Atomic SFTP: A safe and reliable way to deploy your code with DeployBot

Deploying code changes to your server can be a risky and time-consuming process, especially when you're dealing with complex applications that require multiple files and dependencies. A single mistake can cause downtime or even data loss, which can be catastrophic for your business. That's why it's important to choose a deployment strategy that's both safe and reliable.

One such strategy is atomic SFTP, which involves uploading files to a temporary directory and then moving them to their final destination in a single atomic operation. This approach has several benefits over traditional FTP and other deployment methods:

  1. Atomicity: Atomic SFTP ensures that your code changes are deployed as a single, consistent unit. If anything goes wrong during the deployment process, the changes are rolled back automatically, leaving your server in its original state. This reduces the risk of partial or inconsistent updates that can cause errors and downtime.
  2. Safety: Because atomic SFTP involves uploading files to a temporary directory, it minimizes the risk of overwriting or deleting important files on your server. This makes it a safer option for deploying code changes, especially in production environments where downtime can be costly.
  3. Speed: Atomic SFTP can be faster than traditional FTP because it doesn't require multiple file transfers. Instead, all changes are uploaded to the temporary directory and then moved to their final destination in a single operation. This can save time and reduce the risk of errors that can occur when transferring large numbers of files.

DeployBot makes it easy to implement atomic SFTP for your deployment needs. With its built-in support for atomic SFTP, you can configure your deployment pipeline to use this method for uploading and deploying code changes. Here's how you can set it up:

  1. Connect your server: To use atomic SFTP with DeployBot, you first need to connect your server to the platform. This involves entering your server credentials, including the host name, username, and password or private key. Once your server is connected, you can configure your deployment pipeline to use atomic SFTP.
  2. Configure your deployment pipeline: In the DeployBot dashboard, go to the Deployment Settings tab and select the deployment pipeline you want to configure. Under the Deploy Method section, choose "Atomic SFTP" as your deployment method. You can also choose the temporary directory where your files will be uploaded and specify any post-deployment scripts that need to be run.
  3. Deploy your changes: Once your deployment pipeline is configured, you can start deploying your code changes. Simply push your changes to your version control system, and DeployBot will automatically upload and deploy them using atomic SFTP. If anything goes wrong during the deployment process, DeployBot will automatically roll back the changes and notify you of the issue.

In conclusion, atomic SFTP is a safe and reliable way to deploy your code changes with DeployBot. Its atomicity, safety, and speed make it a preferred method for many developers and businesses, especially in production environments where downtime and data loss can have serious consequences. With DeployBot's built-in support for atomic SFTP, you can easily configure your deployment pipeline to use this method and enjoy the benefits it offers.

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably a DeployBot user and familiar with version control systems, CI/CD, and other related topics. If not, we’ve compiled several beginners' guides: Laravel, Digital Ocean, Ruby on Rails, Docker, Craft CMS, Ghost CMS, Google Web Starter Kit, Grunt or Gulp, Slack, Python, Heroku and many more.

Beginners' Guides