Deployment Plan

Deploying a Python/Flask project on AWS involves several key steps:

  1. Set Up an AWS EC2 Instance
    • Choose an appropriate instance type (e.g., t2.micro for free-tier users).
    • Configure security groups to allow HTTP, HTTPS, and SSH access.
  2. Install Dependencies
    • Install Python, Flask, and necessary libraries.
    • Set up a virtual environment and install project dependencies using pip install -r requirements.txt.
  3. Configure Web Server
    • Use NGINX to serve the Flask app.
    • Set up Gunicorn as the WSGI server to handle requests.
  4. Set Up a Domain Name
    • Configure a Domain Name System (DNS) using AWS Route 53.
    • Point the domain to the EC2 instance’s public IP address.
  5. Enable Security and Authentication
    • Use HTTPS with an SSL certificate (via Let’s Encrypt or AWS Certificate Manager).
    • Implement JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication for user sessions.
  6. Automate Deployment
    • Set up GitHub Actions for CI/CD.
    • Use AWS CodeDeploy or an SSH-based deployment script.
  7. Optimize Performance
    • Enable caching with AWS CloudFront or Flask caching techniques.
    • Optimize database queries with indexing.
  8. Monitor and Debug
    • Use AWS CloudWatch for monitoring logs and performance.
    • Implement logging in the Flask app for debugging.

Insights from AWS Deployment Documentation

  • AWS EC2 provides flexible compute capacity with security group management.
  • AWS Route 53 allows easy DNS configuration for custom domains.
  • Using Gunicorn + NGINX improves scalability and request handling.
  • CloudWatch helps with application monitoring, reducing downtime.

Big Idea 4: Internet Concepts & Vocab

  • HTTP & RESTful APIs:
    • HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) facilitate API communication.
    • RESTful APIs ensure structured interactions between frontend and backend.
  • Domain Name System (DNS):
    • Translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
  • Security & Authentication:
    • JWT is used for session management.
    • HTTPS encrypts transmitted data to prevent eavesdropping.
  • Performance Optimization:
    • Caching reduces redundant requests.
    • Database indexing speeds up queries.
  • Monitoring & Logging:
    • AWS CloudWatch provides real-time application insights.
    • Flask logging records errors for debugging.

Conclusion

Deploying a Flask application on AWS requires a structured approach, balancing security, scalability, and performance. By integrating AWS services like EC2, Route 53, CloudWatch, and proper CI/CD pipelines, we ensure a reliable and efficient deployment process.