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102 | Caddy vs. Traefik vs. HAProxy vs. Nginx vs. Apache: Comparing Web Servers and Proxies

September 6, 2025

#Caddy #Traefik #HAProxy #Nginx #Apache #Reverse Proxy #SSL #CI/CD

Caddy vs. Traefik vs. HAProxy vs. Nginx vs. Apache

Introduction

Choosing a web server and reverse proxy today depends on tasks and infrastructure. Caddy, Traefik, HAProxy, Nginx, and Apache are five popular solutions, each with its strengths and weaknesses.

In this article, we’ll compare them by key criteria: philosophy, installation, SSL, CI/CD, and complexity.

Comparison by Key Criteria

CriterionCaddyTraefikHAProxyNginxApache
PhilosophySimplicity, automatic SSLDynamic routing and Service DiscoveryHigh-performance load balancerUniversal web server and proxyClassic web server, static approach
InstallationSingle binaryContainer, requires setupSingle binary, manual configurationOS package, easy installationOS package, easy installation
SSL AutomationBuilt-in, main advantageBuilt-in, part of ecosystemNo (requires external integration, e.g., certbot)Partial (via certbot or modules)Partial (via certbot or modules)
CI/CDVery easy integrationIdeal for microservicesUsed for high-load balancingRequires manual steps, integration possibleRequires manual steps, integration possible
ComplexityLow, beginner-friendlyMedium/high, requires orchestrator knowledgeMedium, more complex configsMedium, rich ecosystemMedium, often bloated configs
PerformanceGood, but not top-tierGoodExcellent, optimized for load balancingExcellentAverage
Best Use CaseLocal development, quick MVPsDocker/Kubernetes, microservicesHigh-load systems, load balancingUniversal choice for web and proxyStatic site hosting, legacy systems

Who Is It For?

🔹 Caddy

Ideal for:

101 | Traefik: A Dynamic Router for the Container Era

September 5, 2025

#Traefik #Reverse Proxy #Docker #Kubernetes #Service Discovery #CI/CD

Traefik: A Dynamic Router for the Container Era

Introduction

Unlike Caddy, which focuses on simplicity, Traefik (pronounced Traffic) was built to solve one specific task: routing traffic in dynamic environments.

It is a reverse proxy and load balancer designed specifically for Docker, Kubernetes, and other orchestrators. The main difference from Nginx is not static configuration, but the ability to automatically discover and serve services.

Key Concepts: Dynamic Configuration

The philosophy of Traefik is built on the principle of Service Discovery.

100 | Caddy: A Web Server That Just Works and SSL Out of the Box

September 4, 2025

#Caddy #SSL #Let's Encrypt #Reverse Proxy #CI/CD #Docker #Web Server

Caddy: A Web Server That Just Works and SSL Out of the Box

Introduction

In a world where setting up a web server often requires studying complex configuration files, Caddy offers a radically different approach. It is a modern, multifunctional web server, reverse proxy, and certificate authority in one package.

Caddy was created with a single goal: to provide maximum simplicity. If you are tired of the redundancy of Nginx or Apache, then Caddy is what you’re looking for. Its main “killer feature” is fully automatic SSL certificate management, making it an indispensable tool for developers.