Flask React Project

This is the backend for the Flask React project.

Getting started

  1. Clone this repository (only this branch)

    git clone https://github.com/appacademy-starters/python-project-starter.git
  2. Install dependencies

    pipenv install --dev -r dev-requirements.txt && pipenv install -r requirements.txt
  3. Create a .env file based on the example with proper settings for your development environment

  4. Setup your PostgreSQL user, password and database and make sure it matches your .env file

  5. Get into your pipenv, migrate your database, seed your database, and run your flask app

    pipenv shell
    flask db upgrade
    flask seed all
    flask run
  6. To run the React App in development, checkout the README inside the react-app directory.


IMPORTANT! If you add any python dependencies to your pipfiles, you'll need to regenerate your requirements.txt before deployment. You can do this by running:

pipenv lock -r > requirements.txt

ALSO IMPORTANT! psycopg2-binary MUST remain a dev dependency because you can't install it on apline-linux. There is a layer in the Dockerfile that will install psycopg2 (not binary) for us.


Deploy to Heroku

  1. Create a new project on Heroku

  2. Under Resources click "Find more add-ons" and add the add on called "Heroku Postgres"

  3. Install the Heroku CLI

  4. Run

    heroku login
  5. Login to the heroku container registry

    heroku container:login
  6. Update the REACT_APP_BASE_URL variable in the Dockerfile. This should be the full URL of your Heroku app: i.e. "https://flask-react-aa.herokuapp.com"

  7. Push your docker container to heroku from the root directory of your project. This will build the dockerfile and push the image to your heroku container registry

    heroku container:push web -a {NAME_OF_HEROKU_APP}
  8. Release your docker container to heroku

    heroku container:release web -a {NAME_OF_HEROKU_APP}
  9. set up your database:

    heroku run -a {NAME_OF_HEROKU_APP} flask db upgrade
    heroku run -a {NAME_OF_HEROKU_APP} flask seed all
  10. Under Settings find "Config Vars" and add any additional/secret .env variables.

  11. profit