Release Notes

We're excited to introduce an upgraded version of our AI Assistant. Here's what's new:

In response to valuable feedback from our users we've updated the default subdomain naming convention for projects deployed on containers. To respect user privacy, the new naming rule will solely utilize repo name information, excluding any user-specific details.

You can now specify the port you wish to expose directly in the app creation settings, eliminating the need to do so within the Dockerfile. By default, the app settings PORT will be exposed. If no port is specified in the settings, the system will refer to the Dockerfile.

Clickable Repos: Repositories are now clickable, redirecting users to a new page for a detailed view.

Enhanced Display for Larger Screens: We've optimized the user experience for users with larger screens.

Uniform Logs Display: Logs have been placed inside a box, similar to the deployment logs, for a consistent look and feel.

Repo Author Display: There was an issue where the repo author always displayed as 'webflow'. This has been addressed.

AI Assistant Issues:

App Overview



We're thrilled to announce our integration with OpenAI APIs, introducing an AI Assistant to facilitate your repo deployments on Back4App. When you encounter challenges or errors during deployment, our AI assistant swiftly steps in, providing effective solutions. In this initial version, the AI assistant offers Dockerfile suggestions to address identified issues. Accepting these recommendations creates a new Pull Request directly on your repo, further simplifying the process for you.



To provide more control and precision in deploying your applications, we've introduced Custom Health Checks. Now, you can designate the specific endpoint that Back4App will use to verify your application's health during deployment. By simply providing the appropriate URL, Back4App will make an HTTP request before finalizing the deployment. This addition ensures your application is functioning optimally before any deployment release.

We're offering you more flexibility in determining how your application responds. Now, you can define the specific port for your application to respond to within the App Settings, even if there are multiple ports exposed in your Dockerfile. This feature provides you with additional control over your application's communication setup.

Our commitment to providing you with a user-friendly platform is unwavering. In this update, we've enhanced the synchronization between your list of repos and authorized GitHub repos. Should you remove a repo, the list updates accordingly. Furthermore, you can now conveniently locate the App ID of your application within the containers settings.

These updates are part of our continuous effort to deliver a more tailored and efficient experience for our users. Stay tuned for future enhancements as we continue to optimize your experience with Back4App.



All Container applications on Back4App are automatically provided with a b4a.run URL, facilitating easy sharing of deployments with your team for collaborative purposes. But to offer you more customization and flexibility for your projects, we've introduced the option to use a Custom Domain with your Back4App Containers. This gives you the ability to use your own domains and enjoy the benefits of a secure (SSL-enabled) web address provided by us.

Domain settings related to a Container App can be managed in the Domains section of the App Settings, irrespective of whether you're using apex domains or subdomains for your project. Additionally, you can create custom redirect rules for your registered domains on Back4App Containers, adding another layer of customization to your user experience

We've made significant improvements to the Containers dashboard. You can now view more details about your projects, such as status, URLs, and Plan, right from the Container's dashboard. You also have the option to flag favorites and search for them. 

We've revamped the App Overview page to utilize a widget-style layout, bringing new widgets that allow you to monitor your app's key parameters from a single page. These include CPU, RAM, Plan, Deployment Logs, and Running logs. We've also entirely redesigned the App Settings to make it easier for you to locate and change the settings you need.

In our continuous effort to provide a high-performance and secure platform, we've implemented numerous performance optimizations and bug fixes. These changes aim to ensure smoother and more reliable operation of your applications on Back4App Containers​.



We've introduced usage metrics tracking for containers on Back4App. You can now track:

Our platform maintains a continuous time-series for all deployments within an App, not just the latest one. Each successful deployment results in a new container and a new graphical series, allowing you to identify which container deployment might have led to a spike in resource usage.

This new feature allows you to identify opportunities for improvements and bottlenecks in your application between the deployments. It also helps you determine if you need container upgrades to better accommodate your application on Back4App Containers. These metrics are provided continuously for all deployments within an App, enabling you to see which container deployment may have caused a spike in resources.

