# Deploy Node.js / Express

Deploy any Node HTTP server (Express, Fastify, Koa, Hono, plain http) to Wokku.

Prerequisites

• A Wokku account and a connected server
• An SSH key registered for git push
• A Node app with a package.json

1. Create the app

wokku apps:create my-node-app --server my-server

2. Prepare your app

The Node buildpack reads package.json. Provide a start script and listen on
process.env.PORT:

{
  "scripts": { "start": "node server.js" },
  "engines": { "node": ">=20" }
}

const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
app.listen(port, () => console.log(`listening on ${port}`));

Optionally pin the start command with a Procfile:

web: npm start

3. Environment variables

wokku config:set my-node-app NODE_ENV=production

4. Add a database (optional)

wokku addons:create postgres my-node-app

Read process.env.DATABASE_URL in your pg/Prisma/Drizzle client. See
Create & Link a Database.

5. Deploy

git remote add wokku git@git.wokku.cloud:my-node-app
git push wokku main

git remote add wokku git@git.wokku.cloud:my-node-app
git push wokku main

Live at https://my-node-app.wokku.app.

Add a custom domain

Custom Domains — SSL is automatic.

Troubleshooting

• Crashes on boot — hardcoded port. Use process.env.PORT.
• npm ci fails — commit your package-lock.json.
• Wrong Node version — pin it via "engines": { "node": ... }.

Next steps

• Background workers · Logs · Production Readiness