Host your Database for Free on Github Pages

Tutorial: Host Your Database for Free on GitHub Pages

Introduction:

• Databases can be costly to run, especially for small side projects. However, GitHub Pages offers a free hosting solution for databases using SQLite.
• In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of hosting a database on GitHub Pages using SQLite and SQL.JS HTTP-VFS.

Steps:

1. Create a GitHub Repository:

   • Start by creating a GitHub repository for your project if you don't have one already.

2. Enable GitHub Pages:

   • In the repository settings, navigate to the "Pages" section.
   • GitHub will suggest presets for hosting; choose to deploy the entire website as static HTML.

3. Deploy Website:

   • GitHub will automatically create a GitHub action to deploy changes.
   • Whenever you update the repository with an index.html file, GitHub will deploy it to your GitHub Pages URL.

4. Consider SQLite for Database:

   • SQLite is a single-file database that can be stored in your GitHub repository.
   • Unlike traditional databases, SQLite is lightweight and easy to manage.

5. Prepare Database:

   • Download a public weather dataset to use as the basis for your SQLite database.
   • Filter out unnecessary data to reduce the database size.

6. Implement SQL.JS HTTP-VFS:

   • Use SQL.JS HTTP-VFS to load only the necessary parts of the database from the server.
   • This library optimizes data loading by fetching specific ranges of the SQLite file.

7. Optimize Database Queries:

   • Create indexes for columns that are frequently searched to improve query performance.
   • Optimize the database structure for efficient data retrieval.

8. Access Data Efficiently:

   • With SQL.JS HTTP-VFS, you can query specific data from the SQLite database without loading unnecessary information.
   • This approach eliminates the need for server-side computing.

9. Consider Limitations:

   • Note that GitHub Pages has limitations, such as the 1 GB file size limit and restrictions on private repositories.
   • Evaluate if GitHub Pages is suitable for your project based on its limitations.

10. Explore Alternative Hosting Options:

• Consider other hosting solutions like CDNs for static sites if GitHub Pages does not meet your requirements.
• CDNs like Cloudflare or BunnyCDN offer affordable hosting options for static files.

11. Finalize and Test:

• Ensure your database is functioning correctly on GitHub Pages.
• Test the website to verify data retrieval and functionality.

12. Maintenance and Security:

• Keep in mind that updating the database requires redeploying the entire project.
• Implement security measures to prevent SQL injections and ensure data integrity.

Conclusion:

• Hosting your database for free on GitHub Pages using SQLite and SQL.JS HTTP-VFS offers a cost-effective solution for small projects.
• By following these steps, you can efficiently host your database and website without the need for server-side computing.