Web App Hosting: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are a lot of different things to be done to streamline the endless processes from development to launch and continued operations. It all starts with web app hosting. Web application hosting ultimately enables you to speed up time to market, while our experts take care of your entire infrastructure. Find out how to start the process and choose the right provider for your projects.

What is web application hosting?

When choosing web app hosting, providers offer servers and related services to customers to deploy and maintain their web applications. These services include data storage, security, database management, cloud management, and support for various programming languages and frameworks.

Web application hosting ensures that applications are accessible to users, which provides a seamless and reliable user experience. Options range from shared hosting, where resources are shared among multiple clients, to dedicated hosting, where a server is exclusively used by one client, as well as cloud hosting, which offers scalable resources based on demand.

Set up your web app hosting in simple steps

The following steps will help you make a sound decision based on your web app hosting requirements.

Make a list of your requirements

To set up the best web app hosting for your needs, consider factors such as pricing, performance, scalability, support, security, and ease of use when making your decision. Further, look at options such as shared, VPS, dedicated, or cloud hosting.

Compare and choose the best web application hosting providers

Once you know your requirements, start comparing hosting providers. Dedicated hosting providers offer scalable resources and robust security, but may have higher costs. Shared hosting options are more affordable but may lack advanced features and performance.

Prepare for deployment

To prepare for deployment, ensure your web application is thoroughly tested for bugs and performance issues. Set up a version control system like Git, and configure your server environment to match your development environment. Obtain necessary credentials and access permissions. Create a deployment script or use a CI/CD tool to automate the process. 

Deploy your web app

Deploying your web app involves moving it from a development environment to a production environment. This is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but depends on your specific needs:

• Recreate Deployment: Stops the old version and deploys the new version all at once. Simple but has downtime.

• Rolling Deployment: Gradually replaces old instances with new ones. Reduces downtime but can be slower.

• Blue/Green Deployment: Maintains two environments (blue and green) and switches traffic to the new environment once it's ready. Ensures zero downtime.

• Canary Deployment: Releases the new version to a small subset of users before a full rollout. Mitigates risk by testing with real users.

• Shadow Deployment: Routes a copy of live traffic to the new version without impacting the production environment. Useful for testing performance.

• Immutable Deployment: Deploys new instances and then redirects traffic, ensuring no changes are made to the existing instances. Enhances stability and rollback capability.

Testing and debugging

Testing and debugging are crucial steps in the development process to ensure your web application functions correctly and efficiently. Begin with unit tests to check individual components, followed by integration tests to verify combined parts. End-to-end tests simulate real user scenarios, while automated testing tools ensure consistency and efficiency. At last, regularly perform load testing to ensure the application can handle expected traffic. For comprehensive security, consider implementing web application security testing.

Launch your app

To launch your app, finalize all pre-launch preparations, including thorough testing, debugging, and configuring your hosting environment. Ensure that all deployment scripts are ready and that any necessary monitoring tools are in place. Promote your launch through marketing channels and notify your user base. After the launch, gather user feedback, monitor system health, and make any necessary adjustments to ensure a smooth and successful release.

Post-launch maintenance and updates

Stay responsive to user needs and make necessary adjustments to enhance functionality and user experience. This includes monitoring performance metrics and user feedback to identify and address issues. Patches and updates ensure that your app remains secure and compliant, while regular maintenance helps sustain app reliability and user satisfaction over time.

Wrapping up

The last step involves finalizing all aspects of a project. This includes reviewing deliverables and ensuring that all requirements are met. It's essential to document any lessons learned and gather feedback for future improvements. Celebrating achievements and acknowledging team efforts can also contribute to a positive conclusion. Lastly, ensure all administrative tasks are completed.

Why choose Divio as your web application hosting provider?

Choosing Divio as your web application hosting provider offers a strategic advantage for developers and businesses alike. With a comprehensive deployment workflow, Divio simplifies transitions from development to production environments.

Divio specializes in hosting dockerized applications, providing a flexible and scalable environment that adapts to varying workloads and demands. Integrated development tools streamline the creation, testing, and deployment of web applications, which can reduce time-to-market.

Divio also offers cloud migration services, helping you transition your existing applications to a cloud environment with minimal disruption. Additionally, Divio's web app mirroring feature allows you to apply changes to a single code base and update all versions of your application with a single click. While these applications share the same code base, they are distinct instances and not simply replicas of each other.

Find out how to deploy your application to Divio.

Host your web app with Divio

Host your web app with Divio and experience seamless deployment, reliable performance, and 24/7 support. Whether you're launching a new project or scaling your business, Divio's features, such as dockerized hosting, integrated tools, and dedicated services, ensure your application runs smoothly.

Start optimizing your development workflow and achieving greater efficiency today.