Deployment of a JavaScript application usually involves several ‘high-level’ steps, which could be customized according to the specific needs of each project. These steps are:
1. Development Environment: Before you begin deployment, ensure that you have a development environment ready with all the necessary software (like Node.js, npm, a code editor) installed.
1. Coding: Write your JavaScript code. If you’re using libraries or frameworks like React.js, Angular.js, Vue.js, make sure they’re all up to date.
1. Testing: Once your application has been developed, test it thoroughly on different levels like unit testing, integration testing, system testing, etc. There are various tools available like Jest, Mocha, Jasmine, etc for testing JavaScript.
1. Minification: Minify your JavaScript files into one file to reduce the loading time and the size of the file. This step can be done using various tools like Uglify.js, Babel, Webpack, etc.
1. Deployment Process:
a. Upload your files to the server: This can be done using Git, FTP, or even directly using SSH, depending upon your hosting. b. Install the dependencies: If your application has npm dependencies, you should run `npm install` on the server. c. Setting up environment variables: If your application uses environment variables, then set them up on your server. d. Running the application: You would most likely run your application as a service, so that it automatically starts on system reboot. There are a few options here, but PM2 is a very popular choice when it comes to Node.js applications. e. Setting up reverse proxy: Set up a reverse proxy so that your application running on a system internal port can be accessed by a URL. This can be achieved through Nginx or Apache web servers. f. Configuring an SSL Certificate: For a secure connection, an SSL certificate may need to be installed on your server. This can be acquired for free through Let’s Encrypt or similar services.1. Continuous Deployment: Setup Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate the steps of application deployment.
It’s necessary to mention that exact deploying steps depends on your project configuration, technology stack (for example, Node.js back-end or only static front-end), and server (could be a cloud server like AWS, GCP, or a traditional server) where you are going to deploy your application.
Always ensure you follow best practices to avoid any vulnerabilities or attacks on your web application.
