Deploying a Node App on Render — My Notes

Published on May 12, 2025

After trying out different platforms for deploying backend applications, I recently gave Render a try. It turned out to be one of the smoothest deployment experiences I’ve had so far. Here’s a breakdown of the process and a few quick notes I wish I had known earlier.

🧱 Step 1: Setup Your Node App

Make sure your app is ready to go:

• Use express or your preferred framework
• Have an index.js or server.js file
• Include a proper start script in your package.json

{
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node index.js"
  }
}

🌐 Step 2: Push Code to GitHub

Render uses your GitHub repo as the source of truth. Make sure your code is pushed and updated in a public or private repo.

🚀 Step 3: Deploy on Render

1. Go to Render.com
2. Click “New +” → “Web Service”
3. Connect your GitHub repo
4. Select:
   • Environment: Node
   • Build Command: npm install
   • Start Command: npm start
   • Port: (Render auto-detects it from process.env.PORT)

🔍 Final Touch

Once the deployment is complete, you’ll get a live link like:

https://your-app-name.onrender.com

And just like that, your backend is live!

📝 Notes to Remember

• Don’t forget to use process.env.PORT in your code
• You can set environment variables easily in Render’s dashboard
• Free plan works great for testing and prototypes

If you’re new to backend deployment, Render is definitely worth trying out — especially for Node.js projects. I hope these quick notes save you a few Google searches!