---
title: Web app
description: Host the Dagr UI in a browser with the nginx image from Compose or Coolify.
---

# Web app

The chat UI in `client/` is the same Vite + React app the desktop shell wraps. Electron helpers no-op in the browser, so you can serve `dist/` as a static site.

`make compose-up` already builds that image and publishes it on `http://localhost:4173`. This page covers what that service does and how to put it on Coolify.

The API stays a separate origin. The browser calls `https://YOUR_API_HOST/api/v1/*` directly. CORS on the API already allows any origin.

## What you get

| Included | Not included |
| --- | --- |
| Sign in, workspaces, channels, messages, notifications inbox | OS notifications and dock badge |
| Cloud or Self-hosted login | Auto-update |
| Same REST polling as the desktop app | `dagr://` deep links |

Use the [desktop app](/desktop) when you want those Electron features.

## Local

```bash
make compose-up
```

Open `http://localhost:4173`. Choose **Self-hosted** and `http://localhost:8080`.

To iterate on the UI without Docker:

```bash
make client-install
make client-dev-web
```

That starts Vite in `--mode web` (no Electron window). Point it at a running API.

Build the static files only:

```bash
make client-build-web
```

Build the image without starting Compose:

```bash
make client-docker
```

## Build-time settings

Vite bakes `VITE_*` values into the JS at image build time. Changing them later needs a rebuild.

| Argument | Local Compose default | Use on Coolify |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `VITE_DAGR_DEFAULT_MODE` | `selfhosted` | `selfhosted` |
| `VITE_DAGR_SELF_HOSTED_URL` | `http://localhost:8080` | `https://YOUR_API_HOST` |
| `VITE_DAGR_CLOUD_URL` | unset (`https://api.dagr.no`) | leave unset unless you override Cloud |

`VITE_DAGR_DEFAULT_MODE` picks the login tab when the browser has no stored choice. Unset production builds default to Cloud. Self-hosted web apps must set `selfhosted` or first-time visitors land on `https://api.dagr.no`.

## Coolify

Use the same Compose file as [Coolify](/hosting/coolify) (`/deploy/docker-compose.yml`, base directory `/`).

1. Attach a public domain to **`client`** on port `80`.
2. Attach a public domain to **`dagr`** on port `8080`.
3. Set Coolify build arguments on `client`:

```bash
VITE_DAGR_DEFAULT_MODE=selfhosted
VITE_DAGR_SELF_HOSTED_URL=https://YOUR_API_HOST
```

4. Set API environment so invite and verify links open the browser UI:

```bash
PUBLIC_BASE_URL=https://YOUR_WEB_APP_HOST
SERVER_PUBLIC_URL=https://YOUR_API_HOST
```

5. Deploy, then open the web app host. Self-hosted should already show your API URL.

Do not attach a domain to Postgres, Redis, or MinIO.

The API URL is compiled into the client image. If the API hostname changes, rebuild `client`.

Desktop users still sign in with **Self-hosted** and `https://YOUR_API_HOST`. See [Sign in](/desktop/sign-in).

## Health

The nginx image answers `GET /healthz` with `ok`. Coolify can use that as an HTTP health check on `client`.