---
# nuzlocke-tracker-ahza
title: Deployment Strategy
status: in-progress
type: epic
priority: normal
created_at: 2026-02-09T14:03:53Z
updated_at: 2026-02-10T08:16:36Z
---

Define and implement a deployment strategy for running the nuzlocke-tracker in production on a local Unraid server while keeping laptop/PC as the development environment.

## Context

- **Components:** API (Python/FastAPI), Frontend (Vite/React), PostgreSQL database
- **Dev environment:** Laptop/PC — continue using the existing `docker-compose.yml` for local development
- **Production host:** Unraid server running Docker containers
- **Networking:** LAN-only access, Nginx Proxy Manager already in place on Unraid
- **Orchestration:** Docker Compose for production (matching dev workflow). Deploy via SSH from the dev machine.

## Decided Approach

**Docker Compose + SSH + Gitea (source hosting, container registry)**

1. **Gitea** runs on Unraid behind Nginx Proxy Manager with SSL (e.g., `gitea.nerdboden.de`). It serves as the self-hosted Git remote and container registry.
2. **Images are built on the dev machine** (podman or docker, cross-compiled for linux/amd64) and pushed to Gitea's container registry as **user-level packages** (e.g., `gitea.nerdboden.de/thefurya/nuzlocke-tracker-api:latest`, `gitea.nerdboden.de/thefurya/nuzlocke-tracker-frontend:latest`).
3. **Production runs docker compose** on Unraid at `/mnt/user/appdata/nuzlocke-tracker/`, pulling images from the Gitea container registry instead of mounting source.
4. **A deploy script** on the dev machine automates the full flow: build images → push to Gitea registry → SCP compose file to Unraid → generate `.env` if missing → SSH to pull images and (re)start containers.
5. **Nginx Proxy Manager** handles routing on the LAN (e.g., `nuzlocke.nerdboden.de` → frontend container, `gitea.nerdboden.de` → Gitea).
6. **Database** uses a bind mount (`./data/postgres`) for persistence on the Unraid disk; migrations run automatically on API container startup.

## Branching Strategy

**`main` + `develop` + feature branches**

- **`main`** — always production-ready. Only receives merges from `develop` when ready to deploy. The deploy script builds from `main`.
- **`develop`** — integration branch for day-to-day work. Features are merged here and tested before promoting to `main`.
- **`feature/*`** — short-lived branches off `develop` for individual features/fixes. Merged back into `develop` via PR or direct merge when complete.

**Workflow:**
1. Create `feature/xyz` from `develop`
2. Work on the feature, commit, merge into `develop`
3. When ready to deploy: merge `develop` → `main`
4. Run `./deploy.sh` (builds from `main`, pushes to Gitea registry, deploys to Unraid via SSH)

## Checklist

- [ ] **Set up branching structure** — create `develop` branch from `main`, establish the `main`/`develop`/`feature/*` workflow
- [ ] **Update CLAUDE.md with branching rules** — once the branching structure is in place, add instructions to CLAUDE.md that the branching strategy must be adhered to (always work on feature branches, never commit directly to `main`, merge flow is `feature/*` → `develop` → `main`)
- [ ] **Configure Gitea container registry** — create an access token with `read:package` and `write:package` scopes, verify `docker login gitea.nerdboden.de` works, test pushing and pulling an image as a user-level package
- [x] **Create production docker-compose file** (`docker-compose.prod.yml`) — uses images from the Gitea container registry, production env vars, no source volume mounts, proper restart policies
- [x] **Create production Dockerfiles (or multi-stage builds)** — ensure frontend is built and served statically (e.g., via the API or a lightweight nginx container), API runs without debug mode
- [x] **Create deploy script** — `./deploy.sh` builds images (podman/docker, linux/amd64), pushes to Gitea registry, SCPs compose file, generates `.env` if needed, pulls and starts containers via SSH
- [x] **Configure Nginx Proxy Manager** — add proxy host entries for Gitea and the nuzlocke-tracker frontend/API on the appropriate ports
- [x] **Environment & secrets management** — deploy script auto-generates `.env` with `POSTGRES_PASSWORD` on Unraid if missing; file lives at `/mnt/user/appdata/nuzlocke-tracker/.env`
- [ ] **Implement Gitea Actions CI/CD pipeline** — set up Gitea Actions runner on Unraid, create CI workflow (lint/test on `develop`) and deploy workflow (build/push/deploy on `main`); uses GitHub Actions-compatible syntax for portability
- [ ] **Database backup strategy** — set up a simple scheduled backup for the PostgreSQL data (e.g., cron + `pg_dump` script on Unraid)
- [ ] **Document the deployment workflow** — README or docs covering how to deploy, redeploy, rollback, and manage the production instance