Fullstack Python: Using Heroku for Flask App Deployment and Scaling

Heroku has long been a favorite platform for developers looking to deploy applications quickly, without the hassle of managing servers. For fullstack Python developers working with Flask, Heroku provides a simple yet powerful way to launch web apps, scale them with ease, and focus entirely on writing great code. In this blog, we'll walk through how to deploy and scale a fullstack Flask app using Heroku, step by step.


Why Choose Heroku for Flask Apps?

Heroku’s strengths lie in simplicity and scalability:

Zero server management

Integrated Git-based deployment

Support for Python, PostgreSQL, Redis, and more

Free tier for small apps and MVPs

One-click scaling with dynos (virtual containers)

Whether you're building a portfolio project, an MVP, or even a small production app, Heroku makes deployment seamless.


Step 1: Prepare Your Flask App for Deployment

Before deploying, ensure your Flask project follows a production-ready structure. At minimum, your project should include:

app.py or run.py (main Flask file)

requirements.txt (all dependencies)

Procfile (to tell Heroku how to run your app)

runtime.txt (to specify Python version, optional)

Example Procfile:

makefile

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Edit

web: gunicorn app:app

This tells Heroku to use Gunicorn (a WSGI server) to run your app named app from app.py.


Step 2: Set Up a Virtual Environment and Install Dependencies

Use a virtual environment to isolate your project’s dependencies:

bash


python -m venv venv

source venv/bin/activate

pip install flask gunicorn

pip freeze > requirements.txt


Step 3: Push Your Code to GitHub (Optional)

Heroku can deploy directly from Git, so having your code in GitHub or a local Git repository is ideal:


bash


git init

git add .

git commit -m "Initial commit"


Step 4: Deploy to Heroku

Install the Heroku CLI


bash

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Edit

curl https://cli-assets.heroku.com/install.sh | sh

Login to Heroku


bash

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heroku login

Create a New App


bash

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Edit

heroku create your-app-name

Push Your Code


bash

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Edit

git push heroku master

Open Your App in Browser


bash

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heroku open

Congratulations — your Flask app is now live!


Step 5: Add a Database (Optional)

To add PostgreSQL:


bash

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Edit

heroku addons:create heroku-postgresql:hobby-dev

Then connect your app to the database using environment variables or SQLAlchemy.


Step 6: Scaling Your Flask App

Heroku uses dynos — lightweight containers — to run your app. To scale:

View current dynos:


bash

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heroku ps

Scale up:


bash

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heroku ps:scale web=2

Monitor app performance:


bash

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heroku logs --tail

For growing apps, consider switching to performance or private dynos for more control and capacity.


Conclusion

Heroku simplifies the fullstack Python deployment process, allowing you to focus on building features rather than dealing with infrastructure. Its seamless Git integration, built-in database support, and scalable dyno system make it an ideal platform for launching Flask apps quickly. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, Heroku can help bring your Python projects to life — with just a few terminal commands. 

Learn FullStack Python Training

Read More : Fullstack Flask Deployment: Setting Up Continuous Delivery on AWS with CodePipeline

Read More : Deploying Fullstack Python Apps on AWS Lambda for Serverless Architecture

Read More : Fullstack Python: Using Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for Flask App Deployment

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