Unlock the Power of Azure and Caddy: Serving a React.js Vite App with Custom Routes

Ah, the trifecta of modern web development: React.js, Vite, and Azure! You’ve built an amazing app, but now you’re wondering, “How do I serve it with a custom route on an Azure container instance, where routing is managed by Caddy?” Worry not, dear developer, for we’re about to dive into the nitty-gritty of making it happen.

Step 1: Set up Your Azure Container Instance

First things first, you need to set up your Azure container instance. If you haven’t already, create a new Azure container instance and pull the Docker image that contains your React.js Vite app. Make sure it’s running smoothly and accessible via a public IP address.

Azure Container Instance Settings

Take note of the following settings in your Azure container instance:

• Container Name: The name of your container instance (e.g., my-react-app)
• Container Port: The port number your app is running on (e.g., 3000)
• Public IP Address: The public IP address assigned to your container instance (e.g., 20.121.12.123)

Step 2: Configure Caddy as a Reverse Proxy

Caddy is an amazing, open-source web server that’ll help us route traffic to our React.js Vite app. We’ll configure Caddy as a reverse proxy to redirect incoming requests to our custom route.

Install Caddy on Your Azure Container Instance

Install Caddy on your Azure container instance using the following command:

docker run -d -p 8080:2015 caddy:latest

This command will start a new Caddy container, mapping port 8080 on the host machine to port 2015 inside the container.

Caddy Configuration File (Caddyfile)

Create a new file named Caddyfile in the root directory of your Azure container instance:

http://localhost:8080 {
  handle_path /my-custom-route/* {
    reverse_proxy / localhost:3000
  }
}

This Caddyfile configuration sets up a reverse proxy for any requests to /my-custom-route/*, redirecting them to localhost:3000, where your React.js Vite app is running.

Step 3: Update Your React.js Vite App

Now, let’s update our React.js Vite app to work seamlessly with our custom route.

Update vite.config.js

In your vite.config.js file, add the following configuration:

import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [react()],
  base: '/my-custom-route/', // Update the base URL
  server: {
    port: 3000,
  },
});

This configuration sets the base URL of your app to /my-custom-route/, which matches the custom route we defined in our Caddyfile.

Update Your App’s Routing

In your React.js app, update the routing to work with the new custom route:

import { BrowserRouter, Route, Switch } from 'react-router-dom';

function App() {
  return (
    <BrowserRouter basename="/my-custom-route/">
      <Switch>
        <Route path="/" exact>
          <Home />
        </Route>
        <Route path="/other-route">
          <OtherRoute />
        </Route>
      </Switch>
    </BrowserRouter>
  );
}

By setting the basename prop to /my-custom-route/, React Router will generate URLs that include the custom route.

Step 4: Test Your Setup

The moment of truth! Let’s test our setup to ensure everything is working as expected.

Access Your App via the Custom Route

Open a web browser and navigate to http://<Public_IP_Address>:8080/my-custom-route/, replacing <Public_IP_Address> with the public IP address of your Azure container instance. You should see your React.js Vite app up and running, with the custom route working as expected.

URL	Route	Component
http://20.121.12.123:8080/my-custom-route/	/	Home
http://20.121.12.123:8080/my-custom-route/other-route	/other-route	OtherRoute

If everything is set up correctly, you should see your app’s components rendered correctly for each route.

Conclusion

Viva la Azure, Caddy, and React.js Vite! With these steps, you’ve successfully served your React.js Vite app with a custom route on an Azure container instance, where routing is managed by Caddy. Pat yourself on the back, developer extraordinaire!

Remember to update your Azure container instance settings, Caddy configuration, and React.js Vite app configuration according to your specific needs. Happy coding, and may the web development force be with you!

Keywords: React.js, Vite, Azure, Caddy, custom route, reverse proxy, Azure container instance.

Meta Description: Learn how to serve a React.js Vite app with a custom route on an Azure container instance, where routing is managed by Caddy. Follow these step-by-step instructions to unlock the full potential of your modern web development stack.

Frequently Asked Question

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