- Read the release notes and identify database migrations, changed environment variables, and image tag changes.
- Confirm that current backups of PostgreSQL and uploads exist and that a restore has been tested.
- Record the currently running image digests or release tags and save a copy of the working Compose and environment files.
- Pin a tested image or release in production instead of allowing an unattended updater to replace containers.
- Pull the planned version and recreate the stack during a maintenance window:
docker compose pull docker compose up -d - Watch logs, check health status, sign in, create a harmless test record, and verify an upload before declaring the upgrade complete.
If an upgrade fails, stop further automated changes, preserve logs, and roll back to the last tested image only if the release notes say the database schema is compatible. If a migration has already run, restore into a disposable environment first and follow the project’s documented rollback or forward-fix procedure.
Common installation failures and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Compose refuses to start because a value is a placeholder | One or more template secrets were not replaced | Search the environment file for placeholder text; set the database password, 64-character hexadecimal encryption key, authentication secret, and frontend URL. |
| Containers start and immediately stop | Invalid environment syntax, incompatible image, or database initialization error | Run docker compose logs --tail=200 for each service and validate the Compose file. |
| Sign-up fails while the page loads | SPARKY_FITNESS_FRONTEND_URL does not match the browser origin |
Compare scheme, hostname, port, and path exactly; recreate the application after editing the value. |
| Data disappears after a replacement | Database or upload data was stored only inside a container | Confirm host bind mounts or named volumes and inspect the actual host paths in the Compose file. |
| The domain times out | DNS, firewall, reverse-proxy, or wrong host-port mapping | Resolve the DNS name, verify the VPS firewall, inspect proxy logs, and compare the proxy target with docker compose ps. |
| HTTPS works but redirects loop | The proxy’s forwarded scheme is not being handled correctly | Check TLS termination and forwarded-header settings, then review application and proxy logs. |
| PostgreSQL is visible from the internet | A database port was published or a firewall rule is too broad | Remove the public port mapping, restrict the firewall, and keep database traffic on the Compose network. |
Choosing a VPS for SparkyFitness
Because the upstream project does not state a minimum size, compare VPS plans by operational capability rather than by a single advertised CPU or RAM number.
| Decision axis | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Docker support | Can you install a current Docker Engine and Compose plugin without unsupported kernel changes? |
| Storage durability | Is storage persistent SSD, and are snapshots or independent backups available? |
| CPU and memory | Is there headroom for PostgreSQL, the application, Docker, the reverse proxy, and backup jobs at the same time? |
| Network limits | Are latency, monthly transfer, inbound limits, and egress charges suitable for your users and uploads? |
| Security controls | Can you configure a host firewall, private networking, snapshots, and emergency console access? |
| Region | Is the data center close enough to your users, and does its jurisdiction fit your privacy requirements? |
| Reliability | Are maintenance notices, monitoring, support, and recovery options clearly documented? |
Start with a plan that leaves observable headroom, measure CPU, memory, disk usage, and database growth, and resize based on evidence. A numeric recommendation presented as an official SparkyFitness minimum would not be supported by the published installation material.
Alternative FreeBSD packaging
A community FreeBSD project publishes the container image ghcr.io/daemonless/sparkyfitness and examples for Podman Compose, AppJail, Bastille, and Ansible. Its examples cover database credentials, encryption and authentication secrets, uploads, backups, and database paths.
This is an alternative packaging project, not the upstream installation authority. Before using it, verify image provenance, review its update policy, compare its environment variables with the current upstream release, and test backup and restore behavior on FreeBSD. Do not mix its assumptions with the Linux Compose file without checking service names, volume paths, and image versions.
Production readiness checklist
- Docker Engine and the Compose plugin are installed and current.
- Every placeholder in the environment template has been replaced.
SPARKY_FITNESS_API_ENCRYPTION_KEYis a unique 64-character hexadecimal value.BETTER_AUTH_SECRETis unique, private, and backed up securely.SPARKY_FITNESS_DB_PASSWORDis long, unique, and not published.SPARKY_FITNESS_FRONTEND_URLexactly matches the public origin.- PostgreSQL data and uploads are on persistent host storage.
- PostgreSQL is not reachable from the public internet.
- Firewall rules expose only the ports required for administration and web access.
- HTTPS is terminated by a maintained reverse proxy for public use.
- Backups are stored away from the VPS and a restore has been rehearsed.
- Images or releases are pinned and upgrades are reviewed rather than automatic.
- Container logs and disk usage are monitored after installation and upgrades.
What the documented deployment does not promise
The published SparkyFitness materials do not provide authoritative CPU, RAM, disk, bandwidth, adoption, or performance figures. They also identify the AI Chatbot, Family & Friends access, and API documentation as beta or incomplete areas. Treat those features as subject to change, and verify their behavior after upgrades instead of designing an unattended production workflow around them.
For the core self-hosting task, the dependable path is deliberately simple: use the upstream Compose files, replace secrets, match the frontend URL, preserve database and upload storage, place HTTPS and firewall controls in front of the app, and update only after a tested backup.
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