Hosting, Git Workflows, and Cloud APIs

Flashcards covering hosting choices (FTP vs modern hosting), Git workflows, cloud deployment with Vercel and DigitalOcean, MongoDB cloud setup, API basics, and domain integration.

What old method was used for uploading files in the early days of hosting?

FTP via FileZilla (desktop) to upload files to an FTP server.

Why is relying on manual FTP uploads problematic?

There is no built-in record of changes, making version control and rollback difficult.

What is the starting point hosting tool used in the lecture notes?

Vercel, a cloud hosting platform.

What is the difference between Git and GitHub?

Git is the version control system; GitHub is a hosting service for Git repositories.

What are the common Git commands used to push a project to GitHub?

git init, git add ., git commit, git remote add origin , git push.

Why do we ignore node_modules in a Git repository?

To avoid uploading dependencies; they can be installed later with npm install.

What is Vercel's hobby plan?

A free plan that provides enough resources for starting deployments, suitable for student projects.

What are the two main hosting approaches discussed for deployment with DigitalOcean?

Apps (GitHub-backed deployments) and Droplets (full virtual machines you manage).

What is a Droplet in DigitalOcean?

A virtual machine with an OS that you control (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian).

What is MongoDB Atlas (cloud) access control commonly configured as?

Network access (IP whitelisting) and database access credentials; can be open to all for testing or restricted.

What is a replica set in MongoDB and its benefit?

Multiple nodes (e.g., 3) providing redundancy and higher uptime.

What is Compass in the context of MongoDB?

A GUI tool to connect to and manage MongoDB databases.

What is the purpose of API keys when using open APIs like OpenWeatherMap?

Identify your project and authorize usage; helps with billing.

What is the typical data format returned by APIs and consumed by apps?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation).

What is the basic method used to fetch data from APIs in a web app?

Using fetch (or similar) to call API endpoints and retrieve JSON.

How can you attach your own domain name to a deployed app?

Add the domain in the hosting provider's UI and update DNS records to point to the app.