Deploying FastStartup to Production

Deploying your application is simple and takes just a few steps. This guide will walk you through deploying FastStartup to Vercel, setting up environment variables, and connecting your custom domain.

Step 1: Deploy to Vercel

FastStartup is built on Next.js, which integrates seamlessly with Vercel. Follow these steps to deploy:

  1. Sign up or log in to Vercel:

    • If you don’t already have an account, head to vercel.com and create one.

  2. Import your FastStartup project:

    • Go to your Vercel dashboard and click New Project.
    • Import your FastStartup repository from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.

  3. Configure your project settings:

    • Ensure your root directory is selected if prompted.

  4. Deploy:

    • Click Deploy and wait for Vercel to build and deploy your application. It typically takes a few minutes.

Your app will now be live at a default Vercel subdomain (e.g., https://your-project-name.vercel.app).

Step 2: Set Up Environment Variables

FastStartup relies on specific environment variables to function correctly. To configure them:

  1. Review the example file:

    • Check the .env.example file in your FastStartup repository. It lists all the required environment variables.
    • Alternatively, refer to the environment variables documentation for detailed explanations.

  2. Add variables to Vercel:

    • Go to your project in the Vercel dashboard.
    • Navigate to the Settings tab and select Environment Variables.
    • Add each variable listed in .env.example, ensuring you provide the correct values for production.

  3. Redeploy your app:

    • Once the environment variables are set, trigger a redeployment to apply the changes.

Step 3: Connect Your Custom Domain

Custom domains make your SaaS project look professional. Here's how to connect one:

  1. Purchase a domain (if you don’t have one):

  2. Add the domain to Vercel:

    • Go to the Domains tab in your project settings on Vercel.
    • Enter your custom domain and follow the prompts.

  3. Update DNS settings:

    • Vercel will provide DNS records that you need to add to your domain registrar.
    • Wait for the changes to propagate (usually a few minutes to a few hours).

Once the domain is connected, your app will be live at your custom URL!

You’re Good to Go 🚀

That’s it! Your FastStartup SaaS project is now deployed and ready to serve users.

If you run into issues, Vercel’s deployment guide and FastStartup’s support resources can help you troubleshoot.