Comparison
A PM2 alternative for Go
PM2 is a Node.js process manager. It can keep a Go binary alive in fork mode, but it will not build, deploy, health-gate, or roll back a Go release. Phelix does all four, natively.
Released Phelix hosts: Linux and macOS. Builds Go and Rust with your host toolchain.
Where each fits
PM2 is built around Node; Phelix is built around compiled binaries.
Reach for PM2 when you run Node.js or Bun services and want a mature process manager with cluster mode and zero-downtime reload for JavaScript. PM2 can also supervise a Go binary in fork mode when you only need to keep a process running.
Reach for Phelix when Go or Rust is the point: you want the binary built, deployed with a real strategy, health-gated, supervised, and one command from rollback, rather than only kept alive. Start with the Go process manager overview.
PM2 details reflect its public documentation as of September 2026. Verify current behavior before you decide.
Side by side
A neutral capability comparison for Go workloads.
| Capability | Phelix | PM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Go and Rust applications | Node.js and Bun; other languages run in fork mode |
| Keep a process alive | Yes, per-host supervision | Yes, including a Go binary in fork mode |
| Build step | Builds Go and Rust binaries with the host toolchain | None; runs an existing script or binary |
| Deploy strategies | Classic, blue-green, rolling, and canary | Process start and restart only |
| Zero-downtime reload | Health-gated proxy cutover for Go and Rust | Cluster-mode reload is Node.js only |
| Health gating | HTTP, TCP, and PID tiers gate traffic | Restart on crash; no traffic gating |
| Rollback | Native rollback to a retained version | Not provided |
| Multiple servers | Per-agent metrics and logs across hosts | Single host by default |
What Phelix adds for Go
The parts PM2 leaves to you.
Phelix compiles the binary, versions it, and supervises it with tiered health checks, so an unhealthy instance never takes traffic. Releases use blue-green, rolling, or canary strategies, and any retained version is one command from rollback. The lifecycle verbs are in build and lifecycle, and cross-host visibility is in multi-server monitoring.
Where PM2 still fits
Node-first teams and simple process keeping.
If your services are Node.js or Bun, PM2's cluster mode, reload, and ecosystem are a natural fit that Phelix does not target. And if all you need is to keep a single binary running on one host, PM2 in fork mode is a perfectly reasonable, lightweight choice.
One binary between git push and production.
Install the CLI, verify the host, and follow the quick start to build your first application.