Deploying a CodeIgniter App on a Shared Hosting Plan

Last Updated on October 4, 2023

Introduction

In this section, we will discuss the process of deploying a CodeIgniter app on a shared hosting plan.

Deploying an app on a shared hosting plan is a common choice for small-scale projects or those with budget constraints.

However, it is crucial to select a suitable hosting environment to ensure optimal performance and compatibility.

Choosing a Suitable Hosting Environment

When deploying a CodeIgniter app on a shared hosting plan, it is essential to select a hosting environment that supports CodeIgniter’s requirements.

Look for a hosting provider that offers an Apache web server, PHP support (preferably version 7 or above), and MySQL or MariaDB database compatibility.

These components are necessary for a successful deployment and efficient functioning of your CodeIgniter app.

Additionally, consider the hosting provider’s reputation, uptime guarantee, customer support quality, and scalability options.

A reliable hosting environment ensures the stability and reliability of your app, minimizing downtime and potential disruptions to user experience.

Moreover, a supportive customer support team can assist you in resolving any issues that may arise during deployment or post-deployment.

Deploying a CodeIgniter app on a shared hosting plan can be a cost-effective solution for many projects.

However, choosing a suitable hosting environment is crucial to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.

By selecting a hosting provider that offers the necessary components and reliable support, you can deploy your CodeIgniter app with confidence and provide users with a seamless experience.

Overview of CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter simplifies web development with its lightweight design and rich libraries, making it popular for these reasons:

1. Easy Installation: Simple setup accessible to developers of all levels.
   
   
2. MVC Architecture: Organized separation of logic and presentation for easy maintenance.
   
   
3. Lightweight and Fast: Minimal server resources, ensuring quick application loading.
   
   
4. Comprehensive Documentation: Abundant resources and tutorials for quick problem-solving.
   
   
5. Built-in Libraries: Time-saving integrable libraries for tasks like form validation and email handling.
   
   
6. Security Features: In-built XSS filtering, encryption, and SQL attack protection for enhanced security.
   
   
7. Compatibility: Works seamlessly with various servers, operating systems, and databases.
   
   
8. Flexibility: Customizable functionalities catering to specific project requirements.
   
   
9. Active Community: Vibrant developer network offering abundant resources and forums for support.
   
   
10. Scalability: Handles increased traffic and data without performance compromise, suitable for diverse projects.

In summary, CodeIgniter stands out due to its user-friendly interface, speed, security features, and adaptability.

Its active community and scalability make it an excellent choice for developers, ensuring efficient and secure web application deployment.

Read: Top 10 Websites to Learn Coding for Free in 2024

Choosing a shared hosting plan

1. Consider the cost of the plan and whether it fits within your budget.
   
   
2. Evaluate the disk space and bandwidth offered to ensure they meet your requirements.
   
   
3. Check if the hosting provider offers a user-friendly control panel for easy management.
   
   
4. Research the reputation and reliability of the hosting provider through customer reviews.

Factors to consider when selecting a shared hosting provider

1. Uptime guarantee: Look for providers who offer a high uptime guarantee to ensure your website is always accessible.
   
   
2. Customer support: Consider the level of customer support provided, such as 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support.
   
   
3. Security measures: Check if the hosting provider offers SSL certificates, firewalls, and regular backups to protect your website.
   
   
4. Scalability options: Determine if the hosting provider allows easy upgrading or downgrading of your hosting plan as your website grows.

Importance of compatibility with CodeIgniter and suitable server configurations

When selecting shared hosting for a CodeIgniter app, consider:

1. Budget: Ensure the cost aligns with your financial plan.
   
   
2. Disk Space and Bandwidth: Check for sufficient resources.
   
   
3. Control Panel: Seek a user-friendly management interface.
   
   
4. Reliability: Research provider reputation through customer reviews.
   
   
5. Uptime Guarantee: Look for higher uptime guarantees.
   
   
6. Customer Support: Prefer 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support.
   
   
7. Security Measures: Confirm SSL, firewalls, and regular backups.
   
   
8. Scalability Options: Ensure easy plan upgrades or downgrades.

For optimal performance, the hosting must be CodeIgniter-compatible:

1. PHP and MySQL Support: Essential for running CodeIgniter apps.
   
   
2. Server Configurations: Must meet CodeIgniter’s requirements, including PHP version and extensions.
   
   
3. Performance Optimization: Seek caching mechanisms and CodeIgniter-specific performance tweaks.
   
   
4. Database Support: Ensure the provider allows database creation and meets app-specific requirements.

Therefore, choose shared hosting that meets compatibility and configuration needs while considering budget, resources, reliability, support, security, scalability, and performance enhancements for CodeIgniter app deployment.

