medusa-store/docs/content/deployments/server/deploying-on-heroku.mdx

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# Deploy Your Medusa Server on Heroku

In this document, you'll learn how to deploy your Medusa server on Heroku. Heroku is a PaaS (Platform as a Service) that allows you to easily deploy your applications in the cloud.

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## Prerequisites

Before you start with this guide, you must have a Medusa server installed locally.

To install a Medusa server, follow our [Quickstart guide](../../quickstart/quick-start.md).

## How to Deploy Your Medusa Server on Heroku

### 1. Install the Heroku CLI

Install the Heroku CLI tool using the instructions that belong to your operating system.

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Download the appropriate installer for your Windows installation:

[64-bit installer](https://cli-assets.heroku.com/heroku-x64.exe)

[32-bit installer](https://cli-assets.heroku.com/heroku-x86.exe)

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<TabItem value="linux" label="Linux">

For Ubuntu, you can use the following command:

```bash
sudo snap install --classic heroku
```

As for other Linux distributions, please check [Heroku's guide](https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/heroku-cli#standalone-installation-with-a-tarball).

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For macOS you can install Heroku's CLI tool using Homebrew:

```bash
brew tap heroku/brew && brew install heroku
```

For other installation options, please check [Heroku's guide](https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/heroku-cli#standalone-installation-with-a-tarball)

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### 2. Login to Heroku from your CLI

Before you can create an app with Heroku, you must login with the CLI tool:

```bash
heroku login
```

Depending on your operating system, you must follow either the instructions in your terminal or a page in your browser will open.

### 3. Create an App with Heroku

In the root directory of your Medusa server, run the following commands to create an app on Heroku and add it as a remote origin:

```bash
heroku create <APP_NAME>
heroku git:remote -a <APP_NAME>
```

Where `<APP_NAME>` is the name of the app you'll create. You can use any name you want.

### 4. Install Postgresql and Redis on Heroku

Medusa requires a Postgres database and a Redis instance to work. You can add those to your Heroku app using Add-ons.

:::tip

In this section, the add-ons are used with a free plan. It's highly recommended that you don't use a free plan in a production environment.

:::

#### PostgreSQL

Add a Postgres add-on to your Heroku app with the following command:

:::note

This add-on is added with a free plan. However, Heroku might require you to add a payment method to proceed.

:::

```bash
heroku addons:create heroku-postgresql:hobby-dev
```

This uses the free plan of Heroku Postgres. Make sure to check out [more information regarding the plans and pricing of Heroku Postgres](https://elements.heroku.com/addons/heroku-postgresql#pricing).

#### Redis

:::note

The Add-on used here for Redis is [Upstash](https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/upstash-redis) which is currently in beta. However, it provides a generous free plan. You can alternatively go for [Stackhero](https://elements.heroku.com/addons/stackhero-redis) but it does not have a free plan.

:::

Add a Redis instance to your Heroku app with the following command:

:::note

This add-on is added with a free plan. However, Heroku might require you to add a payment method to proceed.

:::

```bash
heroku addons:create upstash-redis
```

This uses the free plan of Upstash. Make sure to check out [more information regarding the plans and pricing of Upstash](https://elements.heroku.com/addons/upstash-redis#pricing).

### 5. Configure Environment Variables on Heroku

Medusa requires a set of environment variables to be configured. You can learn more about Medusa's configurations in the [Configure your Medusa Server](../../usage/configurations.md) document.

Run the following commands in the root directory of your Medusa server to set some environment variables:

```bash
heroku config:set NODE_ENV=production
heroku config:set JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret
heroku config:set COOKIE_SECRET=your-super-secret-pt2
heroku config:set NPM_CONFIG_PRODUCTION=false
```

:::tip

Make sure to replace `your-super-secret` and `your-super-secret-pt2` with actual secrets in a production environment.

:::

#### Set Buildpack

Additionally, you need to set the buildpack to Node.js using the following command:

```bash
heroku buildpacks:set heroku/nodejs
```

#### Configure the Redis URL

Upstash adds the Redis URL under the environment variable `UPSTASH_REDIS_URL`. However, Medusa looks for the `REDIS_URL` environment variable when initializing the connection with Redis.

So, retrieve the value of `UPSTASH_REDIS_URL` with the following command:

```bash
heroku config:get UPSTASH_REDIS_URL
```

This prints the value of the environment variable which is a Redis connection string.

Copy that value and use it to set the environment variable `REDIS_URL` with the following command:

```bash
heroku config:set REDIS_URL=<YOUR_REDIS_URL>
```

Where `<YOUR_REDIS_URL>` is the value you received from the previous command.

#### Configure the PostgreSQL Database URL

If you're using the Heroku PostgreSQL Add-on, it should configure the environment variable `DATABASE_URL`. So, you don't need to perform any additional actions.

However, if you use another add-on, make sure to set the environment variable `DATABASE_URL` to the PostgreSQL Database URL.

#### (Optional) Configure CORS Variables

Optionally, if you've deployed the admin dashboard and you want to ensure it can use the server's REST APIs, you must set the following environment variable:

```bash
heroku config:set ADMIN_CORS=<YOUR_ADMIN_URL>
```

Where `<YOUR_ADMIN_URL>` is the URL of your admin dashboard.

Similarly, if you've deployed the storefront and you want to ensure it can use the server's REST APIs, you must set the following environment variable:

```bash
heroku config:set STORE_CORS=<YOUR_STOREFRONT_URL>
```

Where `<YOUR_STOREFRONT_URL>` is the URL of your storefront.

### 6. Configure Medusa Server

Before jumping into the deployment, you need to configure your Medusa server to ensure it uses the previous environment variables and the recommended production configurations.

#### medusa-config.js

Update `module.exports` to include the following configurations:

```js
module.exports = {
  projectConfig: {
    redis_url: REDIS_URL,
    database_url: DATABASE_URL,
    database_type: "postgres",
    store_cors: STORE_CORS,
    admin_cors: ADMIN_CORS,
    database_extra:
      process.env.NODE_ENV !== "development"
        ? { ssl: { rejectUnauthorized: false } }
        : {},
  },
  plugins,
};
```

#### package.json

Update `scripts` to include the following scripts:

```json
"scripts": {
    "serve": "medusa start",
    "start": "medusa develop",
    "heroku-postbuild": "medusa migrations run",
    "prepare": "npm run build",
    "build": "babel src -d dist --extensions \".ts,.js\""
},
```

### 7. Launch your Medusa Server

Finally, commit and push all changes to Heroku:

```bash
git add .
git commit -m "Deploy Medusa Server on Heroku"
git push heroku HEAD:master
```

This triggers a redeploy of the Medusa server with all the new configurations.

## Troubleshooting: Inspect Build Logs

If an error occurs during the deployment, you can explore your Heroku app build logs using the following command in the root directory of your Medusa server:

```bash
heroku logs -n 500000 --remote heroku --tail
```

## Create a User

As an optional extra step, you can create a user to use when your admin dashboard is up and running:

```bash
heroku run -a <APP_NAME> -- medusa user -e "<EMAIL>" -p "<PASSWORD>"
```

Where `<APP_NAME>` is the name of your Heroku app, and `<EMAIL>` and `<PASSWORD>` are the credentials you want to use to log in to the Medusa admin dashboard.

## What's Next :rocket:

- Learn how to [deploy your Medusa admin](../admin/index.mdx).
- Learn how to [deploy your storefront](../storefront/index.mdx).