bex-co/bex

The open-source Render alternative — AI-native. Git push → build → deploy on your own infrastructure; agents are first-class users.

What it solves

bex is an open-source, AI-native alternative to Render. It allows users to deploy and operate HTTPS services from Git repositories or prebuilt images on their own hardware (such as Hetzner or local Docker containers), providing a PaaS-like experience without relying on a proprietary cloud provider.

How it works

The system uses a two-cluster architecture: an infra cluster (using Cluster API) to provision machines and an app cluster where the bex operator reconciles App Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) into Kubernetes deployments, services, and ingresses. It provides a Render-compatible REST and GraphQL API, as well as an MCP server, allowing both humans and AI agents to manage deployments.

Who it’s for

Developers who want to own their PaaS infrastructure on their own hardware while maintaining a Render-like developer experience, and developers building AI agents that need to deploy and operate applications as first-class users.

Highlights

  • Render Compatibility: Implements a REST and GraphQL API compatible with Render's spec, allowing for a drop-in replacement in some workflows.
  • AI-Native Design: Includes an MCP server and machine-readable state (via App CRs) so AI agents can drive the platform end-to-end using API keys.
  • Infrastructure Agnostic: Supports local Docker mocks via CAPD and production deployments on Hetzner via CAPH.
  • Full Lifecycle Management: Supports deploy-from-git, custom domains with TLS, and the ability to suspend, resume, or restart services.
  • Managed Postgres: Includes Render-compatible managed PostgreSQL management.