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Get Online

Update

Change Maker V3 online access requires customized deployment package. Change Maker V4 will include a automated process for getting online. If wanting to deploy asap email [email protected] for partnership opportunities or follow manual.

This guide will help you get your site online quickly and easily. By following these steps, you can have your site up and running in no time. We are recommending the service that we use to get online, which is Cloudflare. There are dozens of ways to host your site and application online. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up Cloudflare Tunnel to get your site online.

Cloudflare

Alternatives to Cloudflare Tunnels

If Cloudflare Tunnels don't meet your needs, here are some other options to consider:

NGINX Reverse Proxy

  • Use NGINX to route traffic to your local server.
  • Provides load balancing, SSL termination, and caching.

Apache Reverse Proxy

  • Similar to NGINX, but uses Apache HTTP Server.
  • Offers extensive configuration options and modules.

Localtunnel

  • Quickly expose your local server to the internet.
  • Easy to set up with minimal configuration.

Ngrok

  • Provides secure introspectable tunnels to localhost.
  • Offers additional features like custom subdomains and webhooks.

Serveo

  • Another tool to expose local servers to the internet.
  • No installation required, works over SSH.

Each of these alternatives has its own set of features and benefits, so you can choose the one that best fits your requirements.

What is Cloudflare?

Cloudflared Docmentation

Cloudflare is a service that provides a range of features to improve the security, performance, and reliability of your website. It acts as a reverse proxy between your website visitors and your web hosting provider. Why we use Cloudlfare:

  • Security: Protects your site from malicious attacks, including DDoS attacks, by filtering traffic before it reaches your server.
  • Performance: Speeds up your website by caching content and serving it from data centers around the world.
  • Reliability: Ensures your site remains available even if your server goes down by using its global network to keep your site online.

The Cloudflare backend and admin tools are also quite powerfull; allowing you to manage your site, monitor traffic, and configure security settings all in one spot. We quite enjoy the free analytics that are not pervasive trackers; just simple info about where people are visiting your site from.

Before You Start

  • You need a domain name (like yoursite.com)
  • Your domain should be using Cloudflare (they have a free plan)
  • Make sure Change Maker is working on your computer first

Installing Cloudflare Tunnel

  1. Download Cloudflared
  2. Windows: Download the latest release from https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases
  3. Mac: brew install cloudflare/cloudflare/cloudflared

  4. Linux: 

    curl -L --output cloudflared.deb https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-linux-amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i cloudflared.deb

  5. Login to Cloudflare 

    cloudflared tunnel login
    Follow the browser prompts to authenticate.

Setting Up Your Tunnel

Create the Tunnel

  • Open Terminal (Command Prompt on Windows)
  • Type: cloudflared tunnel create change-maker-site
  • Copy the Tunnel ID it gives you (you'll need this)

Create the Settings File

  • On Windows, create this folder: C:\Users\YOUR-USERNAME\.cloudflared
  • On Mac/Linux, it's in: ~/.cloudflared
  • Create a file called config-site.yml in that folder
  • Open it with Notepad (Windows) or any text editor

Add These Settings 

tunnel: YOUR-TUNNEL-ID
credentials-file: ~/.cloudflared/YOUR-TUNNEL-ID.json
ingress:
  - hostname: yoursite.com
    service: http://localhost:4000
  - hostname: cmeditor.yoursite.com
    service: http://localhost:3000
  - hostname: listmonk.yoursite.com
    service: http://localhost:9000
  - service: http_status:404
Replace: - YOUR-TUNNEL-ID with the ID from step 1 - yoursite.com with your actual website address

Connect to Cloudflare

  • Go to cloudflare.com and log in
  • Click on your domain
  • Click "DNS"
  • Add a new record:
    • Type: CNAME
    • Name: @ (or leave blank)
    • Target: YOUR-TUNNEL-ID.cfargotunnel.com
    • Proxy status: Proxied (orange cloud)

Secure Site

If you are publically serving your site, it is recommended to secure your cmeditor and listmonk sites. This can be done by setting up Cloudflare Access.

