1.6 Deploying Your App
Put your app online for parents and students.
Why Deploy Now
Your app works locally. That is great. But a tool that only runs on your laptop is not useful to parents and students. Deployment means putting it on the internet so anyone with the link can access your intake form.
What Deployment Looks Like
- Push your code to a Git repository (GitHub)
- Connect the repo to a hosting provider (Vercel)
- Set environment variables — your database connection string, any API keys
- Deploy — Vercel builds and hosts your app automatically
- Get your URL — something like
your-app-name.vercel.app
Step by Step
Work with your AI assistant to:
- Create a GitHub repository for your project
- Push your local code to that repository
- Sign up for Vercel (free tier is plenty)
- Import your GitHub repo into Vercel
- Add your environment variables in the Vercel dashboard
- Deploy and visit your live URL
Custom Domain (Optional)
If you want a professional URL like tutoring.yourname.com:
- Buy a domain from a registrar (Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.)
- Add it in the Vercel dashboard
- Point your domain's DNS to Vercel
This is optional. The free .vercel.app URL works fine to start.
After Deployment
- Test the live intake form — fill it out and check your database
- Test on your phone — make sure it looks right on mobile
- Share the link with a friend or family member and get feedback
- Bookmark your admin dashboard — you will use it regularly
Congratulations
You have built and deployed a real web application. It solves a real problem in your tutoring practice. In Module 2, we will make it better.
Continue to Module 2: Making It Real — iteration, costs, design, and maintenance.