Deployment

Deploying a LiveVue app is similar to deploying a regular Phoenix app.

By default, LiveVue uses LiveVue.SSR.QuickBEAM for production SSR, which runs JavaScript inside the BEAM — no Node.js required in production.

General Requirements

1. Standard Phoenix deployment requirements
2. Build assets before deployment (requires Node.js at build time only)
3. QuickBEAM hex dependency ({:quickbeam, "~> 0.8"})

Fly.io Deployment Guide

Here's a detailed guide for deploying to Fly.io. Similar principles apply to other hosting providers.

1. Generate Dockerfile

First, generate a Phoenix release Dockerfile:

mix phx.gen.release --docker

2. Modify Dockerfile

Update the generated Dockerfile to install Node.js in the build stage only (for compiling assets):

# Build Stage
FROM hexpm/elixir:1.14.4-erlang-25.3.2-debian-bullseye-20230227-slim AS builder

# Set environment variables
...

# Install build dependencies
RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y build-essential git curl \
    && apt-get clean && rm -f /var/lib/apt/lists/*_*

# Install Node.js for building assets
RUN curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | bash - && apt-get install -y nodejs

# Copy application code
COPY . .

# Install npm dependencies
RUN npm install

...

# Production Stage — no Node.js needed!
FROM ${RUNNER_IMAGE}

RUN apt-get update -y && \
    apt-get install -y libstdc++6 openssl libncurses5 locales ca-certificates \
    && apt-get clean && rm -f /var/lib/apt/lists/*_*

...(remaining dockerfile content)...

Key points:

• Add curl to build dependencies
• Install Node.js only in the build stage for asset compilation
• No Node.js needed in the production stage — QuickBEAM handles SSR natively

3. Launch on Fly.io

1. Initialize your app:

   fly launch
   

2. Configure database when prompted:

   ? Do you want to tweak these settings before proceeding? (y/N) y
   

3. In the configuration window:

   • Choose "Fly Postgres" for database
   • Name your database
   • Consider development configuration for cost savings
   • Review other settings as needed

4. After deployment completes, open your app:

   fly apps open
   

Other Deployment Options

Heroku

For Heroku deployment:

1. Use the Phoenix buildpack
2. Add Node.js buildpack for asset compilation:

   heroku buildpacks:add --index 1 heroku/nodejs
   

Docker

If using your own Docker setup:

1. Install Node.js in the build stage for asset compilation
2. Follow standard Phoenix deployment practices
3. No Node.js needed at runtime — QuickBEAM runs SSR inside the BEAM

Custom Server

For bare metal or VM deployments:

1. Build assets on the build machine (requires Node.js)
2. Deploy the release — no Node.js needed on the production server
3. Follow standard Phoenix deployment guide

Production Checklist

• [ ] Assets built (mix assets.deploy, which also creates priv/static/server.mjs)
• [ ] SSR configured properly (see Configuration)
• [ ] LiveVue.SSR.QuickBEAM added to supervision tree
• [ ] Database configured
• [ ] Environment variables set
• [ ] SSL certificates configured (if needed)
• [ ] Production secrets generated
• [ ] Release configuration tested

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. SSR Not Working

   • Check SSR configuration (see Configuration)
   • Ensure server bundle exists in priv/static/server.mjs
   • Verify LiveVue.SSR.QuickBEAM is in your supervision tree

2. Asset Loading Issues

   • Verify assets were built
   • Check digest configuration
   • Inspect network requests

3. QuickBEAM Errors

   • Ensure {:quickbeam, "~> 0.8"} is in your dependencies
   • Verify server bundle was built correctly

Next Steps

• Review FAQ for common questions
• Join our GitHub Discussions for help
• Consider contributing to LiveVue