Deployment - lesson 1 | HackIndia Skills

Key point

Pick by runtime

A host is not just a place to upload files. It must run the thing your project needs in production.

Choose by runtime first: static files, server-side app, API server, or database-backed full-stack app. Price and custom domain come after that.

Know your app type

A React, Vite, or plain HTML app that only calls external APIs can be hosted as a static frontend. It builds into files like index.html, CSS, and JavaScript.

A Next.js app with server routes, an Express API, or a Django backend needs a host that runs server code. If your app writes user data, you will also need a hosted database later.

Your to-do

Match common stacks

Do each one yourself, then tap it to tick it off. The ticks are only a checklist for you: they are not marked or scored.

Use Vercel or Netlify for static frontends and many Next.js projects.
Use Render, Railway, or Fly.io for Express, Django, Flask, FastAPI, or other backend servers.
Use GitHub Pages only for simple static sites with no server code.
Use Supabase, Neon, MongoDB Atlas, or a similar hosted database when data must persist.
Avoid hosting the database on your laptop or college Wi-Fi for a submitted project.

0 of 5 done

Common mistake

Common wrong choice

Beginners often deploy a full-stack app like it is a static site. The homepage loads, but login, payments, image upload, or API routes fail.

If your app needs npm start, python manage.py runserver, or a backend process, do not choose a static-only setup.

Tip

Use free tiers carefully

Free hosting is fine for hackathon and internship demos. But read the limits before you submit.

Check three things: does the app sleep, are environment variables supported, and can you connect a custom domain later. Sleeping apps may take time to open on the first request.

Example

Write your host plan

Add a short deployment plan to your README before you deploy. It shows recruiters that you understand your production setup.

This is not final documentation. It is a clear decision you can update in later lessons.

## Deployment plan

App type: Vite React frontend + Express API
Frontend host: Vercel
Backend host: Render
Database: MongoDB Atlas

Why:
- Frontend builds to static files using npm run build
- Backend needs a running Node.js server
- Database must be online, not local MongoDB

Commands:
- Frontend build: npm run build
- Backend start: npm start

Environment variables needed later:
- VITE_API_URL
- MONGODB_URI
- JWT_SECRET