DDEV v1.25.0 Introduces Modular Share Provider System with Free Cloudflare Tunnel Option

In a release announcement written by Randy Fay and published by DDEV, the new version replaces the previously ngrok-only approach with a flexible provider model. While ngrok remains supported and continues as the default provider, developers can now choose between ngrok and a new built-in cloudflared option. After installing the cloudflared CLI, users can immediately expose a local project with ddev share --provider=cloudflared, eliminating the need for account setup or authentication configuration.

The updated system allows provider selection through command flags, project-level configuration, or global defaults. Existing projects using ngrok continue to function without modification. For teams requiring stable subdomains, custom domains, IP allowlisting, or OAuth protection, ngrok remains the recommended option, while Cloudflare Tunnel is positioned as a cost-free alternative suited for development and testing scenarios.

DDEV v1.25.0 also introduces workflow automation improvements. When a share session is initiated, the generated public URL is exported as the DDEV_SHARE_URL environment variable. This enables pre-share and post-share hooks that can automatically update base URLs or trusted host settings in systems such as WordPress, TYPO3, and Magento 2, then restore original configurations once sharing ends.

The new provider system is extensible. Developers can create custom share providers using Bash scripts placed in .ddev/share-providers/ at the project level or in $HOME/.ddev/share-providers/ for global use. An example implementation for localtunnel is included with the release. DDEV v1.25.0 is now available, with full documentation detailing the updated sharing architecture.