Deploy an Express App

Express is a fast and flexible web application framework for Node.js. It provides a simple and minimalistic way to build web servers and APIs. Known for its speed and unopinionated nature, Express allows developers to structure their applications as they see fit while offering powerful features.

This guide will show you how to deploy an Express app to CloudStation.

Create an Express App

Note: If you already have an Express app locally or on GitHub, you can skip this section and proceed directly to Deploy Express App to CloudStation.

To create a new Express app, ensure that Node.js is installed on your machine.

Steps to Create an Express App

1. Create a directory named helloworld and navigate into it:

   mkdir helloworld && cd helloworld

2. Run the following command to generate a new Express app within the helloworld directory:

   npx express-generator --view=pug

   This will create a new Express app in the helloworld directory, using pug as the view engine.

Run the Express App Locally

1. Install the necessary dependencies:

   npm install

2. Start the app:

   npm start

3. Open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000 to view the app.

Use a Custom Port

If you want to run the app on a different port, use the following command:

PORT=8080 npm start

You can then access the app at http://localhost:8080.

Ready to deploy? Follow the steps in the next section to deploy your Express app to CloudStation!

Deploy the Express App to CloudStation

This guide will walk you through deploying an Express server on CloudStation step-by-step.

Prerequisites

• CloudStation Account: An active account on CloudStation.
• Node.js and npm: Installed on your local machine.
• Express Server Code: Your server application ready for deployment.
• Express Server Code: Your server application ready for deployment.
• Git: Installed and set up for version control.

Steps to Deploy

1. Log in and Create a New Project

Log into CloudStation, go to Dashboard > New Project, and Add New Git Repo. Select your Svelte project and import it.

2. Set Build and Start Commands

Define the commands that CloudStation should use to build and start your application during deployment. These commands are essential for ensuring your project compiles correctly and runs seamlessly on the server environment.

Build Command: The command used to compile or prepare your application for production. For example,npm run build or yarn build.

Start Command: The command that launches your server or application. For instance, node server.js or npm start.

Ensure these commands are properly defined in your package.json file to avoid deployment errors.

3. Deploy the Application

Click Deploy to start the process. CloudStation handles resource allocation, installation, and app start-up.

4.Verify the Deployment

• Once the deployment completes,check if the server is running successfully.

Note: During the deployment process, CloudStation will automatically detect that it’s a Node.js app via Nixpacks.