The Free Guide to Building a Website: Automating Deployment with GitHub and Cloudflare

In the current web development field, the use of powerful cloud platforms to realize fast, free hosting of personal or business websites has become a mainstream choice.Cloudflare Not only is it known for its leading CDN and security services, its Cloudflare Pages The service also provides developers with a suite of services that work with the Git integrated automated deployment solutions. In this article, we'll take a real-world example and provide insight into how to leverage a modern toolchain to seamlessly deploy an AI-assisted generated website project to a Cloudflare Pages and enable global access.

Preparation: AI-assisted coding and domain configuration

During the startup phase of a project, developers can utilize AI programming assistants to greatly improve efficiency. For example, by Cursor This is the type of editor that integrates AI functionality and calls the Claude Advanced language models, such as the initial code framework that can quickly generate a website on demand.

After several iterations of communication and adjustments with the AI, a fully functional website prototype can be completed. At this point, the AI tool not only generates the front-end code, but also provides detailed documentation of the deployment steps, laying the foundation for subsequent work.

Before deployment, two basic preparations need to be completed: one is to prepare a domain name, and the other is to prepare a domain name in the Cloudflare The platform adds the domain name and configures DNS.

First, log in Cloudflare In the console, select "Add Site" and enter the prepared domain name.

Cloudflare Offering a variety of packages, its free plan already includes powerful CDN, SSL and DDoS protection, enough to meet the needs of most personal projects and small to medium-sized websites. Choose a free plan to continue.

Next.Cloudflare Two customized Nameserver addresses will be provided. Users need to go to their domain registrar's (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) administrator's office and change the DNS server address of their domain name to Cloudflare These two addresses are provided. Once the changes have been made, it is usually necessary to wait anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for the DNS to take effect.

Core step: automating deployment through Git repositories

Website code needs a platform for version control and storage.GitHub is the most mainstream option. Upload the project code to the GitHub warehouse, not only for ease of management, but also to realize Cloudflare Pages The key to automated deployment.

Why we recommend it Git repository instead of uploading static files directly? Because most modern web development involves a build step. For example, code written using frameworks such as React, Vue, or Svelte needs to be compiled, packaged, and so on in order to generate static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that run in the browser.Cloudflare Pages s Git integration model, which automatically pulls the latest code and executes builds based on preset instructions for continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD). Developers simply submit code to GitHub(math.) genusCloudflare It will automatically complete all subsequent deployment work, greatly simplifying the release process.

exist Cloudflare In the Control Panel, navigate to the "Workers and Pages" option, select "Create an application", and then click on "Connect to Git" under the "Pages" tab. Connect to Git" under the "Pages" tab.

Select to connect to the GitHuband authorize Cloudflare Visit your GitHub Account.

After successful authorization, select the desired deployment GitHub Warehouse.

The next step is the critical "setup build and deployment" step.

• Project name: For your Cloudflare Pages Project Naming.
• Production branch: The branch selected for deployment as a production environment is usually the main maybe masterThe
• Framework presets::Cloudflare Automatically recognizes common frameworks (e.g. React, Vue, Hugo, etc.) and populates recommended build settings.
• Build command: If the project needs to be compiled, fill in the build command here. For example, a project based on create-react-app project, the command is usually npm run buildThe
• Building the Output Catalog: Fill in the name of the folder where the static files generated after the build command is executed. For example.create-react-app The output directory of the /buildThe Vite program, on the other hand, is /distThe

If the project is simply a pure static HTML file with no build steps, you can leave the build command blank and set the output directory to the root directory /Depending on the configuration of the AI tool or the project itself, fill in this information correctly. Fill in the information correctly, depending on the configuration of the AI tool or the project itself, and then click "Save and Deploy".

Cloudflare Will start pulling code, building the project and deploying it.

Upon successful deployment, theCloudflare will provide a file with the format your-project-name.pages.dev the temporary domain name of the website, at which point the website can already be accessed through that link.

Final Session: Binding a Custom Domain Name

The last step is to bind the previously prepared personal domain to this deployed project. On the Project Management page, go to the "Custom Domains" tab and click "Setup Custom Domains".

Enter your domain name and continue.

Since the name servers for the domain have previously been pointed to CloudflareThe platform automatically verifies domain ownership and configures the appropriate CNAME resolution records.

DNS record validation is usually done quickly.

After the status changes to "Valid", you can access the website through your own domain name.

If you encounter problems during the domain binding process, you can check the Cloudflare DNS Settings panel, make sure to point to the pages.dev The CNAME record has been added correctly and is in effect.

pass (a bill or inspection etc) GitHub together with Cloudflare Pages combination, developers are able to create an efficient, free and automated web hosting process. Whenever new code is submitted to the GitHub the production branch of theCloudflare All automatically trigger new deployments, ensuring that the online site is always up-to-date. This modernized workflow greatly frees up productivity and allows developers to focus more on creation itself.