What is Deployment?
TL;DR
Deployment is the process of taking code from development and making it live on a server where users can access it.
Example
Deployment journey:
- Development: Code on developer's computer
- Testing: Code on test server
- Staging: Code on production-like environment
- Production: Code live for all users
Deployment methods:
Manual (old way): Developer copies files to server via FTP. Risky, error-prone, slow.
Automated (modern way): Push code to Git. System automatically tests, builds, deploys. Safer, faster, consistent.
Deployment platforms:
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| Vercel | Frontend, Next.js |
| Netlify | Static sites, JAMstack |
| Railway | Full-stack apps |
| AWS | Enterprise, complex |
| Heroku | Simple apps |
Explanation
Deployment Strategies
All-at-once: Replace old version completely. Simple but risky. If bugs, everyone affected.
Rolling: Update servers one by one. Less risky. Slower to complete.
Blue-green: Run two environments. Switch traffic to new version. Easy rollback if problems.
Canary: Deploy to small percentage of users. Monitor for issues. Gradually increase if OK.
CI/CD
Continuous Integration (CI): Automatically test code when pushed.
Continuous Deployment (CD): Automatically deploy if tests pass.
Together, they create smooth, automated pipelines.
Why It Matters
For Business Owners
Modern deployment enables speed. Deploy updates in minutes, not days. Fix bugs faster. Launch features sooner.
Automated deployment reduces errors. Humans make mistakes with manual processes. Automation is consistent.
Good deployment practices reduce downtime. Strategies like blue-green mean zero-downtime updates.
Deployment affects risk. Easy rollback = lower risk of trying new things.
Questions to Ask Your Team
- How is the site deployed?
- How long does a deployment take?
- Can we quickly rollback if something breaks?
- Are there automated tests before deployment?
- What's the process for emergency fixes?
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