Automating the web app deployment process can be a great idea. Automation is more than just making your life easier. Automating routine tasks can also eliminate mistakes.
Azure App Services is a great utility for automating the building and scaling of backend infrastructure such as REST API services. Only one thing you will need to do is deploy your codebase to Azure App Service. Let’s now discuss how to move your web application from your development environment into production in Azure.
What is Azure App Service?
Azure App Service is a managed platform that hosts web apps, REST APIs and mobile backends. Microsoft designed Azure App Service with Continuous Deployment and DevOps in Mind. Azure App Service automates security, load balancing and scaling. Azure App Service is a great option for hosting applications that are developed quickly or with small development teams.
How to deploy code to Azure App Service
Azure App Services’s simplicity in deploying code to it is one of its greatest assets. There are four options available for deploying code to Azure App Services accounts:
Developing Azure App Service Web Apps and Mobile Apps, APIs and FunctionsRelated Training from SPOTO
Start trainingVisual Studio Web Deploy
FTP
Kudu
Source Control – CI/CD
Let’s take a look at each option.
Visual Studio Web Deploy – How to Transfer Apps to an Azure App Service Account
Visual Studio makes it easy to push code to Azure App Service. These instructions are for Visual Studio full version only. Follow the below instructions to publish your codebase on Azure App Services.
Right-click the Solution name in the project browser window. Next, choose Publish from this pop-out menu.
You will need to follow multiple steps through the wizard to get to the pop-out menu. For the remainder of these steps, we assume you have an Azure App Service account already created and configured. Select the ‘Select existing’ option.
Next, the wizard will allow you to modify the Azure account with which you are currently logged in. You can also change your subscription level, resource group, or pre-configured Azure App. First, ensure that you are logged into Azure with the correct email address. Visual Studio will then pull your current subscription type, resource group and other information. These settings will not be needed by most people. Next, choose your app from the Azure App Selection List. Finally, click OK.
That’s it! Visual Studio will then push your app to Azure App Service. Azure App Service will package and deploy your web application automatically.
How can I transfer my app from my Azure App Service account using FTP?
If you have ever used FTP to transfer files, you should be able to deploy your code to Azure App Service using FTP. You will need to create an FTP user account in Azure App Services first.
Log in to Azure Web Dashboard to access your Azure App Services portal. Next, select the app you wish to configure.
You will notice that Azure lists your FTP hostname as well as username on the left-hand panel.
Notice that the FTP username is not yet set up. Before we can transfer our app to Azure App Services, we need to create an FTP username. Let’s get started.
Click on Deployment Centre in the left-hand navigation in the Azure Web portal.
The Deployment Centre screen will list various deployment options such as OneDrive, Git etc …. FTP should appear at the bottom. Select the FTP option.
The default password screen for FTP accounts will be the App Credentials tab. For now, you can ignore the settings of the App Credentials Tab and choose User Credentials. Next, enter your FTP username/password in the form and click the Save Credent button.
