Hey everyone! I just pushed my API to a cloud platform (similar to Heroku) and it’s up and running. But there’s a catch. The API is supposed to give a list of repos for my React Native app, but it’s empty right now. I need to run a command to fill it with data, like npm seed:run in dev mode. Anyone know how to do this in production? It’s driving me crazy! I can’t figure out how to run npm commands after the app is already live. Any tips or tricks would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!
Having dealt with post-deployment tasks myself, I can offer a few suggestions. Many cloud platforms provide a way to define post-deployment scripts in your configuration files. Check if your platform has a ‘Procfile’ or similar where you can specify commands to run after deployment.
Another option is to create an endpoint in your API that triggers the seeding process. You could then call this endpoint manually or set up a scheduled task to hit it periodically.
If those don’t work, consider containerization. Docker, for instance, allows you to define startup scripts that run when your container initializes. This could include your seeding process.
Lastly, some platforms offer CLI tools or APIs for running one-off commands. These can be useful for tasks like database migrations or, in your case, seeding data.
Remember to thoroughly test any solution in a staging environment before applying it to production.
hey tom, had similar issue. try using platform’s CLI tools. like on heroku, u can do ‘heroku run npm seed:run’. or add a startup script in ur app that checks for empty DB and seeds if needed. if those dont work, look into ur platform’s post-deploy hooks. good luck man!
I’ve encountered a similar situation before, and here’s what worked for me:
Most cloud platforms offer some form of SSH access or a web-based console. You can typically use these to run commands directly on your server after deployment.
For instance, on Heroku, you can use the Heroku CLI and run heroku run npm seed:run from your local machine. This executes the command on your deployed app.
Another approach is to incorporate the seeding process into your app’s startup routine. You could add a conditional check that runs the seeding script if a certain environment variable is set.
If these options aren’t available, you might need to look into your platform’s specific features. Some offer ‘release phase’ tasks or post-deployment hooks where you can specify commands to run after successful deployment.
Remember to be cautious when running data-altering commands in production. Always ensure you have proper backups and understand the implications of the script you’re running.