stevedunn / vogen.serialization

This documentation provides a step-by-step guide for deploying the stevedunn/vogen.serialization project in a production environment.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following prerequisites before beginning the deployment process:

  • .NET SDK installed (version as per project requirement)
  • PowerShell for scripting commands
  • Access to a CI/CD pipeline (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jenkins) for automated deployment

Step 1: Prepare the Build

Begin by cloning the repository to your local environment if you haven’t yet. Use the following command:

git clone https://github.com/stevedunn/vogen.serialization.git
cd vogen.serialization

Next, restore the necessary packages:

dotnet restore

Step 2: Build the Application

Build the project using the following command:

dotnet build --configuration Release

This command compiles the project in Release mode and outputs the binaries suitable for deployment.

Step 3: Run Tests

Before deploying, ensure that all tests pass. Execute the test suite:

dotnet test

If tests fail, resolve any issues before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Prepare Deployment Artifacts

For production deployment, package the build artifacts. Use the following command:

dotnet publish --configuration Release --output ./publish

This produces the output in the ./publish directory. Ensure this directory contains all necessary files for deployment.

Step 5: Deploy to Production Environment

The deployment can vary depending on the production environment. Here, we will illustrate how to deploy using PowerShell scripts. The deployment script can look like the following:

$sourcePath = "C:\path\to\your\project\publish\*"
$destinationPath = "\\path\to\production\server\folder"

# Stop the application (if using a service)
Stop-Service -Name "YourServiceName"

# Copy new files to the production path
Copy-Item -Path $sourcePath -Destination $destinationPath -Recurse -Force

# Start the application (if using a service)
Start-Service -Name "YourServiceName"

Modify the $sourcePath and $destinationPath variables to point to your specific paths. Replace "YourServiceName" with the actual name of your service if applicable.

Step 6: Verify Deployment

After the deployment finishes, it is crucial to verify that the application is running correctly. This can be done by checking the service status or accessing the application endpoint.

To check the service status, use PowerShell:

Get-Service -Name "YourServiceName"

Additionally, it may be beneficial to perform smoke tests or automated health checks to ensure the application responds as expected.

Step 7: Monitor and Rollback Plan

Once the deployment is complete, set up monitoring to track application performance and health. Consider integrating tools like Application Insights or ELK Stack for real-time monitoring.

It is also crucial to have a rollback plan in case of failure. This can be achieved by maintaining previous versions of your deployment in a separate directory and having a script ready to revert to the previous state as needed.

# Example rollback script
$backupPath = "\\path\to\previous\version"
Copy-Item -Path $backupPath\* -Destination $destinationPath -Recurse -Force

Ensure this is documented and easily executable to minimize downtime in case of issues.

Conclusion

This guide provides a straightforward procedure for deploying the stevedunn/vogen.serialization project to the production environment. Each step is crucial to ensure a smooth deployment process and to maintain application integrity. Always test thoroughly before relying on the deployment in a production setting.

This documentation builds upon best practices and emphasizes the importance of maintaining and monitoring deployed applications.