Part 1: From AI Prototype to Live Product – The 7-Point Deployment Checklist

🎉 Congrats! Your prototype is done.

Thanks to v0, Bolt, Lovable, Cursor... you've built a working demo in just a few days. It runs perfectly on localhost.

But now what?

"From demo to production" – this gap is deeper than you think.

This series covers everything a non-technical founder needs to know to turn an AI-generated prototype into a real, revenue-generating product. In Part 1, we'll give you the big picture.

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📋 The 7-Point Pre-Launch Checklist

1. Environment Variables

Why it matters: If API keys and database passwords are hardcoded in your source code, you're leaving the front door wide open for hackers.

Checkpoints:

• All secrets are stored in a .env file
• .env is listed in .gitignore
• Production environment (Vercel, Netlify) has its own env vars configured

# ❌ Wrong (exposed in code)
const apiKey = "sk-1234567890abcdef"

# ✅ Correct
const apiKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_KEY

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2. Database Security (RLS)

Why it matters: If you're using Supabase, Row Level Security (RLS) being disabled means anyone can read and write all your data.

Checkpoints:

• RLS is enabled on all tables
• Appropriate policies are set for each table
• Test: Is data access blocked when not logged in?

💡 Tip: Supabase Dashboard → Table Editor → Each Table → Check "RLS Enabled"

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3. Authentication Flow

Why it matters: Login that worked perfectly on localhost often breaks after deployment. Usually, it's a Redirect URL configuration issue.

Checkpoints:

• Your production domain is added to Supabase/Auth0 Redirect URLs
• OAuth providers (Google, GitHub) have your domain in their approved list
• HTTPS is enabled (cookies don't work over HTTP)

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4. Error Handling & Logging

Why it matters: When something breaks in production, showing users a blank "Error" screen gives you zero information to debug.

Checkpoints:

• Critical API calls are wrapped in try-catch
• Error monitoring tool (Sentry, etc.) is connected
• User-friendly error messages are displayed

// ✅ Good practice
try {
  const data = await fetchUserData();
} catch (error) {
  Sentry.captureException(error);
  showToast('Something went wrong. Please try again.');
}

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5. Performance Basics

Why it matters: If your first page load takes more than 3 seconds, 53% of users will leave. AI-generated code is often unoptimized.

Checkpoints:

• Images are optimized (WebP format, proper sizing)
• No unnecessary libraries bloating the bundle
• Lighthouse score is 80+ on Performance

💡 Tip: Chrome DevTools → Lighthouse tab to run a quick test

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6. Domain & SSL

Why it matters: Serving your app from your-app.vercel.app hurts credibility. A custom domain with HTTPS is the bare minimum.

Checkpoints:

• Custom domain is connected
• SSL certificate is active (auto on Vercel/Netlify)
• www and non-www redirects are configured

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7. Payment Integration (if applicable)

Why it matters: Stripe working in test mode doesn't mean it'll work in live mode. This is where real money is at stake.

Checkpoints:

• Switched to Stripe live API keys
• Webhook endpoint is pointing to production URL
• Actually tested a small real payment

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😰 Feeling overwhelmed?

Let's be honest—checking all 7 items properly requires backend knowledge. For a non-technical founder, it takes forever, and one small mistake can cause big problems.

We'll dive deep into each item in the next parts of this series. But if you want to launch fast...

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📚 Series Overview

This is Part 1 of the "Production Launch Guide" series.

Next up: We'll go deep on security—environment variable management, API key protection, and Supabase RLS configuration in detail.

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*Questions? Reach out anytime: hello@shiptheproduct.dev*