How to Configure Azure Web App for Custom npm Scripts Like npm run serve

Описание: Learn how to deploy your Node/Express app on Azure Web Apps using Github Actions, while utilizing custom `npm` scripts.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/65872084/ asked by the user 'jonhobbs' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/56007/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/65872170/ provided by the user 'jonhobbs' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/56007/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Deploying Your Node/Express App to Azure Web Apps with Custom npm Scripts

Deploying web applications can often bring about various challenges, especially when it comes to configuring the proper commands that need to be executed for the app to run effectively on a platform like Azure Web Apps. One common query that developers encounter is how to manage npm scripts when the default command doesn’t align with their project specifications.

In this guide, we will explore how to configure Azure Web Apps to run your application using a custom npm script, specifically if your app is set to run via npm run serve instead of the default npm run start.

Understanding the Problem

When deploying a Node/Express application to Azure Web Apps, the platform expects the application to run using the command npm run start by default. However, if your application is designed around a specific starter kit that uses npm run serve, Azure will not automatically know how to start your application. This can create a deployment hindrance, leaving the app unable to start as expected.

Solution: Pointing start to Your Custom Script

Fortunately, there is a straightforward workaround to this issue. By modifying your package.json, you can point the default start script to your custom serve command. Here’s how you can do it:

Step-by-Step Guide

Open Your package.json File: This file is typically found at the root of your project and contains various settings for your Node application.

Locate the Scripts Section: Within the package.json, you will find a section labeled "scripts" which defines different npm commands for your application.

Modify the Start Script: Change the start script to point to your serve script. Your "scripts" section should look something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Replace your-current-serve-command with the command you typically use to run your app (e.g., node app.js, or similar).

Commit Your Changes: Ensure that you commit the changes made in package.json if you are using version control such as Git.

Deploy to Azure: Once your changes are committed, you can proceed with deploying your app using GitHub Actions or any other CI/CD pipeline.

Why This Works

By redirecting the start script to the serve script, you're essentially telling Azure to execute the serve command whenever it attempts to start your application. This is a clever trick that leverages the flexibility of npm scripts while maintaining compatibility with Azure's deployment requirements.

Conclusion

Deploying a Node/Express app to Azure Web Apps does not have to be a complicated task, especially when you encounter differences in default script commands. By simply pointing the default start command to your custom serve command in your package.json, you can seamlessly launch your application in the Azure environment.

If you find yourself facing deployment challenges, remember that there's often a simple solution available—just like the one provided here. Happy coding and successful deployments!