KillTheHost

v1.3 · open source · AGPL-3.0

Local development
→ public web,
without friction.

KillTheHost is a unified launcher that wires up Cloudflare tunnels, real domains, PHP, five database engines, a self-hosted mail server, and Docker stacks — so your localhost can ship to production with a single click.

Get started View on GitHub

Live control panel on :5000

Python 3.8+ · Docker

Works on Linux, macOS, Windows

killthehost — bash

~/my-site$./launch.sh

▸Starting KillTheHost control panel...

✓Docker engine connected

✓DB-3NGIN3 5 engines ready

✓PHP-MNGR PHP 8.3 live

✓MAIL-SRVR DKIM / SPF / DMARC signed

▸Opening Cloudflare tunnel...

✓Public URL https://mysite.dev

▸Control panel http://localhost:5000

~/my-site$

tunnel.healthy

dns.synced

Everything in one box

Every service. One control panel.

KillTheHost replaces the usual tangle of scripts, Docker files, DNS panels and reverse proxies with one cohesive workflow — built for developers who ship.

Unified Launcher

One control panel

A single browser-based dashboard at localhost:5000 for managing every service, with real-time status monitoring.

Real-time monitoring
One-click start / stop
Browser-based UI

PHP-MNGR

PHP 7.2 → 8.3

Run multiple PHP versions side-by-side with per-site php.ini configuration and a built-in file editor.

PHP 7.2 → 8.3
Per-site php.ini
In-browser editor

DB-3NGIN3

Five engines, one UI

Provision PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, or MongoDB in seconds with persistent storage and live status.

5 database engines
Persistent volumes
Live health checks

STAX-MNGR

Docker stacks, deployed

Deploy curated Docker stacks — VaultWarden, Uptime Kuma, Navidrome and more — as easily as clicking a button.

Curated stacks
One-click deploy
Bring your own

NODE-MNGR

Node.js apps, managed

Spinning up a project is as easy as pasting the Git URL, picking a Node.js version, and hitting deploy. Works with React, Next.js, Vite and plain Node.js — with live logs and one-click restarts.

Paste Git URL → deploy
Pick your Node.js version
Live logs & restarts

MAIL-SRVR

Self-hosted email

A fully configured mail server with automated DKIM, SPF, and DMARC signing, plus a browser-based webmail client.

DKIM / SPF / DMARC auto
Webmail included
Own your inbox

Domain sync · Tunneling

Cloudflare Tunnel

No port forwarding

Expose your local servers to the public internet securely. No router config, no firewall gymnastics, no public IP required.

Zero port forwarding
End-to-end secured
Works behind NAT

Cheap Sync

Namecheap, automated

Connect your Namecheap account once and KillTheHost manages DNS records automatically every time you deploy.

Namecheap API
Auto DNS records
Deploy to your domain

Daddy Sync

GoDaddy, automated

Connect your GoDaddy account and KillTheHost keeps records in lockstep with every deploy — no manual updates.

GoDaddy API
Auto DNS records
Works with all TLDs

Pork Sync

Porkbun, automated

Sync A, CNAME, MX and TXT records with your Porkbun domains directly from the KillTheHost control panel.

Porkbun API
Bulk record updates
Drift detection

IONOS Sync

IONOS, automated

Push DNS updates to IONOS-registered domains on deploy, with built-in rate-limit handling and audit logs.

IONOS API
Audit log per change
Retry on rate-limit

Flare Sync

Cloudflare Registrar

Manage zones hosted at Cloudflare — records sync through the same unified Domain Sync pipeline as every other registrar.

Cloudflare zone API
Proxied record toggle
Wildcard support

How it works

From localhost to the open web
in three steps.

No manual port forwarding, no fighting with DNS panels, no bespoke Docker Compose for every new service.

Step 01

Run it locally

Clone the repo, run the launcher script and KillTheHost spins up Docker, databases, PHP and mail on your machine.

$./launch.sh

Step 02

Configure in the panel

Open the browser dashboard on localhost:5000. Connect Cloudflare & Namecheap, pick your services, point your PHP project at a database.

$http://localhost:5000

Step 03

Go public, instantly

Hit deploy. A Cloudflare tunnel opens, DNS syncs, TLS is sorted, and your localhost is live on a real domain.

$https://yourdomain.com → live

Getting started

Up and running in under
five minutes.

KillTheHost needs only two things: Python 3.8+ and Docker. Clone, run the launcher, and open the control panel in your browser.

Python 3.8 or newer
python --version
Docker engine (Desktop on Mac/Win)
docker --version
Namecheap account (optional, for domain sync)
optional
Cloudflare account (optional, free tier)
optional

Read the full README Release notes

Access the control panel

Once the launcher is running, open http://localhost:5000 in your browser.

killthehost@ubuntu: ~

# 1. Install Docker
~$curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
~$sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# 2. Clone KillTheHost
~$git clone https://github.com/Official-phdesigns/KillTheHost.git
~$cd KillTheHost
# 3. Make the launcher executable, then run it
~/KillTheHost$chmod +x launch.sh
~/KillTheHost$./launch.sh

Runs with the tools you already know

Batteries included, standards respected.

Python 3.8+Core launcher

DockerService isolation

PostgreSQLvia DB-3NGIN3

MySQLvia DB-3NGIN3

MariaDBvia DB-3NGIN3

Redisvia DB-3NGIN3

MongoDBvia DB-3NGIN3

PHP 7.2 → 8.3Per-site runtime

CloudflareTunnel & DNS

NamecheapDomain sync

Postfix + DovecotMAIL-SRVR

VaultWardenSTAX-MNGR

Uptime KumaSTAX-MNGR

NavidromeSTAX-MNGR