Dobi will be available for use in the near future. If you'd like to play around before then, contact us at [email protected].

Dobi.io

Dobi is an ultra-simple environment for building scalable, real-time web applications.

With Dobi you write apps...

• in Coffee-Script (or javascript, but please don't)
• with client-side rendering (only send data over the wire)
• with real-time functionality by simply referencing variables
• build schemas with simple json objects (no more complicated ORMs)
• that scale to 100k+ users without hosting your own servers
• on Linux, Mac, or Windows
• in any editing environment you prefer

Documentation is available at http://www.dobi.io

Configuration

Dobi 7.0+ uses explicit environment variables for configuration instead of relying on NODE_ENV.

Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Description | |----------|---------|-------------| | DOBI_PKG_DIR | dist | Package directory to serve from. Set to pkg to serve source files directly (slower). | | DOBI_ENABLE_DEV_ROUTES | true | Enable development routes like /connect and /partial. Set to false in production. | | DOBI_STRIP_SENSITIVE_CONFIG | false | Strip sensitive information (author, changelog, contact) from config. Set to true in production. | | DOBI_VERBOSE_ERRORS | true | Show file paths in error messages. Set to false in production for security. | | DOBI_USE_COMPRESSION | false | Compress JavaScript and CSS output. Set to true in production. | | DOBI_DEBUG | undefined | Enable debug logging. |

Production Configuration Example

DOBI_PKG_DIR=dist \
DOBI_ENABLE_DEV_ROUTES=false \
DOBI_STRIP_SENSITIVE_CONFIG=true \
DOBI_VERBOSE_ERRORS=false \
DOBI_USE_COMPRESSION=true \
npm start

Development Configuration (Default)

Development works out of the box with sensible defaults:

npm run dev  # Uses default settings

Build System

Dobi 7.0 uses the same code path for both development and production:

1. Build packages once:

   dobi build app/pkg app/dist

2. Server reads from dist/ by default:

   • Pre-built files are served instantly
   • Falls back to build-on-demand if file missing
   • Dev and prod use identical logic

3. Watch mode rebuilds changed packages:

   • Enabled by default in development
   • Auto-rebuilds when source files change

Migrating from 6.x to 7.0

Version 7.0 includes breaking changes to improve dev/prod parity and configuration clarity.

Key Changes

1. NODE_ENV no longer controls application behavior

   • Use DOBI_* environment variables instead
   • NODE_ENV is now free for Node.js runtime optimizations

2. Default package directory changed from pkg to dist

   • Build your packages: dobi build app/pkg app/dist
   • Or set DOBI_PKG_DIR=pkg to use source files

3. Dev and prod now use the same code path

   • Both read from dist/ by default
   • Both fall back to build-on-demand if file missing
   • Eliminates "works in dev but not prod" issues

Migration Steps

1. Update your build process:

   # Add to your CI/deployment scripts
   dobi build app/pkg app/dist

2. Update production environment variables:

   # Replace NODE_ENV=production with:
   DOBI_ENABLE_DEV_ROUTES=false
   DOBI_STRIP_SENSITIVE_CONFIG=true
   DOBI_VERBOSE_ERRORS=false
   DOBI_USE_COMPRESSION=true

3. Test locally with production settings:

   # Build and test
   dobi build app/pkg app/dist
   DOBI_ENABLE_DEV_ROUTES=false npm start

4. If using dobi-server.js config:

   • The file can now use ES6 modules: export const data = {...}
   • Older formats still work

Quick Start

Prerequisites:

• install node: (http://nodejs.org/download/)
• install coffee-script: npm install -g coffee-script

Install Dobi:

npm install -g dobi

Setup a dobi workspace

cd ~ ; mkdir workspace ; cd workspace
dobi init

Login:

dobi login

Create a new app:

dobi create [email protected]

Create a website using your app:

dobi install [email protected] site-slug

Deploy it to the world:

dobi deploy my-app

View your site, running your new app:

dobi open site-slug

Examples

• 2014.ultraeurope.com
• 2014.ultramusicfestival.com
• 2015.ultramusicfestival.com
• askimu.ironman.com
• edccurated.insomniac.com
• explore.maestro.io
• info.maestro.io
• live.capcomprotour.com
• live.centurionboats.com
• live.deadmau5.com
• live.esl-one.com
• live.esports-conference.com
• live.eversport.tv
• live.heroicrecordings.com
• live.monstercat.com
• live.movistarchile.tv
• live.nolchashows.com
• live.peakmind.org
• live.power106.com
• live.renmanmb.com
• live.silk-music.com
• live.stustaculum.de
• live.tbrownltd.com
• live.thebpmfestival.com
• live.ultramusicfestival.com
• music.digicelgroup.com
• scheduler.insomniac.com
• tv.moceandistrict.com
• tv.nickyromero.com
• tv.steveaoki.com
• www.3lau.com
• www.amsterdammusicfestival.tv
• www.audiendj.com
• www.battleviewer.com
• www.crosscounter.tv
• www.deltavcapital.com
• www.djbobbypuma.com
• www.dobi.io
• www.dzekoandtorres.com
• www.elrealomega.com
• www.ibizauncut.com
• www.jalenanderic.com
• www.martingarrix.com
• www.meshblorg.com
• www.morgan-page.com
• www.motiofficial.com
• www.musicalfreedom.com
• www.netwrkmgmt.com
• www.noisehouse.com
• www.papigordo.com
• www.porterrobinson.com
• www.richarddurand.com
• www.slanderofficial.com
• www.thebpmfestival.com
• www.throughtimeand.space