Deploying a Typescript Server to Digital Ocean with Dokku - Part 11

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Deploying a Typescript Server to Digital Ocean with Dokku

1. Introduction to Dokku and Digital Ocean

   • Dokku is a service similar to Heroku that allows you to host applications on Digital Ocean.
   • It provides cost-efficient hosting with more computing power compared to Heroku.

2. Setting Up Dokku on Digital Ocean

   • Create a droplet on Digital Ocean with Dokku using the one-click app option.
   • Set up an SSH key, choose a hostname, and create the droplet.
   • Wait for a few minutes for the droplet to boot up.

3. Configuring Dokku

   • Once Dokku is up and running, set up a domain name for your application.
   • Follow the setup process and create your app on Dokku.

4. Creating Environment Variables

   • Create environment variables for your app, such as database URL and Redis URL, by linking services like Postgres and Redis to your app.

5. Setting Up Environment Variables

   • Configure your application to use the environment variables in production.
   • Ensure that the application can access the database and Redis using the respective URLs.

6. Pushing Code to Dokku

   • Build your Docker image for the application.
   • Push the Docker image to Dokku using the docker push command.

7. Tagging and Deploying the Docker Image

   • Tag the Docker image with the appropriate version.
   • Deploy the tagged Docker image on Dokku.

8. Checking Deployment

   • Access your application using the provided URL.
   • Monitor the deployment process by viewing Dokku logs for your application.

9. Troubleshooting and Fixing Issues

   • If encountering errors, check if the code needs to be rebuilt using yarn build.
   • Rebuild the Docker image, push it to Dokku, and redeploy the application.

10. Adjusting Port Configuration

    • If the application is not accessible on port 4000, adjust the port configuration to use port 80 for public access.
    • Update the port settings using Dokku commands to ensure the application is reachable on the default port.

11. Testing and Debugging

    • Verify that the application is running correctly by accessing it on port 80.
    • Check the application functionality and troubleshoot any issues that may arise during testing.

12. Finalizing Deployment

    • Ensure the application is successfully deployed and accessible on the specified port.
    • Monitor the application logs for any errors or issues that need to be addressed.

By following these steps, you can deploy a Typescript server to Digital Ocean using Dokku successfully.