Deployment: Deploying a NestJS Application

Deploying a NestJS application to a cloud platform (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) or a containerized environment (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

⬅ Previous Next ➡

Deploying NestJS to Google Cloud Platform

Introduction

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of deploying a NestJS application to Google Cloud Platform (GCP). We'll cover different deployment options and provide a step-by-step guide for each.

Understanding Google Cloud Platform Deployment Options

GCP offers several services suitable for deploying NestJS applications. Here's a brief overview:

Compute Engine: Offers virtual machines (VMs) where you have full control over the environment. Ideal for customized configurations.
App Engine: A platform-as-a-service (PaaS) environment that simplifies deployment and scaling. Good for web applications and APIs.
Kubernetes Engine (GKE): A managed Kubernetes service for containerized applications. Best for complex deployments requiring orchestration and scalability.

Deploying to Google Cloud Platform (Example)

Let's say you have a NestJS application that handles user authentication and data storage. You want to deploy it to GCP with minimal infrastructure management. App Engine is a good fit.

Scenario: A small startup needs to deploy their user management API quickly and cost-effectively. App Engine's ease of use and automatic scaling are attractive.

Why App Engine?

Simplified Deployment: App Engine handles the infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on code.
Automatic Scaling: App Engine automatically scales the application based on traffic.
Cost-Effective: Pay only for what you use.

Alternative: Why Not Compute Engine or GKE?

Compute Engine: Requires more manual configuration and management. Overkill for a simple API.
GKE: More complex to set up and maintain than App Engine. Suitable for larger, more complex applications.

Step-by-Step Guide: Deploying a NestJS Application to Google Cloud Platform (App Engine)

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

A Google Cloud Platform (GCP) account.
The Google Cloud SDK installed and configured (gcloud CLI). Follow GCP's official instructions.
Node.js and npm or yarn installed.
A NestJS application.

Set your project ID: gcloud config set project YOUR_PROJECT_ID

Step 2: Prepare your NestJS Application

Ensure your NestJS application is ready for production. This typically involves:

Setting the NODE_ENV environment variable to production.
Building your application for production.

npm run build # or yarn build

Step 3: Create an app.yaml File

App Engine uses an app.yaml file to configure the deployment. Create a file named app.yaml in the root directory of your NestJS application.

runtime: nodejs18  # or your desired Node.js version
service: default

instance_class: F1

handlers:
  - url: /.*
    script: dist/main.js
    secure: always

env_variables:
  NODE_ENV: production
  # Add other environment variables here

Explanation:

runtime: Specifies the Node.js runtime environment.
service: Defines the service name.
instance_class: Sets the instance size for the App Engine instances. F1 is a cost-effective option for smaller applications.
handlers: Defines how App Engine handles incoming requests. In this case, all requests are routed to dist/main.js (the entry point of your built NestJS application).
secure: always: Ensures that all requests are served over HTTPS.
env_variables: Sets environment variables for your application.

Step 4: Modify main.ts for App Engine

App Engine might require specific port configurations. Modify your main.ts (or the entry point of your application) to listen on the port provided by the PORT environment variable.

import { NestFactory } from '@nestjs/core';
import { AppModule } from './app.module';

async function bootstrap() {
  const app = await NestFactory.create(AppModule);
  const port = process.env.PORT || 3000; // Use the PORT environment variable if available
  await app.listen(port);
  console.log(`Application is running on: ${await app.getUrl()}`);
}
bootstrap();

Step 5: Deploy to App Engine

Navigate to the root directory of your NestJS application in your terminal and run the following command:

gcloud app deploy

The command will prompt you to select a region. Choose a region that is closest to your users for optimal performance. It might also ask you to enable the App Engine API if this is your first time deploying.

Step 6: Test Your Deployment

Once the deployment is complete, App Engine will provide a URL for your application. Open the URL in your browser to test your deployment.

You can also view logs and monitor your application in the Google Cloud Console.

Step 7: Custom Domains and SSL Certificates (Optional)

If you want to use a custom domain, you can configure it in the Google Cloud Console. App Engine automatically provisions and manages SSL certificates for your custom domains.

Advanced Configurations

This guide provides a basic deployment using App Engine. For more advanced configurations, consider:

Using environment variables for sensitive data: Store API keys, database credentials, and other sensitive data in environment variables instead of hardcoding them in your application.
Setting up a CI/CD pipeline: Automate the deployment process using a CI/CD tool like Cloud Build or Jenkins.
Using a database: Connect your NestJS application to a database service like Cloud SQL or Cloud Datastore.
Load Balancing and Autoscaling: Configure load balancing and autoscaling to handle varying traffic levels.

⬅ Previous Next ➡