> Source URL: /unit-3/project-paths/thu-h/thu-h-2026-04-28-render-deploy.guide
# Thu H — Render Deploy Guide

**Project:** OPT Pal / H1-B Employer Data Hub  
**Repo:** `final-project-huynth4`  
**Goal:** Put your Flask + SQLite employer dashboard online for Demo Day.

This guide is tailored to your current repo. Your app reads from `instance/opt_pal.db`, and that database is built from `data/Employer Information.csv` by `import_data_into_SQL.py`. Because the database file is not committed, Render needs to rebuild it during deploy.

---

## Before You Start

Make sure the app works locally:

```bash
uv sync
uv run python import_data_into_SQL.py
uv run flask --app app run --debug
```

Open the preview and confirm the quiz leads to the dashboard.

---

## Step 1 — Add the Production Server

Render should run your Flask app with `gunicorn`.

```bash
uv add gunicorn
```

This updates `pyproject.toml` and `uv.lock`.

---

## Step 2 — Confirm the Data File Is Committed

Your deploy depends on this file:

```text
data/Employer Information.csv
```

Check Source Control. If the CSV appears under **Changes**, stage and commit it. Render will use it to rebuild `instance/opt_pal.db`.

Do not worry about committing `instance/opt_pal.db`; your repo is set up to generate that database from the CSV.

---

## Step 3 — Create `render.yaml`

Create a new file at the project root named `render.yaml`:

```yaml
services:
  - type: web
    name: opt-pal
    env: python
    plan: free
    buildCommand: uv sync --frozen && uv run python import_data_into_SQL.py && uv cache prune --ci
    startCommand: uv run gunicorn app:app
    autoDeploy: true
```

The longer build command matters: it installs packages, rebuilds the SQLite database from your CSV, then cleans up the build cache.

---

## Step 4 — Commit and Push

In Source Control, stage and commit:

- `pyproject.toml`
- `uv.lock`
- `render.yaml`
- `data/Employer Information.csv` if it is not already committed

Use a message like:

```text
add render deploy config
```

Then click **Sync Changes**.

---

## Step 5 — Create the Render Service

1. Go to [render.com](https://render.com) and sign in with GitHub.
2. Click **New +** → **Web Service**.
3. Connect `final-project-huynth4`.
4. Confirm these settings:
   - **Environment:** `Python`
   - **Build Command:** `uv sync --frozen && uv run python import_data_into_SQL.py && uv cache prune --ci`
   - **Start Command:** `uv run gunicorn app:app`
   - **Plan:** `Free`
5. Click **Create Web Service**.

No API keys are needed for the current version of this app.

---

## Step 6 — Test the Live Site

When Render finishes, open the live URL and test the core flow:

1. Start at the quiz.
2. Choose an industry.
3. Choose a state.
4. Continue to the dashboard.
5. Confirm employer matches, totals, top employers, and state data load.

If the dashboard errors with a database/table message, check the Render build log for the `uv run python import_data_into_SQL.py` step.

---

## Demo Day Notes

Render's free tier has an ephemeral filesystem. That is okay here because your build command recreates the database from the committed CSV every time. If you change the CSV or import script, commit and push both before demo day.


---

## Backlinks

The following sources link to this document:

- [Render Deploy Guide](/unit-3/project-paths/thu-h/thu-h-2026-04-28-3d-globe.guide.llm.md)
- [April 28 -- Render deploy](/unit-3/project-paths/thu-h/thu-h.path.llm.md)