Chapter 13: Deployment Basics
Chapter 13 of 15
Chapter 13: Deployment Basics
13.1 Deployment Options
Deployment is the process of making your application available to users on the internet. There are various hosting options depending on your needs.
Shared Hosting:
- Multiple websites on one server
- Affordable and easy to set up
- Limited control and resources
- Good for small websites and beginners
- Examples: Bluehost, HostGator, SiteGround
VPS (Virtual Private Server):
- Dedicated portion of a server
- More control and resources
- Requires server management skills
- Good for medium-sized applications
- Examples: DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr
Cloud Platforms:
- Scalable and flexible
- Pay for what you use
- Many services and tools
- Good for large applications
- Examples: AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Heroku
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
- Simplified deployment process
- Handles infrastructure management
- Easy scaling
- Good for rapid deployment
- Examples: Heroku, Vercel, Netlify, Railway
13.2 Basic Deployment Process
Deploying an application involves several steps to ensure it works correctly in production.
Pre-Deployment Checklist:
- Test application thoroughly
- Fix all bugs and errors
- Optimize code and assets
- Set up environment variables
- Configure database
- Update documentation
Deployment Steps:
- Prepare Code: Ensure code is production-ready
- Build Application: Compile and optimize code
- Upload Files: Transfer files to server (FTP, Git, or deployment tool)
- Configure Server: Set up web server, database, and environment
- Test Deployment: Verify application works correctly
- Set Up Domain: Point domain to server
- Monitor: Set up monitoring and logging
Deployment Methods:
- FTP/SFTP: Upload files directly to server
- Git: Pull code from repository on server
- CI/CD: Automated deployment pipeline
- Platform Tools: Use platform-specific deployment tools
13.3 Environment Configuration
Production environment differs from development. Proper configuration ensures your app works correctly.
Environment Variables:
- Store sensitive data (API keys, database credentials)
- Different values for dev, staging, and production
- Never commit .env files to version control
- Use secure methods to set variables on server
Database Setup:
- Create production database
- Run migrations to set up schema
- Import initial data if needed
- Set up database backups
SSL/HTTPS:
- Obtain SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt is free)
- Configure HTTPS on server
- Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
- Ensure secure connections
13.4 Post-Deployment
After deployment, monitor and maintain your application.
Monitoring:
- Check application logs
- Monitor server resources (CPU, memory, disk)
- Set up error tracking (Sentry, Rollbar)
- Monitor uptime and performance
Maintenance:
- Keep dependencies updated
- Apply security patches
- Back up data regularly
- Monitor and optimize performance