Imagine that after working hard on the development of the application, your code fails in the production environment when deployed. Isn’t it horrible?
Well, the right expertise in mastering the art of web app deployment can save you from potential challenges while you are preparing your code to transition from the local host to the production server.
Deployment is an essential stage in the software development lifecycle that cannot be overlooked when it comes to developing a positive impact on customer satisfaction. In simpler terms, deployment refers to moving your packed assets or codes from the development environment to the live product environment. It involves configuring web pages and preparing the application to handle traffic for an optimized app performance.
Fastcurve, an experienced mobile and web application development company, has an understanding of this priority of a smooth transition. That is why we have defined a process and best practices for web app deployment through this blog.
Read our blog to gather in-depth knowledge of deploying web apps to a server.
How to Deploy a Web App from Localhost to a Production Server?
You can use the following 5-step process for a smooth transition from localhost to the production server.
1. Preparation for Code Development
Before you start deploying a progressive web application, you need to prepare your sourced code and make it finalized after addressing the bugs. The codes are managed in the version control system in a repository such as Git or GitHub, where developers can fix a code and make the required changes concurrently. At this stage, real-time resources and external APIs are also prepared for populating data over external devices.
2. Code Configuration
You need to configure your source code in the localhost server environment to make sure that vulnerabilities will not take place in the production environment. Certainly, server configuration for web applications is essential because your production server may have different settings. You need to apply security setups and access controls along with the optimization of application performance to avoid any potential issues. This may include setting HTTPs for secure communication, optimizing images, minifying CSS files, and compressing files for fast loading time.
3. Transfer Web Application to Production Environment
This phase is also known as staging, where the product is shifted from the development environment to the production environment. This process can be undertaken through the manual procedure followed by FTP or SSH or automatically with a CI/CD pipeline. When the application is successfully transferred, it makes the launching of the application feasible. You can harness deployment by using specific deployment commands and ensure monitoring of such commands in case of any errors.
4. Launching of Web Application
Now that you have transferred the application, your application is ready to be launched in the real-world environment. On the web server, you can deploy and host your content and make it accessible to the target audience. While planning the scalability of your application, you can increase the hosting plan as your user base grows. Also, you can make sure that the queries are optimized and you are implementing cache strategies to make your web app deployment smoother.
5. Maintenance and Monitoring
When the application is in the production environment, monitoring the performance of the app is essential. It means you have to execute ongoing monitoring of the application for optimal performance and user satisfaction. You can use Google Analytics to address troubleshooting issues promptly. It will include debugging the code, fixing security vulnerabilities, and running an optimized web server. Additionally, monitoring deployed applications is also followed up with app updates and improvements to keep up with the advanced security standards.
Best Practices for Deploying Web Applications
The best practices for web app deployment ensure that your transition is smooth and, at the same time, your application remains stable after being deployed. We have compiled eight best practices that you should know:
1. Use of Version Control System
Having a version control system like Git allows developers to code and collaborate through the repository record. All of the changes are brought up in real time, and there are fewer chances of conflicts, making deployment more manageable.
2. Bring in Automation
There are modern deployment automation tools that are integral components of software development. With the adoption of CI/CD, you can seamlessly deploy your applications, which ensures continuous integration. This ensures that code is checked at least once a day and is fixed proactively, allowing only validated code to enter into production.
3. Rollback Strategy
Having rollback strategies in deployment is pertinent for taking precautions. It can roll back your application to its previous version in case critical issues arise. It is important to have your strategy tested with simulations of deployment issues. Plus, you have to be aware of how rolling database scripts work. You need to monitor your rollback approaches from time to time to avoid discrepancies.
Have a look at our related blog, Best Practices for Designing and Developing Custom Web Apps, to stay informed about the best rollout plans.
4. Leverage Configuration Management
This practice ensures that your files are correctly configured in the local environment and are consistently being monitored to work well in the production environment. This practice allows developers to systematically handle the changes. There are post-deployment configurations as well for making sure that the application is set up correctly.
5. Monitoring and Notifications
Keeping an eye on the application after being deployed can be a strategic effort to identify regression bugs. While monitoring the web app deployment, notifications are sent to the business to resolve issues. Tools like Datadog and New Relic can do wonders by seeing inside the tech stack.
6. Employ Automated Testing
No wonder you can ensure thousands of successful application deployments on any given day. This is because they are leveraging modern testing tools such as unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests to run applications smoothly and free of bugs.
7. Optimize for Production Environment
You need to know that your production environment will be different from the development environment. In this situation, you need to minimize the file size, optimize images, to make changes in data structures to ensure that the loading time is less. This is one of the important deployment best practices for facilitating an enriched user experience.
8. Implement Security Measures
While you are on your way to deploying the application, don’t forget to safeguard your applications to avoid future risks. In addition, to keep your software up to date, you should use HTTP for server security and manage secret information through strong passwords. You can use firewalls for network security and authentication tools for access controls.
Deploying a full-fledged application from localhost to the production server is a rigorous task. The whole process of web app deployment from making changes in the code to preparing the infrastructure to work well with live environment. With a strong deployment plan, you can ensure that your application does not break when exposed to the live audience.
Just like that, Fastcurve, a professional IT service provider, goes beyond developing applications and firmly believes in transforming your idea into reality.
