Azure Hosting

<!-- Licensed by BotKelp — https://www.botkelp.com -->

# Azure Hosting Deployment Guide

This project is configured for deployment on [Microsoft Azure](https://azure.microsoft.com).

## Quick Start

1. **Sign up for Azure**: [https://azure.microsoft.com](https://azure.microsoft.com)
2. **Install Azure CLI**:
   ```bash
   curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash
   ```
   Or on macOS:
   ```bash
   brew install azure-cli
   ```
3. **Login to Azure**:
   ```bash
   az login
   ```

## Deployment Options

### Option 1: Azure Static Web Apps (Recommended for Next.js)

Azure Static Web Apps provides optimized hosting for Next.js applications with automatic deployments from GitHub.

#### Deploy to Static Web Apps

1. Go to the [Azure Portal](https://portal.azure.com)
2. Click "Create a resource" -> "Web" -> "Static Web App"
3. Configure your Static Web App:
   - **Subscription**: Select your subscription
   - **Resource Group**: Create new or select existing
   - **Name**: Your application name
   - **Hosting Plan**: Free or Standard
   - **Source**: GitHub
   - **Repository**: Select your repository
   - **Branch**: Select the branch to deploy (usually `main` or `master`)
   - **Build Preset**: Next.js
   - **App location**: Leave as `/` if your app is in the root
   - **API location**: `api` (if you have API routes)
   - **Output location**: `.next/standalone`

4. Click "Review + create" -> "Create"

#### Environment Variables

Set environment variables in the Azure Portal:

1. Go to your Static Web App
2. Navigate to "Configuration" -> "Application settings"
3. Add your variables:
   - `NODE_ENV=production`
   - `NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=https://your-app.azurestaticapps.net`
   - Any other application-specific variables

### Option 2: Azure App Service

Azure App Service provides a fully managed platform for building, deploying, and scaling web apps.

#### Deploy to App Service

```bash
# Create a new App Service
az webapp create --resource-group YourResourceGroup --plan YourAppServicePlan --name your-app-name --runtime "NODE:20-lts" --startup-file "npm start"

# Configure deployment from local
az webapp up --sku F1 --name your-app-name

# Or deploy from GitHub
az webapp deployment source config-local-git --name your-app-name
```

#### Configuration

Create a `.deployment` file for App Service:

```json
{
  "config": {
    "NODE_VERSION": "20.x",
    "NPM_FLAGS": "--production"
  }
}
```

### Option 3: Azure Container Instances (Advanced)

For more control, deploy using Docker containers.

#### Deploy to Container Instances

```bash
# Build and push your Docker image
az acr build --registry YourRegistryName --image your-image-name:latest .

# Create a container instance
az container create --resource-group YourResourceGroup --name your-container --image YourRegistryName.azurecr.io/your-image-name:latest --cpu 1 --memory 1 --ports 3000 --ip-address Public
```

## Azure Services

### Azure Database for PostgreSQL/MySQL

Add a managed database to your Azure environment:

1. Go to the [Azure Database Dashboard](https://portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_Azure_Database/DatabaseMenuBlade)
2. Click "Create" -> "Azure Database for PostgreSQL" or "Azure Database for MySQL"
3. Configure the database settings
4. Connect to your application using the provided connection string

### Azure Blob Storage

Use Blob Storage for storing static assets or user uploads:

```javascript
const { BlobServiceClient } = require('@azure/storage-blob');

const connectionString = process.env.AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING;
const blobServiceClient = BlobServiceClient.fromConnectionString(connectionString);
```

### Azure CDN

Add Azure CDN to cache your application globally:

1. Go to the [CDN Dashboard](https://portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_Azure_Cdn/CdnMenuBlade)
2. Click "Create" -> "CDN"
3. Set your origin (App Service, Static Web App, or Storage Account)
4. Configure caching and behavior settings

## Custom Domains

Add a custom domain to your Azure deployment:

### For Static Web Apps

1. Go to your Static Web App
2. Navigate to "Custom domains"
3. Click "Add custom domain"
4. Enter your domain name
5. Follow the DNS configuration instructions

### For App Service

1. Go to your App Service
2. Navigate to "Custom domains"
3. Click "Add hostname"
4. Enter your domain name
5. Follow the DNS configuration instructions

## Monitoring

Azure provides extensive monitoring:

- **Application Insights**: Application performance monitoring
- **Monitor**: Metrics, logs, and alerts
- **Health checks**: Application health monitoring

### Enable Application Insights

```bash
# Create Application Insights resource
az monitor app-insights create --resource-group YourResourceGroup --name your-app-insights --location eastus

# Link to your App Service
az monitor app-insights component link --app your-app-name --resource-group YourResourceGroup --web other --instrumentation-key YourInstrumentationKey
```

## CI/CD

### Azure DevOps

Set up continuous deployment with Azure DevOps:

1. Go to the [Azure DevOps Portal](https://dev.azure.com)
2. Create a new project
3. Set up a pipeline with a GitHub repository
4. Configure build and deploy stages

### GitHub Actions

Use GitHub Actions for CI/CD:

```yaml
name: Deploy to Azure

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '20'
      - run: npm install
      - run: npm run build
      - uses: azure/webapps-deploy@v2
        with:
          app-name: 'your-app-name'
          publish-profile: ${{ secrets.AZURE_PUBLISH_PROFILE }}
          package: '.'
```

## Troubleshooting

### Build Failures

Check the build logs in the Azure Portal for error messages.

### Runtime Errors

View application logs:

```bash
# For Static Web Apps
az staticwebapp logs list --name your-app-name --resource-group YourResourceGroup

# For App Service
az webapp log tail --name your-app-name --resource-group YourResourceGroup
```

### Database Connection Issues

Verify your database connection strings and firewall settings.

## Resources

- [Azure Documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/)
- [Azure Static Web Apps Documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/static-web-apps/)
- [Azure App Service Documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/)
- [Azure Container Instances Documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-instances/)
- [Azure Next.js Guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/static-web-apps/publish-nextjs)
- [Azure Community](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/)
- [Azure Status](https://status.azure.com)