> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ravion-b90c0359-mintlify-710044b6.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to deploy Node.js and Express to AWS

> Deploy a Node.js or Express server on ECS Fargate behind an Application Load Balancer in your AWS account with Ravion, including autoscaling and HTTPS.

Deploy a Node.js or Express server on ECS Fargate behind an Application Load Balancer.

## Prerequisites

* A Git repository containing your application and its production build command.
* A Ravion account with your AWS account connected. Start free at [Ravion signup](https://app.ravion.com/signup).
* The Ravion CLI installed and authenticated. See [CLI installation](/cli/installation).

The examples use `my-org/my-app` as a placeholder. Replace it with your repository before applying the config.

<Prompt description="Set up this Node.js or Express app for Ravion ECS hosting." icon="sparkles" actions={["copy", "cursor"]}>
  1. Before any other action, read and follow [https://www.ravion.com/docs/start-here#agent-workflow](https://www.ravion.com/docs/start-here#agent-workflow) as the mandatory agent workflow.
  2. Use [https://www.ravion.com/docs/deploy/aws/node-express](https://www.ravion.com/docs/deploy/aws/node-express) as the framework-specific source of truth.
  3. Confirm this repository contains the Node.js or Express app and locate its root in a monorepo.
  4. Inspect `package.json`, the server entrypoint, TypeScript or bundler config, and scripts to detect the real build/start commands, port, and health route.
  5. Generate `ravion.yaml` with `rvn-aws-network` + `rvn-ecs-cluster` + `rvn-ecs-web`, using real AWS, branch, repository, and runtime values. Bind the server to `0.0.0.0` and `process.env.PORT`.
  6. Ask the user for AWS account IDs, repository slugs, project IDs, entrypoints, or ports before proceeding; do not guess.
</Prompt>

## Configure the deployment

Deploy a Node.js or Express server to ECS Fargate behind an Application Load Balancer. Ravion provisions the network and compute resources in your AWS account.

This example uses [Railpack](https://railpack.com) for the build. Use `build_source: dockerfile` instead when you need a custom Dockerfile.

Your `npm run build` command may compile TypeScript to `dist`. Set `railpack_start_cmd` to the production command in your `package.json`; this example uses `npm start`.

```yaml ravion.yaml theme={null}
project:
  givenId: node-app
  name: Node app
environments:
  - givenId: production
    name: Production
    moduleInstances:
      - givenId: network
        name: Network
        type: rvn-aws-network
        version: 1.0.0
        input:
          aws_account_id: ravion-prod
          aws_region: us-east-1
          name: node-production
      - givenId: cluster
        name: ECS cluster
        type: rvn-ecs-cluster
        version: 1.0.0
        input:
          network:
            moduleGivenIdRef: network
          name: node-production
      - givenId: web
        name: Node web service
        type: rvn-ecs-web
        version: 1.0.0
        input:
          cluster:
            moduleGivenIdRef: cluster
          name: node-production-web
          build_source: railpack
          source_repo: my-org/my-node-app
          railpack_build_cmd: npm run build
          railpack_start_cmd: npm start
          container_port: 3000
          health_check_path: /health
          fargate_size:
            vcpu: 0.5
            memory_gb: 1
```

The ECS module adds `PORT` automatically. Bind Express to `process.env.PORT` and `0.0.0.0`. Put plain runtime settings in `environment_variables` and sensitive values in `secrets`.

## Apply and connect your domain

```bash theme={null}
ravion project create --given-id node-app --name "Node app"
ravion project config apply node-app --file ravion.yaml --dry-run
ravion project config apply node-app --file ravion.yaml
```

Follow [custom domains](/guides/custom-domains) to configure DNS and TLS.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Custom domains" icon="globe" href="/guides/custom-domains">
    Point a domain at your deployed service and manage its certificate.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Project config" icon="file-code" href="/config-as-code/project-config-file">
    Preview and apply Ravion configuration from source control.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pipelines" icon="arrow-progress" href="/config-as-code/pipeline-config-file">
    Add approvals, migrations, and deployment automation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Logs and metrics" icon="chart-line" href="/modules/logs">
    Inspect deploy output and production health in Ravion.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>