Python · Advanced level

Advanced level · Module 6: Python Capstone: Deploying a Real Application · Lesson 3 of 5

Deploying a Python Application

Run the application on a hosting service with production configuration.

In this lesson you will

  • Deploy to a Python-friendly host
  • Configure environment variables and a production database

Key concepts

deploymentWSGI serverenvironment configurationlogs in production

The lesson

Deploying means running your application on a server so others can use it. Free and low-cost Python hosts run a Flask app from a Git repository, using requirements.txt to install packages.

Production is different from your laptop: use a proper WSGI server rather than the development server, set secrets as environment variables on the host and turn debug off.

After deploying, verify: run your request collection against the live URL, check the logs and note the exact version deployed.

Step by step

  1. Prepare requirements.txt and a start command.
  2. Create the app on the hosting service and connect the repository.
  3. Set environment variables for secrets.
  4. Run your request collection against the live URL.

Practice activity

Deploy your Tested Inventory API (or capstone) to a free-tier Python host and verify it with your request collection.

Expected result: A publicly reachable deployment passing the request collection.

Check your understanding

  1. Why not use Flask's development server in production?

    Show answer

    It is not designed for security, performance or reliability under real traffic.

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