Routes Configuration

Routes map domains to container images.

Configuration

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:latest"
"api.mydomain.com" = "myapi:v2.1.0"
"admin.mydomain.com" = "admin-panel:v1.0.0"

Syntax

[routes]
"<domain>" = "<image>:<tag>"

Route Types

HTTPS Routes (Default)

Standard routes expect HTTPS traffic (terminated by Cloudflare or similar):

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:latest"

HTTP-Only Routes

For internal or development routes without HTTPS:

[routes]
"http://internal.local" = "internal-app:latest"

The http:// prefix tells Gordon not to expect HTTPS.

Version Strategies

Latest Tag

Always deploy the most recent push:

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:latest"

Pinned Version

Deploy a specific version:

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:v2.1.0"

Update the config to deploy a new version:

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:v2.2.0"  # Changed

Semantic Versioning

Use different routes for different versions:

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:v2.1.0"        # Production
"staging.mydomain.com" = "myapp:staging"    # Staging
"canary.mydomain.com" = "myapp:canary"      # Canary

Multiple Routes

Same Image, Different Domains

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "myapp:latest"
"www.mydomain.com" = "myapp:latest"
"mydomain.com" = "myapp:latest"

Multiple Services

[routes]
"app.mydomain.com" = "frontend:latest"
"api.mydomain.com" = "backend:v2.1.0"
"docs.mydomain.com" = "documentation:latest"
"status.mydomain.com" = "status-page:v1.0.0"

How Routing Works

1. Request arrives for app.mydomain.com
2. Gordon looks up the route in configuration
3. Finds running container for myapp:latest
4. Proxies request to container's exposed port
5. Returns response to client

Client ─> Gordon Proxy ─> Container
          (port 80)       (exposed port)

Deployment Flow

When you push an image:

docker push registry.mydomain.com/myapp:latest

1. Gordon receives the image
2. Checks routes for any that use myapp:latest
3. Deploys new container for each matching route
4. Updates proxy to route traffic to new container
5. Stops old container

Hot Reload

Routes reload automatically when the config file changes:

# Edit config
vim ~/.config/gordon/gordon.toml

# Add new route
[routes]
"newapp.mydomain.com" = "newapp:latest"

# Save - Gordon reloads automatically

Or trigger manually:

gordon reload

Examples

Development Setup

[routes]
"app.local" = "myapp:latest"
"api.local" = "myapi:latest"

Add to /etc/hosts:

127.0.0.1  app.local api.local registry.local

Production Setup

[routes]
"app.company.com" = "company-app:v2.1.0"
"api.company.com" = "company-api:v1.5.2"
"admin.company.com" = "admin-panel:v1.0.1"
"docs.company.com" = "company-docs:latest"

Multi-Tenant SaaS

[routes]
# Platform services
"app.saas-platform.com" = "saas-frontend:v2.1.0"
"api.saas-platform.com" = "saas-api:v3.2.1"

# Customer subdomains
"acme.saas-platform.com" = "saas-app:v2.1.0"
"beta.saas-platform.com" = "saas-app:v2.1.0"

# Customer custom domains
"portal.acme-corp.com" = "saas-app:v2.1.0"

External Services

For non-containerized services (databases, legacy apps, etc.), see External Routes.

Related

• Configuration Overview
• Auto Route
• Attachments
• External Routes