Run a VueJS Container App
Back4App Containers is a powerful platform for hosting Vue.js applications. With its ability to automatically deploy Dockerized Vue.js apps, you can launch your project in a scalable and flexible environment with ease.
In this guide, we will walk you through the process of preparing and deploying your Vue.js application on Back4App Containers, covering everything from simple projects to more complex setups. We will begin with the necessary preparations, then move on to dockerizing the application, testing it locally, pushing the project to GitHub, setting up the project on Back4App Containers, monitoring deployment, and troubleshooting common issues.
At any time, if you want to check a sample working Vue.js project on Back4app containers, go to: https://github.com/templates-back4app/containers-vuejs-sample
a. Project Structure: Verify that your Vue.js application follows a proper directory structure, with all necessary files and folders, such as src, public, components, and assets, organized appropriately. The main entry point for your application should be the src/main.js file.
b. Dependencies: Check if all required dependencies are listed in the package.json file, including their correct versions. Ensure that you have installed all dependencies using npm install or yarn install to generate a package-lock.json or yarn.lock file.
c. Build Process: For more complex projects that involve a build process, ensure that your build scripts and configurations (e.g., Webpack or Vue CLI) are properly set up. You should be able to run the build process locally without any issues.
d. Environment Variables: If your application relies on environment variables, ensure that you have a .env file with the necessary variables defined. When deploying to Back4App Containers, you will need to configure these environment variables in the deployment settings.
e. Server Setup (if applicable): If your Vue.js application includes a custom server (e.g., Express), make sure it is correctly set up and configured to serve your Vue.js application. Test your server locally to ensure it works as expected.
f. Application Optimization: Optimize your Vue.js application by minimizing bundle sizes, using code-splitting, and implementing performance best practices. Use tools like Lighthouse to audit your application and address any performance or accessibility issues.
g. Cross-Browser Compatibility: Test your application across multiple browsers and devices to ensure proper rendering and functionality.
Once you have thoroughly reviewed and prepared your Vue.js application, you can proceed to the next step, which is creating a Dockerfile for your project.
Dockerizing a Vue.js application involves creating a Dockerfile in the root directory of your project. The Dockerfile contains instructions to build a Docker image of your application, which can then be deployed to Back4App Containers. Here's a detailed explanation of how to create a Dockerfile for a regular Vue.js application:
Before deploying your Vue.js application on Back4App Containers, it's important to test it locally using Docker. This helps ensure that your application runs as expected and helps you identify and fix any issues before deployment.
In your terminal, navigate to your project's root directory and run the following command, replacing your-app-name with the name of your application:
docker build -t your-app-name .
Next, run the following command to start the Docker container locally. This command maps the container's exposed port (e.g., 80) to a port on your local machine (e.g., 8080):
docker run -p 8080:80 your-app-name
Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080 to view your Vue.js application. Make sure everything works as expected. If you encounter any issues, address them before moving on to the next step.
Create a .gitignore file in your project's root directory to exclude unnecessary or sensitive files from your repository (e.g., node_modules, .env, dist, etc.). Initialize a Git repository, commit your project files, and push them to a remote repository (e.g., on GitHub).
After creating your Back4app account you can follow the steps listed on the Docs:
In summary containers will follow the instructions detailed on your Dockerfile and start to create your App.
Keep an eye on the deployment logs and status on the Back4App Containers dashboard. Address any errors or issues that arise during deployment during deployment. In case of more complex projects, ensure that all necessary services (such as databases or external APIs) are correctly configured and accessible.
Common deployments errors when running a Vue.js App on Back4App Containers are listed here. Other possible common errors when deploying a Vue.js Application are:
Vue.js applications should be configured to run on a specified port when deployed on Back4App Containers. If the application is still not accessible, check the Dockerfile to make sure the correct port is exposed (e.g., EXPOSE 80 for port 80).
Ensure that all required dependencies are listed in the package.json file and that their versions are compatible with each other and your application code. Missing or incompatible dependencies can lead to runtime errors.
Check if your application relies on specific environment variables or configuration files, and ensure they are correctly set up in the Back4App Containers environment. Set any necessary environment variables in your Dockerfile using the ENV command.
Unhandled exceptions or crashes in your Vue.js application code can cause deployment failures or unexpected behavior. Examine your application logs for any error messages, and address any issues in your code. Check the container logs by running docker logs your-app-name to see if there are any errors or exceptions being thrown. Use a tool like Sentry to track and monitor errors in your application.
If your Vue.js application uses server-side rendering (SSR), ensure that your SSR setup is correctly configured in your Dockerfile and that it starts your application using the right entry point.
For more complex projects that require additional resources or horizontal/vertical scaling, consider upgrading your Back4app Containers plan to handle increased traffic and load.
