Webapp Deployment Checklist

Step 1: Containerize with Docker

Ensure your project root includes a Dockerfile. This file defines the environment your webapp needs to run.

Example for a basic Node/Python/Static webapp:

# Example Dockerfile
FROM node:18-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["npm", "start"]

Step 2: Orchestrate with Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file in your root directory. This manages your app container and any required sidecars (like databases or reverse proxies).

version: '3.8'

services:
  webapp:
    build: .
    ports:
      - "80:3000"
    restart: always
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production

Step 3: Bundle Your Application

Before transferring, compress your project files (excluding node_modules, venv, or local build artifacts) into a clean archive.

Run this command in your terminal:

tar -czf webapp-deploy.tar.gz --exclude='node_modules' --exclude='.git' .

Step 4: Ship to the Target Server

Send your prepared package to the following email address to get it deployed.