digitalocean

name	digitalocean
description	DigitalOcean cloud platform with droplets. Use for simple cloud.

DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean (DO) focuses on simplicity and developer experience. In 2025, it has expanded into Managed AI (GenAI Platform) and robust PaaS offerings (App Platform).

When to Use

• Startups / SMBs: Predictable pricing, simple UI, no "cloud shock" bills.
• Simple VM Hosting: Droplets are the gold standard for "Just give me a VPS".
• Managed K8s: DOKS is a very affordable compliant Kubernetes service.

Core Concepts

Droplets

Virtual Private Servers (Linux VMs).

App Platform

PaaS (Platform as a Service). Point it to a GitHub repo, and it builds/deploys/scales your app.

Spaces

S3-compatible Object Storage with a built-in CDN.

Best Practices (2025)

Do:

• Use VPC: Isolate your Droplets and Managed Databases in a private network (enabled by default in new projects).
• Use Cloud Firewalls: Block all ports except what you need.
• Use App Platform: For web apps, avoid managing Droplets. Let DO handle the OS patching and scaling.

Don't:

• Don't ignore backups: Enable automatic backups for Droplets and Databases.

References

• DigitalOcean Documentation