Vercel and Netlify deployment in Svelte - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Deploying a Svelte App on Vercel and Netlify

📖 Scenario: You have created a simple Svelte app that shows a welcome message. Now you want to share it with friends by putting it online using popular hosting services Vercel and Netlify.This project will guide you step-by-step to prepare your Svelte app and deploy it on both Vercel and Netlify.

🎯 Goal: Build a basic Svelte app and deploy it successfully on Vercel and Netlify so anyone can visit your app's website.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a basic Svelte app with a welcome message

Add a configuration file for deployment

Build the app for production

Deploy the app on Vercel and Netlify using their configuration

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Deploying web apps online is essential to share your work with others. Vercel and Netlify are popular platforms that make deployment easy and fast.

💼 Career

Knowing how to deploy apps on Vercel and Netlify is valuable for frontend developers and web engineers to deliver projects to clients and users.

1

Create a basic Svelte app

Create a file called App.svelte with a <h1> tag that contains the text Welcome to My Svelte App.

Svelte

Welcome to My Svelte App

Hint

Use a simple <h1> tag inside App.svelte to show the welcome message.

2

Add deployment configuration

Create a file called vercel.json with the content {"builds": [{"src": "package.json", "use": "@vercel/static-build"}], "routes": [{"src": "/(.*)", "dest": "/index.html"}]} to configure Vercel deployment.

Svelte

  // No script needed for this step


Welcome to My Svelte App

// Create vercel.json with deployment settings
// Your code here

Hint

This JSON file tells Vercel how to build and serve your app. Make sure to include package.json as the source and route all requests to index.html.

3

Build the Svelte app for production

Add a script in package.json called build with the value vite build to prepare your app for deployment.

Svelte

{
  "scripts": {
    // Add build script here
    // Your code here
  }
}

Hint

The build script runs Vite to create optimized files for deployment.

4

Add Netlify configuration file

Create a file called netlify.toml with the content [build] publish = "dist" command = "npm run build" to configure Netlify deployment.

Svelte

[build]
# Add publish directory and build command
# Your code here

Hint

This file tells Netlify where to find the built files and how to build your app.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using Vercel or Netlify with a Svelte app?

easy

A. To write Svelte code faster using special editors

B. To easily deploy and host the app online with automatic updates

C. To convert Svelte code into plain HTML manually

D. To debug Svelte apps without running them

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand deployment platforms

   Vercel and Netlify are services that host web apps and update them automatically when code changes.

2. Step 2: Connect with Svelte app workflow

   They connect to your Git repo, build your Svelte app, and publish it online without manual steps.

3. Final Answer:

   To easily deploy and host the app online with automatic updates -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Deployment = Easy hosting and updates [OK]

Hint: Think: Vercel/Netlify = online hosting + auto updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing deployment with coding or debugging tools
• Thinking they convert code manually
• Assuming they only help with writing code

2. Which of the following is the correct step to deploy a Svelte app on Netlify?

easy

A. Set build command to 'npm run start' and publish directory to 'public'

B. Upload your Svelte files manually without any build settings

C. Connect Git repo and set build command to 'npm run build' with publish directory 'public/build'

D. Connect your Git repository, set build command to 'npm run build', and publish directory to 'build'

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Netlify build settings for Svelte

   Netlify needs the build command 'npm run build' to compile the app and the publish directory where the built files are stored.

2. Step 2: Know Svelte's default build output

   Svelte outputs built files in 'public/build', so this should be the publish directory.

3. Final Answer:

   Connect Git repo and set build command to 'npm run build' with publish directory 'public/build' -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Netlify build = 'npm run build' + 'public/build' [OK]

Hint: Remember: build command builds, publish points to output folder [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'npm run start' instead of 'npm run build'
• Setting publish directory to 'build' instead of 'public/build'
• Uploading files manually without build

3. Given this Vercel deployment setting for a Svelte app:
Build Command: npm run build
Output Directory: build
What will happen when you push new code to Git?

medium

A. Vercel will build the app and deploy files from the 'build' folder

B. Vercel will fail because the output directory should be 'public/build'

C. Vercel will deploy the app but with old code only

D. Vercel will skip build and deploy source files directly

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Vercel build and output settings

   Vercel runs the build command to create production files, then deploys from the specified output directory.

2. Step 2: Check if 'build' is valid output directory

   In many Svelte setups, the build output is in 'build' or 'public/build'. If 'build' is correct, deployment succeeds.

3. Final Answer:

   Vercel will build the app and deploy files from the 'build' folder -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Build + correct output folder = successful deploy [OK]

Hint: Build command + correct output folder = deploy success [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming output directory must be 'public/build' always
• Thinking Vercel deploys source files without build
• Confusing build failure with deployment failure

4. You deployed a Svelte app on Netlify but the site shows a 404 error after deployment. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The build command is set to 'npm run start' instead of 'npm run build'

B. The Git repository is empty and has no code

C. You forgot to connect your Git repo to Netlify

D. The publish directory is set incorrectly, so Netlify can't find the built files

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze 404 error cause on Netlify

   A 404 after deployment usually means Netlify can't find the files to serve, often due to wrong publish directory.

2. Step 2: Check common misconfigurations

   If the publish directory is wrong, Netlify deploys an empty or wrong folder, causing 404 errors.

3. Final Answer:

   The publish directory is set incorrectly, so Netlify can't find the built files -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   404 on deploy = wrong publish directory [OK]

Hint: 404 after deploy? Check publish directory first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming empty Git repo causes 404 (usually build fails first)
• Forgetting to connect Git repo (would block deploy)
• Confusing build command with publish directory

5. You want to deploy a Svelte app on Vercel with these requirements:
- Use GitHub repo
- Automatically rebuild on push
- Serve from 'public' folder
Which setup is correct?

hard

A. Connect GitHub repo, set build command 'npm run build', output directory 'public'

B. Connect GitHub repo, set build command 'npm run dev', output directory 'public/build'

C. Connect GitHub repo, set build command 'npm run build', output directory 'public/build'

D. Connect GitHub repo, no build command, output directory 'public'

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Vercel deployment with GitHub

   Connecting GitHub repo enables automatic rebuilds on push. The build command must create production files.

2. Step 2: Identify correct build command and output folder

   'npm run build' builds the app. To serve from 'public' folder as required, output directory must be 'public'.

3. Final Answer:

   Connect GitHub repo, set build command 'npm run build', output directory 'public' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   GitHub + build + 'public' output folder = proper deploy [OK]

Hint: Build with 'npm run build' and output 'public' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'npm run dev' which is for local development
• Setting output directory to 'public/build' instead of 'public'
• Skipping build command causing no production files