How I Used ChatGPT to Quickly Deploy a Spring Boot Application on an Ubuntu Server in 5 Minutes.
Tags: deployment, chatgpt, springboot, java
Published: 2023-10-16 02:21:44

Learning something new, especially when you're a Java backend engineer, can often be a daunting task. In my journey to deploy a Spring Boot application on an Ubuntu server, I found myself facing new challenges, with a limited timeframe to overcome them. However, thanks to the power of ChatGPT and well-crafted prompts, I was able to streamline the learning process and deploy my application in just 5 minutes.

## Story of My Struggles:
As a Java backend engineer, I had extensive experience in coding and developing applications. However, when it came to deployment, my knowledge was limited. I knew I needed to get my Spring Boot application up and running on an Ubuntu server, but the process seemed complex and time-consuming.

I started with traditional methods, diving into documentation and tutorials, but found myself overwhelmed with technical jargon and lengthy installation procedures. It was taking much longer than I had anticipated, and frustration was setting in.

## ChatGPT to the Rescue:
One day, while browsing the internet for solutions, I stumbled upon ChatGPT. It had been making waves in the tech community for its ability to assist with various tasks, and I decided to give it a try. I quickly realized that this AI model could be a game-changer in my quest to deploy the Spring Boot application efficiently.

## Using Prompts for Learning:
One of the standout features of ChatGPT is its prompt-based interaction. By framing my questions and requests effectively, I was able to harness the full potential of this AI for my learning process. Here are some prompts I used to kickstart my deployment:

### Basic Docker Installation:

#### Prompt: "_Can you provide me with step-by-step instructions for installing Docker on an Ubuntu server?_"
Response:
```bash
# Step 1: Update Package Repository
# First, you should ensure that your server's package repository is up to date. Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt update

# Step 2: Install Required Dependencies
# Docker requires a few dependencies to be installed. You can do this by running:
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common

# Step 3: Add Docker Repository
# You need to add the Docker repository to your system. This is done by adding the Docker GPG key and then adding the repository.
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

# Step 4: Install Docker
# Now you can install Docker using the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

# Step 5: Start and Enable Docker
# After the installation is complete, you need to start the Docker service and enable it to start at boot.
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
```

### Docker Compose for Spring Boot:
#### **Prompt:** "_How do I set up a Docker Compose file for deploying a Spring Boot application? Please guide me through the process._"
**Response from ChatGPT:**

**Step 1: Create a Docker Compose YAML File**
Create a new file in your project directory and name it docker-compose.yml. This file will define the services and configurations for your Spring Boot application.

**Step 2: Define Your Docker Compose Configuration**

In your docker-compose.yml file, you'll define the services and their configurations. Here's an example of a Docker Compose file for a Spring Boot application:

```yaml
version: '3'
services:
  spring-boot-app:
    image: openjdk:8-jre-alpine
    container_name: spring-boot-app
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
    volumes:
      - ./your-spring-boot-app.jar:/app.jar
    command: ["java", "-jar", "/app.jar"]

```
**Let's break down this configuration:**
- version: '3': Specifies the version of the Docker Compose file format.
- **spring-boot-app**: This is the name of your service.
- **image**: openjdk:8-jre-alpine: Specifies the Docker image to use. In this case, we use an Alpine Linux-based OpenJDK 8 image.
- **container_name**: spring-boot-app: Sets the name for the Docker container.
- **ports**: Exposes port 8080 on your host and maps it to port 8080 in the container.
- **volumes**: Mounts your Spring Boot application JAR file into the container. Make sure to replace ./your-spring-boot-app.jar with the actual path to your Spring Boot JAR file.
command: Specifies the command to run the Spring Boot application.
**Step 3: Customize the Configuration**
Make sure to customize the configuration according to your Spring Boot application's needs. If you have additional environment variables or dependencies, you can specify them in the Docker Compose file.

**Step 4: Start the Docker Compose Service**
To start your Spring Boot application using Docker Compose, navigate to the directory containing your `docker-compose.yml` file and run the following command:

```bash
docker-compose up -d
```
The -d flag runs the services in the background.

**Step 5: Verify the Deployment**
You can check if your Spring Boot application is running by opening a web browser or using a tool like curl to access http://localhost:8080. If your application is working correctly, you should see the expected output.

That's it! You've set up a Docker Compose file to deploy your Spring Boot application with Java 8 and exposed port 8080. Docker Compose simplifies the process of managing containers and their configurations, making it easier to deploy and scale your application.


### Deploying My Spring Boot Application:
#### Prompt: "_I have my Docker environment set up. Now, how can I deploy my Spring Boot application within a Docker container?_"

Response from ChatGPT:
1. Stop the existing container.
2. Remove the existing container.
3. Build a new image using the Dockerfile.
4. Create and run a new container from the new image.
To redeploy a Docker container with a Dockerfile, you can use a script that follows these general steps:

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# Define your Dockerfile and image name
DOCKERFILE="Dockerfile"
IMAGE_NAME="your-image-name"

# Step 1: Stop the existing container (if running)
echo "Stopping the existing container..."
docker stop your-container-name || true

# Step 2: Remove the existing container (if it exists)
echo "Removing the existing container..."
docker rm your-container-name || true

# Step 3: Build a new image using the Dockerfile
echo "Building a new Docker image..."
docker build -t "$IMAGE_NAME" -f "$DOCKERFILE" .

# Step 4: Create and run a new container from the new image
echo "Creating and running a new container..."
docker run -d --name your-container-name -p 8080:80 "$IMAGE_NAME"

# Optionally, you can remove unused images to save disk space
# docker image prune -f

echo "Container redeployment complete!"
```
You can store this file as `deploy.sh` and use command line to restart server each deployment:
```bash
sh deploy.sh
```

### Troubleshooting and Best Practices:
#### Prompt: "_What are some common issues and best practices for maintaining a Spring Boot application within a Docker container?_"
Results:
With ChatGPT's assistance, I was able to deploy my Spring Boot application on an Ubuntu server in just 5 minutes. I had gone from feeling overwhelmed and stuck to confidently running my application within a Docker container.

## Conclusion:
The journey of learning something new, especially in a time-sensitive situation, can be challenging. My experience using ChatGPT to deploy a Spring Boot application on an Ubuntu server demonstrates the power of AI in simplifying complex tasks. By crafting the right prompts, I was able to get precise and relevant information, and in no time, I had my application up and running. The use of AI like ChatGPT can significantly improve your performance and efficiency when dealing with unfamiliar technologies, enabling you to meet your goals faster and with greater confidence.