Caddy vs Traefik: What are the differences?

Caddy and Traefik are both popular web servers and reverse proxy servers that provide various features and functionalities. Here are the key differences between them.

1. Configuration Syntax: Caddy uses a simplified and intuitive configuration syntax with a Caddyfile, which makes it easier to set up and configure. On the other hand, Traefik uses a more complex configuration system with YAML or TOML files, providing more flexibility but requiring a deeper understanding of the configuration syntax.

2. Automatic HTTPS: Caddy has built-in automatic HTTPS functionality, which means that SSL/TLS certificates are automatically provisioned and renewed for all sites by default. This feature greatly simplifies the process of securing websites with SSL/TLS. In contrast, Traefik also supports automatic HTTPS, but it requires additional configuration and integration with external services like Let's Encrypt.

3. Dynamic Configuration: Traefik excels in handling dynamic configurations and containerized environments. It can automatically discover and configure backend services based on Docker containers or other orchestration platforms like Kubernetes. Caddy, although able to handle dynamic configurations, may require manual configuration for each service or container.

4. Plugins and Middleware: Caddy is designed with a modular architecture and supports a wide range of plugins and middleware. These plugins can easily be added to enhance the functionality of the server. Traefik also supports plugins but currently has a more limited selection. However, Traefik's plugin ecosystem is rapidly expanding and catching up with Caddy's.

5. Community and Adoption: Caddy has gained popularity quickly and has a growing community of users and contributors. It has been well received for its simplicity and ease of use. Traefik, on the other hand, has been around for a longer time and has a larger community with a strong focus on containerized environments. Its adoption in complex and scalable infrastructures is widespread.

6. Support and Documentation: Caddy offers official commercial support and has comprehensive documentation available, both in written form and through video tutorials. Traefik also provides support and has extensive documentation, including a detailed user guide and a cookbook. However, Traefik's documentation may require a slightly higher level of technical understanding.

In summary, Caddy shines in its simplicity, automatic HTTPS, and intuitive configuration syntax, making it great for beginners and small to medium-sized projects. On the other hand, Traefik excels in its dynamic configuration capabilities, extensive plugin ecosystem, and strong community support, making it more suitable for larger and complex containerized environments.