Cloudlfare Access

Starting Your Tunnel

Secure Your CMeditor

Make sure your CMEditor is secure and only accessible by you. Access to the system backend can be a security risk.

Method 1: Running Manually (Easiest to Start With)

  1. Start the Tunnel
  2. Open Terminal/Command Prompt
  3. Type: cloudflared tunnel --config ~/.cloudflared/config-site.yml run
  4. Leave this window open

Method 2: Running as Background Services (More Advanced)

On Windows: 

cloudflared service install --config C:\Users\YOUR-USERNAME\.cloudflared\config-site.yml

On Mac/Linux: 

sudo cloudflared service install --config ~/.cloudflared/config-site.yml

Checking If Everything Works

  1. Start Change Maker: 

    docker compose down
docker system prune -f
docker compose up --build

  2. Make sure your tunnels are running (you should see messages in those windows)

  3. Try visiting your sites:

  4. Main website: https://yoursite.com

  5. Editor: https://cmeditor.yoursite.com
  6. Listmonk: https://listmonk.yoursite.com

Making Changes Manually (if needed)

If you need to change things by hand, here's what to do:

1. Change Your Website Address

Open these files and update the website address:

In mkdocs.yml: 

site_name: Your Site Name
site_url: https://yoursite.com/

In docker-compose.yml: 

# Look for lines with:
SITE_URL=https://yoursite.com

In constants.js: 

export const MKDOCS_URL = 'https://yoursite.com';

2. Change Editor Address

Look for cmeditor.yoursite.com in these files: - docker-compose.yml - constants.js - server.js

Troubleshooting

Common Problems and Solutions

"Something's already using that port"

  • Change the port numbers in the setup
  • Or close other programs that might be using those ports

"Can't connect to the website"

  • Make sure Change Maker is running
  • Check that your Cloudflare tunnels are running
  • Try opening the site on your computer first (localhost)

"Editor won't save changes"

  • Check that all addresses match in your setup
  • Make sure you're using https:// for web addresses
  • Restart Change Maker if needed

Common Tunnel Problems

"Tunnel Not Connected"

  • Check that both tunnel windows are still open
  • Make sure you see "connected" messages
  • Try running the tunnel command again

"Can't Find Certificate"

  • Your settings files might be in the wrong place
  • Double-check the folder names and locations
  • Run cloudflared tunnel login and try again

"Wrong Address"

  • Make sure all your domain names match exactly
  • Check Cloudflare DNS settings
  • Look for typos in config files

"Editor Not Working"

  • Make sure both tunnels are running
  • Check that Change Maker is running
  • Verify all your addresses match in the files we changed earlier
  1. Go to Cloudflare Zero Trust
  2. Create an Access Policy:
  3. Click "Applications"
  4. Add new application
  5. Choose "Self-hosted"
  6. Enter https://cmeditor.yoursite.com
  7. Add your email under "Allowed Users"
  8. Now only you can access the editor

Need Help?

If things aren't working: 1. Check that Change Maker is running 2. Make sure your tunnels are running 3. Look for error messages in the terminal windows 4. Try restarting everything

Safety Tips

  1. Keep your editor address private
  2. Use strong passwords
  3. Regular backups are a good idea
  4. Keep your computer's security up to date

Backup Your Work

Quick Backup

  • Find your Change Maker folder
  • Copy the whole docs folder somewhere safe
  • That's your content backed up!

Restore from Backup

  • Just copy your backed-up docs folder back
  • Restart Change Maker
  • Your content should be back

After Setup

Remember to:

  1. Keep the program running when you want your site available
  2. Make regular backups of your content
  3. Keep your domain and Cloudflare account active
  4. Update your software regularly

Need more help? Check the technical manual for detailed instructions or ask in the community forums.