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How to Install GlitchTip (Sentry Alternative) on Debian 12

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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

LayerComponentRole
OSDebian 12 (Bookworm)Stable and long-term supported Linux base
Container RuntimeDocker Engine + ComposeOrchestrates GlitchTip and its dependencies
ApplicationGlitchTip (Django)Core error tracking and performance monitoring application
DatabasePostgreSQL 15Stores user, project, and issue data
Cache/QueueRedisManages background task queues and event processing
Reverse ProxyNginxHandles HTTPS termination, routing, and compression
TLSLet’s Encrypt / PKIProvides 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/CapabilityGlitchTip (Self-hosted)Sentry (Cloud/Self-hosted)LogRocketElastic APM
HostingSelf-hosted / CloudCloud or on-premCloud onlySelf-hosted / Cloud
DatabasePostgreSQLPostgreSQLProprietaryElasticsearch
Source available100% open-sourcePartially open-sourceNoYes
SDK compatibilitySentry SDKs supportedNativeNoPartial
CostFree, open-sourcePaid tiersSubscriptionDepends on license
Ideal forSMBs / DevOps teamsEnterprisesFrontend appsLarge 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

Log in to Shape.Host.

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

Log in using the credentials you set for your superuser.

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.

Tags:
Christian Wells

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