Do not leave deployment decisions until the code feels finished. Deployment is part of the product surface.
Decide where the app will run
Pick the runtime target before release work starts in earnest. That could be a container host, Kubernetes environment, or the same platform you already use for internal apps.
Make these items explicit
Before deployment, confirm:
- runtime environment variables and secrets
- database and external service connections
- health or readiness checks
- backup and restore expectations
- who owns the release and rollback decision
Keep the first release small
The smaller the first workflow replacement, the easier it is to deploy safely and learn from real usage.
When the release checklist is clear, continue with Deploy your app.