# Feature Request: Update Indicators & Auto-Updates for Self-Deployed Repos

## Problem

When you deploy an open-source project or template via Railway, there's no clear way to know when the upstream repo has new releases or commits. You have to manually check the source repo to see if you're behind — which is easy to forget and leads to running outdated (and potentially insecure) versions.

## Proposed Solution

### 1. Update Indicator

Show a visible badge or notification on the service card / dashboard when the upstream repository has new commits or releases since your last deploy. You do currently have a small indicator once I am on the project, but what if I have 10+ projects and I don't want to open each individually? So maybe Something like:

- "3 commits behind upstream" or "New release: v2.4.0 available"

- A dot/badge on the service card in the project view

- Optional email/webhook notification when an update is available

### 2. Auto-Update Option

Allow users to opt-in to automatic redeployments when the upstream repo publishes a new release or pushes to a tracked branch. Configuration could look like:

- Track: releases only, or all commits on a branch

- Auto-deploy: on/off toggle per service

- Delay: optional cooldown (e.g. wait 24h after release before auto-deploying, to avoid deploying broken releases)

## Why This Matters

- Self-hosted tools (n8n, Plausible, Uptime Kuma, etc.) frequently ship security patches and features

- Currently there's zero visibility into whether you're up to date

- Users who deploy-and-forget are silently running stale versions

- This would make Railway a significantly better platform for self-hosting open-source tools

## Prior Art

- Watchtower (Docker) — auto-updates running containers when new images are pushed

- Renovate / Dependabot — automated dependency update PRs

- Coolify — shows update availability for self-hosted apps

## Suggested UX

- Service settings: "Watch upstream for updates" toggle

- Dashboard: subtle badge when update is available

- Notification preferences: email, webhook, or in-app only