Read: Beginner’s Guide: Learn to Code Without Spending a Dime

Preparing the application for deployment

1. Optimize the CodeIgniter application for better performance.
   
   
2. Review and optimize database queries and indexes to enhance speed and efficiency.
   
   
3. Minify CSS and JavaScript files to reduce page load time.
   
   
4. Enable caching mechanisms to store frequently accessed data and improve response time.
   
   
5. Update the production configuration file to reflect the appropriate database credentials and server settings.
   
   
6. Remove debugging and logging statements from the code for security and performance reasons.
   
   
7. Check for any unhandled exceptions or errors and fix them before deployment.
   
   
8. Test the application thoroughly on the development server to ensure it functions correctly.

Configuring the environment

1. Choose a suitable shared hosting plan that supports CodeIgniter and meets the application’s requirements.
   
   
2. Access the hosting account’s control panel and locate the file manager or FTP access.
   
   
3. Create a new directory or select an existing directory where the application will be deployed.
   
   
4. Upload the CodeIgniter files and directories to the chosen location on the server.
   
   
5. Ensure that the file permissions are correctly set to allow the application to read and write files.
   
   
6. Create a new database and user account through the hosting panel or command line interface.
   
   
7. Update the CodeIgniter database configuration file with the correct credentials for the new database.
   
   
8. Set up domain or subdomain mapping if necessary to route traffic to the deployed application.

Loading necessary dependencies

1. Identify the required libraries, helpers, and third-party plugins used by the CodeIgniter application.
   
   
2. Download the latest versions of these dependencies from their respective sources.
   
   
3. Copy the downloaded files to the appropriate directories within the CodeIgniter application structure.
   
   
4. Follow any specific installation instructions provided for each dependency, such as running migration scripts.
   
   
5. Update the CodeIgniter autoload configuration file to load the necessary dependencies automatically.
   
   
6. Test the application again to ensure that all dependencies are correctly loaded and functioning as expected.

By following these steps, you can successfully prepare and deploy a CodeIgniter application on a shared hosting plan.

Remember to regularly update the application and dependencies to benefit from the latest bug fixes and security patches.

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Uploading the application to shared hosting

Deploying a CodeIgniter App on a Shared Hosting Plan

Shared hosting is a cost-effective and user-friendly option for hosting web applications, especially when deploying a CodeIgniter app. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Choose a reliable hosting provider: Research options that align with your needs regarding features, pricing, and support.
   
   
2. Purchase a suitable shared hosting plan: Sign up for a plan that matches your requirements, considering resource levels and capabilities.
   
   
3. Obtain login credentials: Upon purchase, you’ll receive login details (FTP or cPanel) to access your hosting account.
   
   
4. Prepare your CodeIgniter app: Configure database settings and adapt your app for the hosting environment.
   
   
5. Select a file transfer method: Decide between FTP or cPanel’s file manager, considering your comfort level and provider support.
   
   
6. Using FTP: Utilize an FTP client like FileZilla. Connect to the server with provided credentials and upload your app files.
   
   
7. Using cPanel’s file manager: If available, log in to cPanel, access the file manager, and upload files to the appropriate directory.
   
   
8. Create and configure a database: Use cPanel or similar tools to create a MySQL database. Note down details for configuration.
   
   
9. Configure CodeIgniter database settings: Update the app’s database configuration file (usually application/config/database.php) with the provided database details.
   
   
10. Upload your app’s database: If needed, use tools like phpMyAdmin to import the database file or execute SQL queries for setup.
    
    
11. Test your app: Access your app’s URL in a browser to verify functionality after successful deployment.

Generally, deploying a CodeIgniter app on shared hosting involves selecting a reliable provider, app preparation, file transfer, database setup, and thorough testing.

Follow these steps to have your CodeIgniter app running smoothly on shared hosting.

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Configuring the shared hosting environment

Configuring the shared hosting environment is crucial for proper CodeIgniter functionality on the server.

Here are the necessary configurations to be done:

1. Database Setup

• Create a new MySQL database and note down the credentials.
  
  
• Open CodeIgniter’s configuration file (config.php) and update the database information.
  
  
• Specify the database hostname, username, password, and database name.

