How to Deploy Node js (Nest js) App to Bluehost?

Are you tired of dealing with the complexity of deploying your Nest js application to a hosting platform? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll take you by the hand and walk you through the process of deploying your Node js (Nest js) app to Bluehost, a popular web hosting service. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to confidently deploy your application and share it with the world.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the deployment process, make sure you have the following requirements checked:

• A Bluehost account (sign up if you haven’t already!)
• A Nest js application set up on your local machine (if you’re new to Nest js, check out their official documentation)
• Familiarity with the command line interface (CLI)
• A text editor or IDE of your choice

Step 1: Prepare Your Application for Deployment

To prepare your application for deployment, you’ll need to make a few changes to your Nest js project. Open your project in your preferred text editor or IDE and follow these steps:

1.1 Create a Production Environment File

In your project root directory, create a new file named `environment.prod.ts` and add the following code:

export const environment = {
  production: true,
  API_URL: 'https://yourdomain.com/api',
};

This file will contain environment-specific variables for your production environment.

1.2 Update Your `main.ts` File

In your `main.ts` file, update the environment import statement to use the production environment file:

import { environment } from './environments/environment.prod';

This ensures that your application uses the production environment variables.

Step 2: Create a Bundle for Deployment

To create a bundle for deployment, you’ll need to use a tool like Webpack or Rollup. For this example, we’ll use Webpack. Install Webpack and its CLI by running the following command in your terminal:

npm install webpack webpack-cli --save-dev

Next, create a new file named `webpack.config.js` in your project root directory and add the following code:

module.exports = {
  target: 'node',
  entry: './src/main.ts',
  output: {
    path: './dist',
    filename: 'server.js',
  },
  module: {
    rules: [
      {
        test: /\.ts$/,
        use: 'ts-loader',
        exclude: /node_modules/,
      },
    ],
  },
  resolve: {
    extensions: ['.ts', '.js'],
  },
};

This configuration tells Webpack to compile your TypeScript code and output a bundled JavaScript file in the `dist` directory.

Step 3: Build and Compile Your Application

To build and compile your application, run the following command in your terminal:

npx webpack

This command will compile your application and create a `dist` directory containing the bundled JavaScript file.

Step 4: Create a tarball of Your Application

To create a tarball of your application, run the following command in your terminal:

tar -czf nest-app.tar.gz dist

This command creates a compressed tarball of your application in the `dist` directory.

Step 5: Upload Your Application to Bluehost

Step 6: Extract and Configure Your Application

Once the upload is complete, extract the tarball by navigating to the File Manager and clicking on the `nest-app.tar.gz` file. This will extract the contents of the tarball to a new directory named `nest-app`.

Create a new file named `package.json` in the `nest-app` directory and add the following code:

{
  "name": "nest-app",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node server.js"
  }
}

This file is required for Bluehost to recognize your application as a Node.js application.

Step 7: Configure Your Bluehost Account

Navigate to the Bluehost control panel and click on the “Node.js” section. Click on the “Setup Node.js” button and select the “nest-app” directory as the Node.js application root.

Next, click on the “Settings” button and update the “Node.js Version” to the version you’re using (e.g., 14.17.0). Save your changes.

Step 8: Start Your Application

Click on the “Start Node.js” button to start your application. If everything is set up correctly, you should see a success message indicating that your application is running.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully deployed your Node js (Nest js) app to Bluehost. You can now access your application by visiting your domain name in a web browser. Remember to update your environment variables and configuration files as needed for your production environment.

Step	Description
1	Prepare your application for deployment
2	Create a bundle for deployment using Webpack
3	Build and compile your application
4	Create a tarball of your application
5	Upload your application to Bluehost
6	Extract and configure your application
7	Configure your Bluehost account
8	Start your application

By following these steps, you should be able to deploy your Node js (Nest js) app to Bluehost with confidence. If you encounter any issues, be sure to check the Bluehost documentation and Nest js official documentation for troubleshooting guidance.

Here are 5 FAQs on “How to Deploy Node js (Nest js) App to Bluehost”:

Frequently Asked Question

Getting ready to take your Nest JS app live? Bluehost is a fantastic choice for hosting, but deploying your app can be a bit tricky. Worry not, friend! We’ve got you covered with these frequently asked questions.