How to Install GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on Debian 12

GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on Debian 12 (Docker Compose + Nginx + SSL)

GlitchTip is a modern, open-source error tracking and performance monitoring platform that serves as a drop-in alternative to Sentry. It helps developers monitor application health, detect bugs, and analyze performance through a user-friendly web interface. GlitchTip supports Sentry-compatible SDKs, allowing you to migrate seamlessly from Sentry while maintaining full control of your data.

Running GlitchTip on Debian 12 (Bookworm) ensures a stable, secure, and production-ready environment. Debian 12 features systemd 252, OpenSSL 3, and updated Docker Engine packages — making it ideal for hosting GlitchTip with PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker Compose, Nginx, and SSL encryption for enterprise-grade reliability.

Architecture Overview

Layer	Component	Role
OS	Debian 12 (Bookworm)	Stable and long-term supported Linux base
Container Runtime	Docker Engine + Compose	Orchestrates GlitchTip and its dependencies
Application	GlitchTip (Django)	Core error tracking and performance monitoring application
Database	PostgreSQL 15	Stores user, project, and issue data
Cache/Queue	Redis	Manages background task queues and event processing
Reverse Proxy	Nginx	Handles HTTPS termination, routing, and compression
TLS	Let’s Encrypt / PKI	Provides secure HTTPS access for GlitchTip dashboard and APIs

Why Use GlitchTip?

Open-source Sentry alternative – same functionality, zero vendor lock-in.
Sentry SDK compatible – supports existing client libraries and integrations.
Privacy-first design – all data stays on your infrastructure.
Performance monitoring – identify slow transactions and backend bottlenecks.
Team collaboration – invite users, manage roles, and track issues per project.
Email notifications – configurable SMTP alerts for errors and regressions.
Lightweight and efficient – runs well on modest infrastructure.

GlitchTip vs Other Error Tracking Tools

Feature/Capability	GlitchTip (Self-hosted)	Sentry (Cloud/Self-hosted)	LogRocket	Elastic APM
Hosting	Self-hosted / Cloud	Cloud or on-prem	Cloud only	Self-hosted / Cloud
Database	PostgreSQL	PostgreSQL	Proprietary	Elasticsearch
Source available	100% open-source	Partially open-source	No	Yes
SDK compatibility	Sentry SDKs supported	Native	No	Partial
Cost	Free, open-source	Paid tiers	Subscription	Depends on license
Ideal for	SMBs / DevOps teams	Enterprises	Frontend apps	Large infrastructures

GlitchTip delivers Sentry-grade observability at zero licensing cost — making it the preferred choice for developers, startups, and DevOps teams seeking error tracking and performance analytics with full data ownership.

Security & Best Practices

Run GlitchTip behind Nginx with HTTPS enabled.
Store all database passwords and API keys securely in .env or Docker secrets.
Limit PostgreSQL and Redis to internal Docker networks.
Use Debian’s UFW or nftables to allow only ports 80/443.
Keep Docker images and Debian packages updated frequently.
Configure SMTP credentials for email alerts.
Enable automatic SSL renewals using Certbot or Traefik ACME.
Set up automated backups for PostgreSQL data volumes.
Apply fail2ban or rate limiting to prevent brute-force attacks.

Typical Use Cases

Error and crash monitoring for web, mobile, and backend services.
Frontend error tracking using Sentry-compatible SDKs.
Performance analytics for slow endpoints or database queries.
Application health monitoring across microservices.
Self-hosted observability for teams needing GDPR or HIPAA compliance.

Deploying GlitchTip on Debian 12 with Docker Compose and Nginx gives you a secure, scalable, and Sentry-compatible error tracking platform — perfect for teams that want full transparency, privacy, and control while maintaining enterprise-level observability.

Step 1: Create a Shape.Host Cloud VPS Instance

Click Create → Instance.

Choose a server location near your users.

Select a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.

Choose Debian 12 (Bookworm) as your operating system.

Click Create Instance.

