Deployment and Maintenance

Rationale

Efficient deployment ensures smooth transitions from development to production, minimizes downtime, and supports rapid iteration. Automation and monitoring improve reliability and security.

Deployment Best Practices

• Use environment variables for secrets and configuration.
• Separate development, staging, and production settings.
• Automate deployment with scripts or CI/CD pipelines.
• Store deployment scripts and infrastructure configuration (e.g., Dockerfiles, Ansible) in version control.
• Use .env files and environment variables for configuration; never hardcode secrets.
• Automate deployment with scripts or CI/CD pipelines for consistency.

CI/CD

• Use tools like GitHub Actions for automated testing and deployment.
• Run tests and linting before deploying to production. Example Workflow:

1. Developer pushes code to repository.
2. CI server runs automated tests and builds.
3. If tests pass, code is deployed to staging.
4. After review, code is deployed to production.

• Fail deployments if tests or linting fail.
• Tag releases and document deployment steps in CHANGELOG.md or docs.

Monitoring & Logging

• Use logging frameworks or services for error and event logging.
• Integrate with monitoring tools (e.g., Sentry, Datadog).
• Use external monitoring tools (Sentry, Datadog, UptimeRobot) for error and performance tracking.
• Set up alerts for errors, downtime, and performance issues.
• Review logs regularly and address issues promptly.

Backup Strategies

• Automate backups for critical data and files.
• Store backups securely (offsite or cloud storage).
• Test restoration procedures regularly to ensure reliability.

Best Practices

• Document deployment and rollback procedures for the team.
• Monitor application health and performance in production.
• Regularly update dependencies and server packages for security.
• Review deployment logs and address issues promptly.