How to put your first AI-built app online (Vercel / Netlify)

Short answer: paste the prompt below into your AI coding tool (Cursor, Claude Code, Replit, Lovable, Bolt or ChatGPT), fill in the [PLACEHOLDERS], and send. SI's tip: no stress, getting stuck is totally normal. You've got this. This is prompt "22. Put It Online (Vercel / Netlify)" from the Hey SI Starter Pack.

When to use it: When your Version 1 works locally and builds without errors (npm run build). This gets your app onto a real web address you can share. Vercel and Netlify both have free tiers and connect to GitHub, so every time you push a save point, your site updates automatically.

Using Lovable, Bolt, or Replit? They have their own Publish/Deploy button, and that's usually the easiest option. You can still use this prompt to understand the steps, or to move to Vercel/Netlify later.

The prompt

I want to put my app online using [VERCEL / NETLIFY]. I'm a beginner. Walk me through it step by step.

Stack: [YOUR STACK]
Is my code on GitHub? [YES - repo name: ___ / NO]
Does my app use environment variables (.env)? [YES / NO / NOT SURE]
Does it use a database or login? [e.g. "Supabase database + auth"]

Please:
1. Check the project is ready: it builds with npm run build, .env is NOT in Git, and .env.example lists every variable needed.
2. If my code isn't on GitHub yet, help me push it there first.
3. Give me click-by-click steps to import the GitHub repo into [VERCEL / NETLIFY], including which build settings to use (or confirm the defaults are right).
4. List every environment variable I need to add in the [VERCEL / NETLIFY] dashboard, by NAME only. I'll paste the values myself.
5. List anything I need to update in other services now that I have a live address (e.g. Supabase auth redirect URLs).
6. Give me a short checklist to test the live site.

Example (filled in)

I want to put my app online using Vercel. Stack: Next.js + Tailwind, Supabase Is my code on GitHub? Yes, repo name: plantpal Environment variables? Yes Database or login? Supabase database + auth (magic link)

Tips

• Environment variables don't upload automatically, because .env is (correctly) not in Git. You must add them in the Vercel/Netlify dashboard, and this is the #1 reason live sites break. After adding or changing them, redeploy.
• Your free address will look like plantpal.vercel.app or plantpal.netlify.app. You can add your own domain later.
• After it's live, open it on your phone and run through your main features.
• Something broken online that works locally? That's Prompt 23.

New here? Start with how to vibe code your first app and set up an AGENTS.md rules file.