2. Setting up Base URL

• In the same config.php file, find the `$config[‘base_url’]` line and update it.
  
  
• Set the base URL according to your shared hosting setup, e.g., `http://www.yourdomain.com/` or `http://yourdomain.com/`.

3. Configuring .htaccess file

• Create a new file called `.htaccess` in your CodeIgniter project’s root directory.
  
  
• Open the file and add the following code:

RewriteEngine on

RewriteCond $1 !^(index\\.php|images|css|js|robots\\.txt|favicon\\.ico)

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php/$1 [L,QSA]

• This code enables clean URLs and removes “index.php” from your URLs.
  
  
• Ensure that mod_rewrite is enabled on your shared hosting server.

4. Additional Configurations

• Adjust the session configurations in the `config.php` file, if required.
  
  
• Specify the encryption key in the same file by setting `$config[‘encryption_key’]`.
  
  
• Set the timezone using the `$config[‘timezone’]` variable to match your application’s needs.

5. Verify and Test

• Upload your CodeIgniter app to the shared hosting server.
  
  
• Access the application through the defined base URL in a web browser.
  
  
• Verify that the database connection is established and working.
  
  
• Test various features of your app to ensure proper functionality.

By following these necessary configurations, you can ensure that your CodeIgniter app works smoothly on a shared hosting plan.

Testing and troubleshooting

After deploying a CodeIgniter app on shared hosting, comprehensive testing and effective troubleshooting are critical for optimal performance:

Testing:

1. Ensure CodeIgniter app compatibility with the shared hosting environment.
   
   
2. Thoroughly test all app features and functionalities, including edge cases and error handling.
   
   
3. Measure app performance, identifying bottlenecks or resource limitations.
   
   
4. Conduct a security audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.
   
   
5. Test app accessibility across various browsers and devices.

Troubleshooting:

1. For Internal Server Errors (HTTP 500), check .htaccess file and PHP extensions.
   
   
2. Verify file and folder permissions to ensure proper access.
   
   
3. Validate database credentials, hostname, and port settings for database connection.
   
   
4. Confirm mod_rewrite module activation and .htaccess configuration for URL rewriting.
   
   
5. Utilize CodeIgniter’s debugging and error logging features for runtime issues.

Most importantly, rigorous testing and effective troubleshooting are vital post-deployment steps to ensure CodeIgniter app performance and reliability on shared hosting.

Best practices for maintaining a CodeIgniter app on shared hosting

Efficiently managing and maintaining a CodeIgniter app on shared hosting involves these best practices:

1. Regular Backups: Schedule backups for critical files and databases to prevent data loss or server failures.
   
   
2. Keep App Updated: Stay current with CodeIgniter updates and security patches to protect against vulnerabilities.
   
   
3. Monitor Server Resources: Track resource usage to avoid exceeding limits and causing performance issues.
   
   
4. Optimize Database: Improve app performance by minimizing unnecessary queries and optimizing database tables.
   
   
5. Consider Asset Hosting: Use separate servers or CDNs for assets to boost app speed.
   
   
6. Enable Caching: Utilize CodeIgniter’s caching features to enhance page load times.
   
   
7. Secure Your App: Protect against security threats with directory indexing disablement, strong passwords, and CodeIgniter’s built-in security features.
   
   
8. Monitor Error Logs: Regularly check logs for issue identification and resolution.
   
   
9. Select a Reliable Provider: Choose a reputable shared hosting provider with good uptime, support, and security measures.
   
   
10. Practice Good Development Habits: Follow CodeIgniter best practices, like MVC architecture and code modularization, for maintainability and efficiency.

Following these guidelines ensures the smooth operation of your CodeIgniter app on shared hosting.

Conclusion

Deploying a CodeIgniter app on a shared hosting plan offers numerous advantages.

Throughout this blog post, we have discussed the main points, such as the ease of setup and affordability.

We have also highlighted the efficient maintenance and reliable performance that shared hosting plans provide.

We highly encourage readers to consider utilizing shared hosting plans for their CodeIgniter app deployments.

Shared hosting plans offer a cost-effective solution without compromising on functionality or performance.

By deploying your app on a shared hosting plan, you can focus on building your application rather than managing infrastructure.

Successful deployment and smooth maintenance can be achieved by following the steps outlined in our blog post.

So, take advantage of shared hosting plans and experience hassle-free deployment and efficient maintenance for your CodeIgniter apps.