Deploying cloud applications can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re venturing into new territories like Netlify. However, I’ve found that with the right steps, it’s quite manageable. In this guide, I’ll share my approach to deploying cloud applications on Netlify, ensuring you’re ready to launch your application with confidence.

Prerequisites

Before diving in, ensure you have:

  1. A Netlify account (it’s free to start)
  2. Your application code hosted in a Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket)
  3. Familiarity with basic command-line tools, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

If you haven’t set up a Git repository yet, this guide can help you out.

Step 1: Create and Configure Your Application

Start by developing your application locally. Let’s assume you’re using a popular framework like React or Vue.js. You can set up a sample project quickly with the following commands:

npx create-react-app my-app
cd my-app
npm run build

This will create a build folder with all the static files needed for deployment.

Step 2: Push Your Code to Git

Once your application is ready and tested locally, push it to your Git repository:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git remote add origin <your-repo-url>
git push -u origin master

Step 3: Log into Netlify

Head over to Netlify and log in. If you don’t have an account, signing up is straightforward, and they offer a generous free tier to get started.

Step 4: Connect Your Repository

  1. Once logged in, click on “New site from Git.”
  2. Choose your Git provider (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket).
  3. Authorize Netlify to access your repository and select your project.

Step 5: Configure Deployment Settings

Here is where things start to get exciting. Netlify will ask for build settings:

  • Branch to deploy: Typically master or main.
  • Build command: For a React app, it would be npm run build.
  • Publish directory: For a standard React application, it’s build.

Make sure your fields look something like this:

Setting Value
Branch to deploy main
Build command npm run build
Publish directory build

Step 6: Environment Variables (If Needed)

If your application requires environment variables, navigate to Site settings > Build & deploy > Environment > Environment variables. Here you can specify any variables your application uses.

Step 7: Deployment

Now, click the “Deploy site” button. Netlify will start building your application. You can monitor the build logs in real-time. Once the process completes, you’ll receive a unique URL for your deployed site.

Step 8: Set Up Custom Domain (Optional)

To make your application feel more professional, set up a custom domain by navigating to Site settings > Domain settings. You can purchase a domain through Netlify or link to an existing one.

Conclusion

And voila! Your cloud application should now be live and accessible to all. I encourage you to explore more features that Netlify offers, such as serverless functions or integrations with CMS providers like Contentful and Sanity.

For further reading, check out Netlify’s documentation for detailed instructions and advanced concepts that can improve your deployments.

Happy deploying!

Find more of my blogs at https://nadbn.com/blog