Docker and Containers

The right orchestration for every project: from Docker Compose to Kubernetes

At Mecexis, we've been deploying containerized applications for years, from simple projects to complex infrastructures that replicate entire environments for dozens of clients with a single command. We know every tool, we know when to use each one, and we'll recommend the one you truly need, not just the latest trend.

Why containers?

The modern way to deploy applications that actually works

Before Docker, deploying an application was a ritual of hope. You had to manually install dependencies, configure the server exactly as it was in development, and pray that everything would work. When something went wrong (and it always did), the search for differences between environments could begin and last for days.

Containers eliminate all of this. Your application ships with everything it needs: base operating system, libraries, configuration. If it works in development, it works in production. If it works today, it works tomorrow. There's no magic, no "server dependency," no excuses.

But Docker is just the packaging. The real challenge lies in the orchestration: how you manage, scale, and update those containers in production. And this is where many projects become unnecessarily complicated. We've seen five-person startups struggling with Kubernetes, and large enterprises suffering with overly simplistic solutions. At Mecexis, we choose the orchestration tool that fits your project, your team, and your budget.

Main advantages

Docker isn't just a trendy technology. It's a fundamentally better way to build, deploy, and run applications. These are the real benefits for your business.

Deployments in Seconds, Not Hours

How long does it take your team to deploy a new version to production? Hours? A whole day with someone logged into the server? With a well-configured container infrastructure, deployment is as simple as running a single command. The new version is uploaded, verified to work, and traffic is automatically redirected. If something goes wrong, there's an instant rollback to the previous version. We've built systems where a single command simultaneously deploys to more than 15 independent production environments, each with its own database, cache, and workers. That's not theory: it's what we do every week.

Identical Environments of Truth

Development, staging, production: same container, same behavior. When a developer says "it works on my machine," they're right, because their machine is running exactly the same thing as the server. "Only happens in production" bugs practically disappear. The time your team used to spend debugging differences between environments is now spent building features.

Painless Horizontal Escalation

Need more capacity? Launch more containers. No need to clone servers, no manual configuration. If your application is well containerized, scaling is as simple as changing a number in a configuration file. And when peak traffic subsides, you reduce the number of containers and stop paying for resources you're not using.

Infrastructure Independence

A Docker container works the same on a €10/month VPS as it does on AWS. This gives you real freedom: you can start with budget-friendly infrastructure and migrate to the cloud when you really need to, without rewriting anything. You're not tied to any provider, and you don't depend on proprietary services that can change prices or disappear altogether. Your application is portable by design.

Documented and Versioned Infrastructure

With Docker Compose, Swarm, Kamal, or Kubernetes, your entire architecture is defined in text files that reside in your repository. Want to know how the server is configured? Look at the code. Want to revert to a previous configuration? Use Git checkout. Is someone leaving the team? The knowledge doesn't go with them; it's in the repository.

Predictable and Optimized Costs

Containers make better use of server resources than traditional applications. Where you previously needed a server per application, you can now run multiple containers on the same hardware. Combined with proper orchestration and providers like Hetzner for predictable workloads, infrastructure costs can be drastically reduced without sacrificing performance or reliability.

Ideal use cases

Containers for projects that need to grow without complications

Containers for projects that startups want professional infrastructure without a dedicated DevOps team to grow without complications
Web applications that need to scale at specific times
SaaS platforms with multiple clients that require isolated environments
Development teams wasting time on environment issues
Companies that want to migrate from traditional servers to modern architecture
Projects that require frequent deployments without risk or downtime

Orchestration: The right tool for every project

There's no one-size-fits-all solution for every project. Each orchestration tool has its place, and choosing the right one can save you months of work and thousands of euros. Here are the options we work with and when we recommend each one.

Docker Compose: Simplicity that Works

Docker Compose defines multi-container applications in a single YAML file. Database, application, cache, workers: all executable with one command. For 70% of projects, Compose on a well-sized server is all you need.

Docker Swarm: Scaling Without Complexity

The natural next step from Compose when you need multiple servers and automatic load balancing. Same syntax as Compose, seamless transition. Swarm distributes containers, balances traffic, and automatically restarts anything that fails.

Kubernetes: Enterprise Power

The industry standard for large-scale orchestration: auto-scaling, canary deployments, service mesh. But it adds significant operational complexity. For projects that truly need it, it's unbeatable. For everything else, it's over-engineering.

Kamal: Modern Zero-Downtime Deployments

Created by 37signals/Basecamp, Kamal offers professional deployments on any Docker-enabled server. A single command deploys with zero downtime, load balancing, and automatic SSL. We've built systems that replicate entire infrastructures for over 15 clients with a single command.

Our complementary stack

Orchestration is at the core, but a professional infrastructure needs more pieces. These are the tools that complete our stack.

GitHub Actions: Integrated CI/CD

Each push to the repository triggers an automated pipeline: testing, image building, and deployment to production if everything passes. It integrates natively with your code, requiring no additional servers to maintain. Compatible with any orchestrator you choose.

Terraform: Infrastructure as Code

Servers, networks, domains, certificates: all defined in versioned code. Need to replicate the environment for a new client? One command. Want to know what's deployed? Check the repository. Infrastructure is no longer a black box.

Container Records

Docker Hub, GitHub Container Registry, or private registries on AWS ECR. Your versioned, secure images, ready to deploy in any environment.

Monitoring and Logging

Containers without visibility are a recipe for disaster. We set up centralized logging, performance metrics, and alerts. When something goes wrong, you have the tools to diagnose it in minutes.

1 In-depth knowledge of each option: We've deployed real-world projects using Docker Compose, Swarm, Kubernetes, and Kamal. We know the advantages, limitations, and the 3 AM issues that arise with each one. When we recommend a tool, it's because we know exactly what it entails.
2 Development and Infrastructure Under the Same Roof: We're the same team that writes and deploys the code. The Dockerfiles are optimized for the actual application. Build times are minimal. And when there's a problem, there's no finger-pointing between teams: we fix it.
3 Pragmatism Over Trends: Is Kubernetes impressive? Yes. Do you need it? Probably not. We'll tell you the truth about what your project requires, even if it means a simpler, more affordable solution. We prefer satisfied customers with the right solutions to frustrated customers with oversized infrastructure.
4 Real Knowledge Transfer: We don't create artificial dependencies. All the configuration is documented in code, and we train your team to understand how it works. If you decide to manage the infrastructure internally tomorrow, you'll have everything you need.

The question isn't 'Should we use Kubernetes?' It's 'What real problem are we solving?'

Adrià MartínezProject Manager