Deploying a full-stack application for production doesn’t have to be complicated — especially if you follow a structured setup. For azan.lk, a Laravel + React project backed by MySQL, I built a fully optimized, secure deploymenton Ubuntu 24.04, running on a DigitalOcean Droplet.
This post is a quick overview of what the major components you’ll handle.
⚙️ What This Covers
This deployment walkthrough is designed for modern full-stack apps and covers the full stack you’d expect in real production:
- Laravel backend (PHP 8.4, FPM, Composer)
- React frontend (bundled via Vite)
- MySQL database (hardened & configured)
- Nginx production server
- Node.js + NPM via NVM
- Git + SSH for secure deployments
- Environment setup, permissions, and optimizations
If you’re deploying a portfolio, client project, SaaS, or API backend, this setup gives you a fast, stable, security-conscious structure.
Before Deployment: Essential Prerequisites
Make sure your droplet is secure and ready for production.
I recommend completing these two guides first:
1. Server Hardening (Must Do Before Anything)
Fortify Your DigitalOcean Droplet: A Step-by-Step Security Guide for Ubuntu 24.04
A complete walkthrough covering non-root users, SSH keys, firewall, Fail2Ban, and more.
2. Enable HTTPS (Required for Live Apps)
Fortify Your Droplet: Unlock Free HTTPS with Let’s Encrypt SSL
Includes DNS setup, Nginx configs, SSL installation, and auto-renewal.
Once both are done, your droplet is safe to host real traffic — and ready for deployment.
✨ What You’ll Accomplish
- Install PHP 8.4 with all required extensions for production
- Set up Composer safely using the official installer
- Configure MySQL with proper users, permissions, and best practices
- Install Node.js via NVM for frontend builds
- Set up Git SSH keys for secure repository access
- Configure application permissions for Laravel
- Build and optimize your frontend assets for production
- Set up Nginx with proper routing, headers, and FPM integration
- Run database migrations and seeders
- Troubleshoot common deployment issues like PHP errors, permissions, or SSH problems
Every step — with commands, configs, and explanations — is included in the full guide on Hashnode.
Read the Full, Detailed Guide
The complete command-by-command walkthrough — including explanations, and best practices — is available on my blog.
Read the full article here:
Streamlined App Deployment: Launch Your First Web App on Ubuntu 24.04 with DigitalOcean
The post includes every command, config file, and optimization used in the real-world deployment of azan.lk.
Why This Guide Matters
Most deployment tutorials are outdated, incomplete, or skip critical production details.
This guide focuses on:
- Security (SSL, firewall, SSH hardening)
- Performance (PHP-FPM tuning, Vite builds)
- Stability (MySQL, permissions, proper Nginx configs)
- Developer workflow (Git SSH, easy updates, reliable builds)
Ideal for developers deploying real-world projects into production.
Final Thoughts
A reliable deployment is more than just “upload code and run”:
it’s a combination of security, performance, and correct configuration.