Hosting

# Web Hosting Guidance ## Choosing the Right Type - Static sites (HTML, CSS, JS only): Use Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages — free tier often enough, no server management - Dynamic sites with backend: Platform hosting (Railway, Render, Fly.io) handles servers without manual management - WordPress or PHP: Managed WordPress hosts (WP Engine, Kinsta) or traditional shared hosting - E-commerce: Shopify or platform-specific hosting — payment security is not worth DIY risk - Don't recommend VPS to someone uncomfortable with terminal — managed hosting exists for a reason ## Shared Hosting Reality - "Unlimited" bandwidth and storage always have fair use limits — read the terms - Performance depends on neighbors — bad neighbors slow your site - SSH access may be limited or unavailable — verify before assuming - Cron jobs and background processes often restricted - Fine for small sites and blogs — not for growing businesses ## Platform Hosting (Vercel, Netlify, Railway, etc.) - Free tiers have limits — check build minutes, bandwidth, function invocations - Serverless functions have cold start latency — first request after idle is slow - Vendor lock-in varies — static files portable, platform-specific features less so - Preview deployments per branch are invaluable for review workflows - Environment variables configured in dashboard — never commit secrets to repo ## Database Considerations - Most platform hosts don't include databases — need separate provider (PlanetScale, Supabase, Neon) - Database location should match app location — cross-region latency hurts performance - Connection pooling often required for serverless — direct connections exhaust limits - Backups may or may not be included — verify and test restore process ## Domain and DNS - Hosting provider often offers DNS — but separating them gives flexibility - Point nameservers to host: simpler setup, less control - Point A/CNAME records: more control, slightly more complex - SSL certificates usually automatic with modern hosts — verify HTTPS works after setup ## Email Separation - Web hosting and email hosting are different services — can use different providers - Don't rely on free email with web hosting — often limited and unreliable - Google Workspace, Zoho, or dedicated email providers are more reliable - MX records for email don't affect web hosting ## Backups - Managed hosts usually include backups — verify frequency and retention - Download periodic backups locally — host backups don't help if host goes away - Know the restore process before you need it - Database backups separate from file backups — need both ## Cost Awareness - Monthly vs yearly billing — annual often 20-40% cheaper but commits you - Traffic spikes can trigger overage fees — understand the billing model - Free tiers often enough for side projects — don't overpay for unused capacity - Compare total cost including add-ons — base price rarely tells the whole story ## Migration Readiness - Keep content in portable formats — avoid excessive platform-specific features - Document how the current setup works — needed when moving - Export data regularly — don't assume you can always access it - DNS propagation takes up to 48 hours — plan migrations with overlap ## Common Mistakes - Choosing by price alone — support quality matters when things break - Not testing staging before production — preview environments prevent disasters - Ignoring geographic location — hosting in US for European users adds latency - Assuming backups exist — verify and test before you need them - Overcomplicating for small sites — a blog doesn't need Kubernetes