This buildpack was originally designed to run Go programs on Heroku. The idea is that you cross-compile your Go program for Linux and then push you binary to Heroku using Null Buildpack. Additionally I like to use the Platform Deployment API to avoid having to push my (often times large) repo to Heroku.

Heroku buildpacks take a base Linux server and prepare it for your application. For example, if you are deploying a Ruby app, the Ruby Buildpack will install Ruby, Bundler, Node.js, and other things. The Ruby Buildpack will also run scripts when you deploy your app; for example: installing dependencies and compiling css/js assets. Sometimes you don't need any of that and you simply wish to have a bare Linux install. Since the Null Buildpack doesn't do anything, it is very fast when compared to other buildpacks!

Null Buildpack is also a great starting place for developing your own buildpack.

Create a directory for our Heroku App:

$ mkdir app && cd app

Create a simple binary to run on our Heroku App:

$ echo -e "#\!/usr/bin/env bash\n echo hi" > ./test
$ echo -e "test: ./test" > Procfile
$ chmod  x ./test
$ ./test
hi

Create an app with the Null Buildpack

$ git init; git add .; git commit -am 'init'
$ heroku create --buildpack http://github.com/ryandotsmith/null-buildpack.git
$ git push heroku master

Run the program:

$ heroku run test
Running `test` attached to terminal... up, run.8663
hi