Copy the public IP address of your instance — you’ll need it for SSH access.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Connect using SSH:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Step 3: Update the System

Update all packages to the latest versions:

apt update

Step 4: Install Docker and Dependencies

Install essential tools for managing repositories and HTTPS connections:

apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg

Create a directory for Docker’s GPG key:

install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings

Download Docker’s official GPG key:

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Allow read access to the key:

chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Add Docker’s official repository for Debian 12 (Bookworm):

echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] \
https://download.docker.com/linux/debian bookworm stable" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list

Update your package index again:

apt update

Install Docker Engine and the Docker Compose plugin:

apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin

Check versions to confirm installation:

docker --version
docker compose version

Step 5: Create GlitchTip Directory

Create a dedicated directory for GlitchTip and navigate into it:

mkdir -p /opt/glitchtip
cd /opt/glitchtip

Step 6: Create the Docker Compose Configuration

Create the Docker Compose file:

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste the following configuration:

services:
  postgres:
    image: postgres:15
    container_name: glitchtip_postgres
    restart: always
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: glitchtip
      POSTGRES_USER: glitchtip
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: strongpassword
    volumes:
      - ./postgres-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  redis:
    image: redis:7
    container_name: glitchtip_redis
    restart: always

  glitchtip:
    image: glitchtip/glitchtip:latest
    container_name: glitchtip_app
    depends_on:
      - postgres
      - redis
    environment:
      DATABASE_URL: postgres://glitchtip:strongpassword@postgres:5432/glitchtip
      SECRET_KEY: changethiskeytoarandomstring
      EMAIL_URL: smtp://smtp.example.com:587
      DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL: noreply@example.com
      CELERY_BROKER_URL: redis://redis:6379/0
      ENABLE_SIGNUPS: "True"
      GLITCHTIP_DOMAIN: https://glitchtip.example.com
    ports:
      - "8000:8080"
    volumes:
      - ./uploads:/app/uploads
    restart: always

🧠 Notes:

Replace strongpassword with your own secure PostgreSQL password.

Replace changethiskeytoarandomstring with a strong random string (use openssl rand -hex 32).

Update smtp.example.com with your actual mail server credentials.

Replace glitchtip.example.com with your domain name.

Save and exit (CTRL + O, ENTER, CTRL + X).

Step 7: Start GlitchTip

Pull and start the Docker containers:

docker compose up -d

Check running containers:

docker ps

Step 8: Initialize the Database

Run database migrations:

docker compose exec glitchtip python3 manage.py migrate

Create an administrator account:

docker compose exec glitchtip python3 manage.py createsuperuser

Enter your desired username, email, and password when prompted.

Step 9: Install and Configure Nginx

Install Nginx:

apt install nginx

Create a reverse proxy configuration for GlitchTip:

nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/glitchtip.conf

Paste the following configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name glitchtip.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
        proxy_buffering off;
    }
}

Enable the site and reload Nginx:

ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/glitchtip.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
nginx -t
systemctl reload nginx

Step 10: Secure GlitchTip with SSL

Install Certbot and its Nginx plugin:

apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Run Certbot to automatically generate and configure an SSL certificate:

certbot --nginx -d debian-tutorials.shape.host --email contact@shape.host --agree-tos --non-interactive

Reload Nginx to apply HTTPS:

systemctl reload nginx

Step 11: Access Your GlitchTip Instance

Open your web browser and visit:

https://glitchtip.example.com

You now have a fully functional, self-hosted error monitoring and reporting platform ready for use.

Step 12: (Optional) Verify and Maintain

To ensure your installation is running correctly:

docker compose ps
docker compose logs -f glitchtip

To stop and start containers later:

docker compose down
docker compose up -d

You have installed GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on Debian 12 with Docker Compose, Nginx, and SSL encryption.

This self-hosted monitoring solution offers full control of your data and integrates seamlessly with modern development pipelines.

Deploying it on a Shape.Host Cloud VPS ensures stability, performance, and privacy for your team’s monitoring infrastructure.

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