Getting Started with App Platform

The Domain India App Platform runs your own application code. You send us your code, from GitHub or with a deploy token, and we build it, run it in its own container and serve it over HTTPS with a free SSL certificate. This page explains how the platform works and how to get your first app live.

1. Is the App Platform right for you?

The App Platform is for custom applications you write yourself: APIs, web apps, SaaS prototypes and bots. For WordPress, a brochure site or email, shared hosting or the AI Website Builder is a better fit.

2. Create your app

Your plan decides how many apps you can create: one, three or six. While you have room left, New App creates the app straight away with nothing more to buy. See Plans, apps and limits.

3. Deploy your code

There are two ways, and every plan has both.

Option A: GitHub

1. Open your app and go to the GitHub tab.
2. Enter the repository URL and the branch to deploy, usually main. For a private repository, also add a GitHub access token with repo scope.
3. Click Connect Repository, then Deploy Now.

Option B: A deploy token

1. In the app's Deploy Tokens tab, click Create Token. The token is shown only once.
2. Package the contents of your project folder:

tar czf app.tar.gz --exclude=node_modules --exclude=.git -C my-app .

3. Run the upload command shown on the Deploy Tokens tab. It already contains your token and app name, so copy it rather than typing it by hand.

Each token works for one app only. Uploads can be up to 512 MB. See Deploying with a deploy token.

4. What happens when you deploy

1. We receive your code.
2. We detect a Node.js app from package.json, or build from your Dockerfile.
3. Dependencies are installed and the app is built.
4. A health check runs on the new version.
5. Traffic switches to the new version with no downtime.

If a build fails, the version that was already running keeps running. Follow the build output live in the Deploys tab; it is the first place to look when something goes wrong.

5. Languages: Node.js, or bring a Dockerfile

• Node.js is detected automatically from package.json. Add a start script, or a Procfile line such as web: node server.js.
• Python, PHP and any other language run from a Dockerfile in the root of your project.

A minimal Dockerfile for a Flask app served by Gunicorn:

FROM python:3.12-slim
WORKDIR /app
COPY requirements.txt .
RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
COPY . .
CMD gunicorn app:app --bind 0.0.0.0:$PORT

A Procfile can also declare web and worker process types, so background jobs run next to your web app.

6. The two rules that make your app reachable

Most "the build worked but the site doesn't load" problems come down to these:

• Listen on the PORT environment variable. Never hard-code a port.
• Bind to 0.0.0.0, not localhost or 127.0.0.1. An app bound to localhost can't be reached from outside its container.

const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
app.listen(port, '0.0.0.0');

More fixes are in Troubleshooting the App Platform.

7. After your first deploy

• Settings and secrets: add them in the Env Vars tab. See Environment variables.
• Database: every plan includes a PostgreSQL database, and your app receives its address in DATABASE_URL. See PostgreSQL database.
• Your own domain: add it in the Domains tab and create the DNS records it shows, usually a CNAME pointing at your app's address. SSL is issued automatically. See Custom domains and SSL.
• Logs: the Logs tab shows your app's recent output. If your app crashes, it restarts automatically.

8. What the App Platform doesn't include

• No SSH or root access to the server. You manage everything from the dashboard. If you need a shell, choose a VPS.
• No direct database connection from your own computer; your app reaches its database internally.
• Not built for WordPress. Use cPanel hosting instead.

9. App Platform plans

Every plan includes PostgreSQL, automatic SSL, custom domains, and deploys from GitHub or a deploy token. The plans differ mainly in how many apps you can run, and each app gets 512 MB of RAM. Domain India list prices on 23 September 2026, per month, excluding 18% GST:

Ready to deploy? Compare App Platform plans, open your App Platform services, or ask us in a support ticket whether your app is a good fit.