We're excited to announce full support for WebSockets on Back4App Containers. WebSockets enable real-time data exposure from your application, operating as a bidirectional communications channel using HTTP through a TCP connection. Whether your project is a financial ticker, a live sports score updater, a location-based app, or a collaborative text editor, you can now connect your repo and deploy it (Dockerfile required) on Back4App Containers. The given URL can then be used for real-time client connections.

We're excited to announce the release of a comprehensive set of guides designed to assist you in preparing, deploying, and monitoring your applications on Back4App Containers. These guides cover a wide array of languages and web frameworks, making it easier than ever to get your projects up and running.

Whether you're working with Python, Django, Flask, NodeJS, ReactJS, NextJS, PHP, Laravel, Elixir Phoenix, Remix, Ruby on Rails, ASP .NET, Deno, Go, Rust, Nuxt, Redwood, Meteor, or Java, we've got you covered. Our detailed guides provide step-by-step instructions, best practices, and troubleshooting tips specific to each of these languages and frameworks.

These guides will not only help you efficiently deploy your applications but also ensure optimal performance by helping you effectively monitor your apps on Back4App Containers. So, get started and make the most out of your development experience with our new guides.

We've introduced a new Cancel/Stop Deployment button to provide you with greater control over your deployments. If you start a deployment and realize there's an issue, or you simply change your mind, you can now easily cancel the deployment in progress.

We've improved our build and deployment log messages to give you a more comprehensive understanding of your deployments. These enhanced messages provide more detailed information about the progress and results of your deployments, enabling you to track and manage them more effectively.

We've updated our user interface to provide better guidance when creating Dockerfiles. These UX improvements aim to simplify and streamline the process of creating Dockerfiles, making it easier even for those who are new to the platform or to Dockerfiles.

As part of our continuous efforts to enhance user experience, we've worked on improving the platform's messaging. This ensures clearer, more effective communication within the platform.

We've implemented updates to boost the availability and performance of our platform. These improvements ensure that your deployments are more reliable and efficient, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

We've refined our app deletion process for enhanced safety. Now, we've integrated a confirmation step before any app gets deleted to prevent unintentional loss of work.

We've addressed an issue with the root directory pointing, ensuring that your directory structure is properly recognized.

We've augmented the building capacity of our container in terms of CPU and RAM. This upgrade decreases the time required to build your free container apps, leading to a more efficient and streamlined building process.

We've improved our communication regarding missing dockerfiles. Now, if your project requires a Dockerfile to run, we'll send a clear, friendly, and straightforward message explaining the need for a Dockerfile and guiding you on how to create one.

We've prepared detailed documentation on how to create Dockerfiles for popular technologies. This resource aims to assist you in efficiently setting up your projects, particularly if you're new to using Dockerfiles or dealing with a new technology stack.

We have addressed several issues in our Logbox component to improve your experience. This includes fixing scrolling issues, correcting colored log display, and ensuring sidebar visibility across all screen resolutions. We hope these adjustments will provide a smoother, more streamlined view of your logs.

We noticed that the delete button was not functioning as expected in some instances, and we have promptly fixed it. You should now be able to delete environment variables without any issues.

We fixed some glitches affecting the expand and collapse functionalities. Now, they should work seamlessly, providing a better user experience when navigating through the platform.

To facilitate direct communication with our team, we've added a support chat feature. You can now talk directly with a Back4App engineer and get instant help for your queries.

We've added a back button on the App screen to enhance navigation. This should make it easier to move back and forth between screens and access the information you need.

To optimize the loading times of GitHub repos and improve the overall performance of our platform, we've implemented a lazy loading effect. This means that data will load as and when it's needed, reducing unnecessary load times.

We've made some tweaks to the platform's UX writing to make it more intuitive and user-friendly.

We've improved the logic behind deployment cancellation to make it more efficient and reliable. This should lead to fewer deployment issues and a smoother deployment process overall.

We're thrilled to announce the release of Containers Docs! This is a comprehensive resource with detailed guides on how our platform works. Whether you're looking to answer common questions, troubleshoot your application deployment, or simply get a better understanding of the platform, Containers Docs is your go-to resource​.