dsfx/docs/adr/0011-deployment-and-containerization-strategy.md

ADR-0011: Deployment and Containerization Strategy

Status

Proposed

Context

Our system is designed for self-hosting and must be deployable in diverse environments with minimal configuration effort. Users expect an easy installation process, whether on a local server or in a containerized environment. In addition, our non-functional requirements (NFR-6) emphasize deployability and maintainability, making it critical that we support robust containerization and configuration management strategies.

This strategy is fundamental to ensuring that our privacy-focused application remains accessible and straightforward to install while maintaining consistent behavior across various operating environments. It also aids in deterministic testing by providing uniform deployment scenarios that simulate real-world conditions such as network and disk performance.

Decision

We will adopt a containerized deployment strategy with the following key elements:

• Containerization with Docker: The application will be packaged as Docker containers to provide a consistent runtime environment across different host systems. This approach simplifies deployment, reduces configuration inconsistencies, and enhances portability. Users will be able to deploy our system easily on any platform that supports Docker.

• Support for Orchestration Platforms: Although the primary deployment target is a self-hosted environment, the containerized design will also enable deployments using orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes. This support allows for scalable, resilient deployments with automated recovery and load balancing, ensuring that the system meets performance targets even under simulated adverse conditions (NFR-2, NFR-6).

• Configuration and Secrets Management: Deployment will incorporate predefined configuration templates and support integration with secure secrets management systems. This not only simplifies the setup process for users but also ensures that sensitive deployment parameters are handled securely in line with our security requirements (NFR-1).

• Self-Hosting Focus: The deployment strategy is tailored for self-hosting scenarios, ensuring that users can manage and maintain their own servers without needing to depend on centralized services. This supports our commitment to user control and full transparency while maintaining robust security and privacy standards.

• Deterministic Testing Environment: Our containerized deployment design enables the creation of deterministic simulation environments. Through container orchestration, we can simulate network and disk latency or failure scenarios consistently, aiding in rigorous testing and validation of system performance (NFR-2, NFR-6).

Consequences

• Advantages:

  • Consistency and Portability: Containerization ensures that the application runs uniformly across various platforms, reducing deployment errors and configuration drift.
  • Ease of Deployment: Users can deploy our system with minimal manual configuration, making it accessible to a wider audience of self-hosting enthusiasts.
  • Scalability: Integration with orchestration platforms like Kubernetes enables smooth scaling and high availability, supporting robust performance under challenging conditions.
  • Improved Security and Configuration Management: Secure handling of configuration and secrets reduces risks and aligns with our strict security requirements (NFR-1).

• Trade-offs:

  • Increased Setup Complexity for Orchestration: While Docker deployment is straightforward, leveraging orchestration platforms may introduce additional complexity that advanced users must manage. However, this is an optional pathway for those requiring enterprise-scale deployments.
  • Maintenance Overhead: Keeping container images updated and managing deployment scripts requires continuous effort, though this trade-off is balanced by the benefits of streamlined, reproducible deployments.
  • Resource Overhead: Containerized environments can add some overhead in terms of resource utilization; however, the benefits of consistency and ease-of-deployment justify this cost.

References to Requirements

• Functional Requirements:

  • Not directly functional, but essential for ensuring that users can operate the system reliably in varied environments.

• Non-Functional Requirements:

  • NFR-6: Deployability & Maintainability – The containerization strategy meets the need for easy, consistent deployment and supports deterministic simulation testing.
  • NFR-2: Performance & Responsiveness – Standardized environments help ensure that performance benchmarks are achieved even under simulated adverse conditions.

Conclusion

The proposed containerization and deployment strategy enables consistent, straightforward self-hosted installations while supporting scalable and secure deployment options through orchestration platforms like Kubernetes. By adopting Docker-based containerization and focusing on robust configuration and secrets management, this approach fully meets our non-functional requirements for deployability, maintainability, and performance. This decision reinforces our commitment to providing an accessible and resilient system that retains user control and transparency across diverse deployment environments.