How to Install GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on AlmaLinux 9

GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on AlmaLinux 9 (Docker Compose + Nginx + SSL)

GlitchTip is a modern, open-source error tracking and performance monitoring platform designed as a lightweight, privacy-focused alternative to Sentry. It helps developers detect and analyze application errors, monitor performance, and track releases — all with full control over infrastructure and data. GlitchTip supports Sentry SDKs, making it a seamless replacement for existing Sentry integrations.

Running GlitchTip on AlmaLinux 9, a RHEL-compatible enterprise operating system, ensures stability, reliability, and long-term security for production environments. With SELinux enforcement, systemd 252, OpenSSL 3, and the latest Docker packages, AlmaLinux 9 is an excellent foundation for deploying GlitchTip using Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, Redis, and Nginx with SSL.

Architecture Overview

Layer	Component	Role
OS	AlmaLinux 9	Enterprise-grade, RHEL-compatible operating system
Container Runtime	Docker Engine + Compose	Orchestrates GlitchTip services and dependencies
Application	GlitchTip (Django)	Web interface and backend for error tracking and analytics
Database	PostgreSQL 15	Stores projects, user data, and event logs
Cache/Queue	Redis	Handles background jobs, async events, and caching
Reverse Proxy	Nginx	Terminates HTTPS, routes requests, and handles compression
TLS	Let’s Encrypt / PKI	Provides SSL encryption for web interface and API

Why Use GlitchTip?

Open-source Sentry replacement – no licensing fees or data restrictions.
Sentry SDK compatible – easily switch without code changes.
Privacy-focused – all data stays within your infrastructure.
Performance metrics – monitor response times and bottlenecks.
Team management – multi-user roles, project grouping, and reporting.
Email notifications – alert teams of critical exceptions automatically.
Efficient and scalable – runs smoothly on modest resources.

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	License-based
Ideal for	DevOps teams / SMBs	Enterprises	Frontend apps	Large setups

GlitchTip offers Sentry-level monitoring with complete transparency, making it ideal for teams who value open-source freedom, simplicity, and data ownership.

Security & Best Practices

Deploy behind Nginx or Traefik with HTTPS enabled.
Use Docker secrets or .env files to store credentials securely.
Limit PostgreSQL and Redis access to internal Docker networks.
Enable SELinux enforcement and configure ports via semanage.
Keep Docker images, AlmaLinux, and GlitchTip updated regularly.
Restrict access with firewalld, allowing only ports 80 and 443.
Automate SSL renewals with Certbot or Traefik’s ACME integration.
Schedule PostgreSQL backups for database recovery and retention.
Enable fail2ban or similar tools for login brute-force protection.

Typical Use Cases

Error monitoring for web, mobile, and backend systems.
Frontend crash tracking using Sentry-compatible SDKs.
Performance monitoring for API latency and server response time.
Release tracking with deployment visibility.
Self-hosted observability for GDPR- or HIPAA-compliant environments.
Alternative to Sentry Cloud for teams requiring privacy and independence.

Deploying GlitchTip on AlmaLinux 9 with Docker Compose provides a robust, secure, and fully self-hosted monitoring platform that rivals Sentry in functionality — ideal for developers, startups, and enterprises seeking open-source control and reliability.

Step 1: Create a Shape.Host Cloud VPS Instance

Go to Shape.Host and log in.

Click Create → Instance.

Choose your preferred location.

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

Choose AlmaLinux 9 (64-bit) as your operating system.

Click Create Instance.

Copy the server IP address from the Resources section.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Connect via SSH:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Step 3: Update the System

It’s important to update all packages to ensure stability and compatibility.

dnf update -y

Step 4: Install Docker and Dependencies

Install required packages for repository management and HTTPS communication:

dnf install curl ca-certificates gnupg2 yum-utils -y

Add Docker’s official repository for CentOS/AlmaLinux:

dnf config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo

Install Docker Engine, the CLI tools, and Docker Compose plugin:

dnf install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin -y

Enable and start the Docker service:

systemctl enable --now docker

Check Docker and Docker Compose versions to confirm installation:

docker --version
docker compose version

Step 5: Prepare the GlitchTip Directory

Create and navigate to the GlitchTip installation directory:

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

Step 6: Create the Docker Compose Configuration

Create the Docker Compose configuration 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

⚙️ Important Notes:

Replace strongpassword with a strong PostgreSQL password.

Replace changethiskeytoarandomstring with a secure 32-character random string (openssl rand -hex 32).

Replace smtp.example.com with your actual mail server.

Change glitchtip.example.com to your real domain name.

Save and exit with CTRL + O, ENTER, CTRL + X.

Step 7: Launch GlitchTip Containers

Download the required images and start all containers:

docker compose up -d

Check if everything is running:

docker ps

Step 8: Initialize the Database

Run the database migrations:

docker compose exec glitchtip python3 manage.py migrate

Create a superuser account to log in to GlitchTip:

docker compose exec glitchtip python3 manage.py createsuperuser

Enter your email, username, and password when prompted.

Step 9: Install and Configure Nginx

Install Nginx to serve GlitchTip behind a reverse proxy:

dnf install nginx -y

Enable and start Nginx:

systemctl enable --now nginx

Create a new Nginx configuration file:

nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/glitchtip.conf

Paste this 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;
    }
}

Check the syntax and reload Nginx:

nginx -t
systemctl reload nginx

Step 10: Secure GlitchTip with SSL

Install Certbot and its Nginx plugin:

dnf install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Obtain and apply a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt:

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

Reload Nginx to apply HTTPS:

systemctl reload nginx

Step 11: Restart Containers

Restart the GlitchTip containers to ensure all services load with the latest environment settings:

docker compose restart

Step 12: Access GlitchTip

Open your browser and visit:

https://glitchtip.example.com

Log in with the superuser credentials you created earlier.
You’ll now have access to your self-hosted Sentry-compatible error tracking system.

Step 13: (Optional) Enable Firewall Rules

Allow essential services through the firewall:

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --reload

You installed GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on AlmaLinux 9 using Docker Compose, Nginx, and Let’s Encrypt SSL.

You now have a robust, self-hosted monitoring platform with complete data control — ideal for development teams or enterprises that prioritize privacy, security, and flexibility.

Deploy GlitchTip confidently on a Shape.Host Linux SSD VPS, built for performance, reliability, and full root access.

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