Unlock the Power of Netlify: A Beginner’s Guide to Deploying React Apps
What is Netlify?
Netlify is a game-changer for developers, offering a lightning-fast way to build and deploy amazing sites. With its user-friendly interface and impressive features, it’s no wonder Netlify has won the hearts of many developers.
Netlify Features
So, what makes Netlify so special? Here are just a few of its standout features:
- Easy-to-use UI
- Fast deployment within seconds
- Rolling updates with no downtime
- Rollbacks to previous working versions
- Continuous integration and continuous deployment from version control
- Instant forms for collecting user data
- Functions for serverless operations
Preparing Your React App for Deployment
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of deploying your React app, let’s cover some essential steps that apply to all deployment methods.
Creating a React App
To get started, we’ll use the Create React App library to create a new app called test-netlify-deployment. Run the following command in your terminal:
npx create-react-app test-netlify-deployment
This command installs all the necessary packages and creates a simple React application with some static files.
Create a Build Directory
Next, we’ll create a production-ready build folder by running the following command:
npm run build
This command generates a build folder that contains a minified version of your entire application.
Version Control with GitHub
For this tutorial, we’ll use GitHub as our version control system. Create a new GitHub repository and push your React app to it.
Deploying React Apps with Netlify UI
If you prefer a manual approach, Netlify UI is the way to go.
Connect Netlify Account with GitHub Account
Log in to your Netlify account and authorize it to access your GitHub repositories.
Build Options and Deploy
Select the repository where your React application is hosted, choose the deployment branch, and specify the basic build settings required to deploy the site.
Configuring Site Domain
Once you’ve deployed your site, you can configure a proper domain to serve your application.
Netlify Drag and Drop
The Netlify drag and drop feature is perfect for fast deployments.
Log in to Your Netlify Account
Log in to your Netlify account and connect it to your GitHub account.
Drag and Drop
Drag your build folder into the online app feature, and Netlify will handle the deployment for you.
Configuring Site Domain
Follow the same steps as configuring the site domain in the Netlify UI method.
Deploying React with Netlify CLI
If you’re comfortable with the command line, Netlify CLI is the way to go.
Install Netlify CLI
Run the following command to install Netlify CLI:
npm install -g netlify-cli
Authorize CLI
Authorize your Netlify CLI against your Netlify account by running the following command:
netlify login
Deploy Application
Run the following command to deploy your application:
netlify deploy
Follow the prompts to configure your site details and deploy path.
Get Started with LogRocket
Ready to take your React app to the next level? Try LogRocket’s modern React error tracking in minutes. Sign up now and get an app ID!