Deploying Production Django Applications on a Linux VPS with Docker and Nginx

Overview

Deploying a production Django application to a dedicated Linux VPS requires careful consideration of security headers, reverse proxy configuration, static file delivery, and database isolation.

In this guide, we explore the standard deployment pattern used for ndoli.dev and institutional client applications.

The Production Stack

Internet (HTTPS 443)
       │
       ▼
Reverse Proxy (Nginx / EasyPanel) [Handles SSL, Rate Limiting & Gzip]
       │
       ▼ (Internal Network)
Gunicorn WSGI Server (Running Django 5.x)
       │
       ├──► WhiteNoise (Static Assets)
       └──► PostgreSQL Database

Key Production Hardening Rules

1. Never run with DEBUG=True in production.
2. Use WhiteNoise for static files with CompressedManifestStaticFilesStorage.
3. Configure strict HTTP headers: HSTS, X-Frame-Options, and Content-Security-Policy.
4. Isolate secrets strictly through environment variables.