How do I install the Kamal skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add el-feo/kamal in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Kamal safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: makes network calls, reads secrets. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Kamal?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Kamal free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

el-feo (@el-feo) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Kamal by el-feo — Agent Skill

Name: Kamal
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: el-feo

Kamal

Deploy containerized web applications to any Linux server using Kamal 2. Use when users need to deploy, configure, debug, or manage Kamal deployments including initial setup, configuration of deploy.yml, deployment workflows, rollbacks, managing accessories (databases, Redis, Litestream), troubleshooting deployment issues, CI/CD integration, multi-environment setups, or understanding Kamal commands and best practices. Also use when working with Kamal Proxy, Docker-based deployments, zero-downtime deploys, or 37signals deployment tooling.

el-feo Updated Sep 10, 2026

File contents

Kamal Deployment

Kamal is a zero-downtime deployment tool for containerized applications, built by 37signals. It combines SSH, Docker, and Kamal Proxy to deploy any containerized web app to bare Linux servers.

Key components: SSH/SSHKit (remote execution), Docker (containers), Kamal Proxy (zero-downtime routing), Accessories (supporting services).

Quick Start

gem install kamal
cd your-app && kamal init          # Generate config/deploy.yml and .kamal/secrets
# Edit config/deploy.yml and .kamal/secrets
kamal setup                         # Bootstrap servers, install Docker, deploy

Minimal deploy.yml

service: myapp
image: username/myapp

servers:
  web:
    - 192.168.1.10

registry:
  server: ghcr.io
  username: myuser
  password:
    - KAMAL_REGISTRY_PASSWORD

env:
  secret:
    - RAILS_MASTER_KEY
  clear:
    RAILS_ENV: production

proxy:
  ssl: true
  host: example.com

For complete configuration options (registry variants, builder, proxy, accessories, SSH, volumes, aliases, healthchecks, rollout strategies), see references/configuration.md.

Essential Commands

kamal deploy                    # Build, push, deploy with zero downtime
kamal deploy -d staging         # Deploy to specific environment
kamal rollback VERSION          # Rollback to previous version
kamal app logs -f               # Follow application logs
kamal app exec -i --reuse "bin/rails console"  # Interactive console
kamal app maintenance           # Enable maintenance mode
kamal app live                  # Disable maintenance mode
kamal config                    # Show parsed configuration
kamal lock release              # Release stuck deployment lock

For complete command reference with all options, see references/commands.md.

Common Workflows

Deploy with Database Migration

Create .kamal/hooks/pre-deploy:

#!/bin/bash
kamal app exec -p -q "bin/rails db:migrate"

Then chmod +x .kamal/hooks/pre-deploy && kamal deploy.

Rollback

kamal app containers            # List available versions
kamal rollback abc123def        # Rollback to specific version

Debugging Failed Deployments

kamal app logs -n 500 — check application logs
kamal server exec "docker ps -a" — check container status
kamal app exec "curl localhost:3000/up" — test health endpoint
kamal config — verify configuration
kamal lock release — clear stuck locks

Multiple Environments

Create config/deploy.staging.yml, then:

kamal setup -d staging && kamal deploy -d staging

For detailed workflows (CI/CD, scaling, backups, security, canary deploys, monitoring), see references/workflows.md.

Limitations

No state reconciliation — removing servers from config does not decommission containers
No dynamic provisioning — cannot auto-scale or provision servers
Single-server load balancing — Kamal Proxy balances containers per server; use an external LB across servers

---name: kamaldescription: Deploy containerized web applications to any Linux server using Kamal 2. Use when users need to deploy, configure, debug, or manage Kamal deployments including initial setup, configuration of deploy.yml, deployment workflows, rollbacks, managing accessories (databases, Redis, Litestream), troubleshooting deployment issues, CI/CD integration, multi-environment setups, or understanding Kamal commands and best practices. Also use when working with Kamal Proxy, Docker-based deployments, zero-downtime deploys, or 37signals deployment tooling.---# Kamal DeploymentKamal is a zero-downtime deployment tool for containerized applications, built by 37signals. It combines SSH, Docker, and Kamal Proxy to deploy any containerized web app to bare Linux servers.**Key components**: SSH/SSHKit (remote execution), Docker (containers), Kamal Proxy (zero-downtime routing), Accessories (supporting services).## Quick Start```bashgem install kamalcd your-app && kamal init # Generate config/deploy.yml and .kamal/secrets# Edit config/deploy.yml and .kamal/secretskamal setup # Bootstrap servers, install Docker, deploy```## Minimal deploy.yml```yamlservice: myappimage: username/myappservers: web: - 192.168.1.10registry: server: ghcr.io username: myuser password: - KAMAL_REGISTRY_PASSWORDenv: secret: - RAILS_MASTER_KEY clear: RAILS_ENV: productionproxy: ssl: true host: example.com```For complete configuration options (registry variants, builder, proxy, accessories, SSH, volumes, aliases, healthchecks, rollout strategies), see [references/configuration.md](references/configuration.md).## Essential Commands```bashkamal deploy # Build, push, deploy with zero downtimekamal deploy -d staging # Deploy to specific environmentkamal rollback VERSION # Rollback to previous versionkamal app logs -f # Follow application logskamal app exec -i --reuse "bin/rails console" # Interactive consolekamal app maintenance # Enable maintenance modekamal app live # Disable maintenance modekamal config # Show parsed configurationkamal lock release # Release stuck deployment lock```For complete command reference with all options, see [references/commands.md](references/commands.md).## Common Workflows### Deploy with Database MigrationCreate `.kamal/hooks/pre-deploy`:```bash#!/bin/bashkamal app exec -p -q "bin/rails db:migrate"```Then `chmod +x .kamal/hooks/pre-deploy && kamal deploy`.### Rollback```bashkamal app containers # List available versionskamal rollback abc123def # Rollback to specific version```### Debugging Failed Deployments1. `kamal app logs -n 500` — check application logs2. `kamal server exec "docker ps -a"` — check container status3. `kamal app exec "curl localhost:3000/up"` — test health endpoint4. `kamal config` — verify configuration5. `kamal lock release` — clear stuck locks### Multiple EnvironmentsCreate `config/deploy.staging.yml`, then:```bashkamal setup -d staging && kamal deploy -d staging```For detailed workflows (CI/CD, scaling, backups, security, canary deploys, monitoring), see [references/workflows.md](references/workflows.md).## Limitations- **No state reconciliation** — removing servers from config does not decommission containers- **No dynamic provisioning** — cannot auto-scale or provision servers- **Single-server load balancing** — Kamal Proxy balances containers per server; use an external LB across servers

Frequently asked questions