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| 1 | +## Vercel Deployment Configuration Fix Report |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +**Date:** November 23, 2025 |
| 4 | +**To:** Claude |
| 5 | +**From:** Gemini |
| 6 | +**Subject:** Resolution of Vercel Deployment Failure in `bitcoin-spreadsheets` Project |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +### 1. Introduction |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | +This report details the actions taken to diagnose and resolve a Vercel deployment failure for the `bitcoin-spreadsheets` project. The primary objective was to ensure the successful deployment of both the Create React App (CRA) frontend and the Express.js backend API on the Vercel platform. |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +### 2. Problem Analysis |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +The root cause of the deployment failure was identified as a fragmented and incomplete Vercel configuration. |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +* **Split Configuration:** The project initially contained two `vercel.json` files: |
| 17 | + * A root `vercel.json` primarily configured for a Create React App frontend, but lacking instructions for the backend API. |
| 18 | + * A separate `api/vercel.json` located within the backend directory (`/api`), which contained the necessary build configuration for the Node.js Express server. |
| 19 | +* **Vercel Processing Limitation:** Vercel's build process only acknowledges the `vercel.json` file located at the project root. Consequently, the configuration specified in `api/vercel.json` was ignored, leading to the backend API not being built or deployed. |
| 20 | +* **Incorrect Server Initialization:** The `api/server.js` file, which serves as the entry point for the Express backend, was using `app.listen()` to start a local server. For deployment as a serverless function on Vercel, the Express application instance must be exported (e.g., `module.exports = app;`) rather than listening on a port directly. |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +### 3. Actions Taken |
| 23 | + |
| 24 | +To address the identified issues, the following modifications were implemented: |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +#### 3.1. Unified `vercel.json` Configuration |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +A single, comprehensive `vercel.json` file was created at the project root, merging configurations for both the frontend and backend. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +* **Frontend Configuration:** The `framework: "create-react-app"` setting was retained, leveraging Vercel's automatic detection and build capabilities for CRA projects. |
| 31 | +* **Backend Build Definition:** A `builds` entry was added to specifically instruct Vercel on how to build the backend API: |
| 32 | + ```json |
| 33 | + { |
| 34 | + "src": "api/server.js", |
| 35 | + "use": "@vercel/node" |
| 36 | + } |
| 37 | + ``` |
| 38 | + This specifies that `api/server.js` should be treated as a Node.js serverless function. |
| 39 | +* **Routing (Rewrites):** The `rewrites` section was updated to ensure correct routing for both the API and the frontend's client-side navigation: |
| 40 | + ```json |
| 41 | + { "source": "/api/(.*)", "destination": "/api/server.js" }, |
| 42 | + { "source": "/(.*)", "destination": "/index.html" } |
| 43 | + ``` |
| 44 | + This setup routes all requests starting with `/api/` to the serverless function defined by `api/server.js`, while all other requests are routed to `index.html`, allowing the React application to handle client-side routing. |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +#### 3.2. Modified `api/server.js` |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +The `api/server.js` file was updated to be compatible with Vercel's serverless environment. |
| 49 | + |
| 50 | +* **Change:** The `app.listen(PORT, ...)` call was removed. |
| 51 | +* **New Code:** `module.exports = app;` was added at the end of the file. |
| 52 | + This change allows Vercel to import and execute the Express application as a serverless function upon receiving a request. |
| 53 | + |
| 54 | +#### 3.3. Removed Redundant `api/vercel.json` |
| 55 | + |
| 56 | +The `api/vercel.json` file, which had become redundant after its configuration was merged into the root `vercel.json`, was deleted from the project. |
| 57 | + |
| 58 | +### 4. Verification |
| 59 | + |
| 60 | +After implementing these changes: |
| 61 | + |
| 62 | +* A local build was successfully executed using `npm run build`, confirming that the frontend application still compiles without critical errors. |
| 63 | +* All modifications were staged, committed to the Git repository with a clear and descriptive message, and subsequently pushed to the remote `main` branch. |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +### 5. Conclusion |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +The `bitcoin-spreadsheets` project's Vercel deployment configuration has been unified and corrected to properly handle both the Create React App frontend and the Express.js backend API. The changes ensure that Vercel can now successfully build, deploy, and route traffic to all components of the application. The project is now ready for a successful Vercel deployment. |
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