Deploying Python Apps on VPS Servers
As a technical product manager, I just had my experience of deploying my first Python applications on Namecheap, which took me 6 hours. This project wasn’t just about getting a chatbot online; it was literally a crash course in navigating VPS hosting, Apache configuration, and Python deployment pitfalls.
The goal was simple: deploy an AI chatbot for cpitechinc.com on a subdomain, learn.cpitechinc.com. But the path to “it works” was anything but simple.
The First Roadblock: Set up Python App Module
My initial plan was to use Namecheap’s Setup Python App module. On shared hosting, this is usually the easiest route, but the project was on a VPS. Using the module on a VPS would have increased costs, which meant I had to go the more hands-on route.
SSH, VPS, and Manual Setup
The alternative was to SSH into the VPS, install Python manually, and configure the project directly under the Namecheap account. This approach gave us flexibility and scalability, but also introduced new challenges. The documentation was helpful, but the real learning came when things didn’t work as expected.
When Passenger WSGI Fails
The first big technical snag appeared when trying to run passenger_wsgi.py. No matter what I tried, the app wouldn’t launch. This led me to WHM to install the required Passenger modules under Apache. After restarting Apache via SSH, the app still wouldn’t run.
At this point, the server returned a mix of Error 500 messages and file structure listings, signs that Apache wasn’t serving the Python app correctly.
Server Configuration
The breakthrough came when I dove into server configuration files. Using the Include Editor in WHM, I added the required setup files in the Pre Main, Pre VirtualHost, and Post VirtualHost include sections. This step had to be repeated several times, testing each configuration until the domain stopped throwing errors.
Even then, the app wasn’t fully functional. That’s when I realized one crucial step I had missed: configuring the virtual environment (venv) with the same dependencies as the project folder.
I had used several approaches suggested by ChatGPT, most of which didn’t fully resolve the issues. Then I turned to Google’s Gemini, which helped me identify the missing venv configuration. Once that was set up correctly, the chatbot finally ran perfectly on the subdomain.
Key Takeaways
- Manual deployment is a learning opportunity: Using shared hosting modules is easy, but SSH and VPS configuration teach you problem-solving and infrastructure management.
- WSGI and Apache integration can be tricky: Passenger modules and configuration includes are often the missing links.
- Virtual environments matter: Ensuring the app runs with the exact dependencies is crucial.
- Leverage multiple resources: Documentation, AI tools, and community guides complement each other in solving complex issues.
Final Thoughts
Deploying your first Python app on a VPS-hosted Namecheap account with hundreds of live projects under it isn’t for the faint of heart. But it’s immensely rewarding. You end up with more than a working app; you gain more knowledge of server management, Apache configuration, and Python deployment, just like me. It’s not enough, but it’s a start.
