Revolutionizing Application Access: ContentQLโ€™s New DNS Mapping with Reverse Proxy ๐Ÿš€โœจ๐ŸŒ poster image

Revolutionizing Application Access: ContentQLโ€™s New DNS Mapping with Reverse Proxy ๐Ÿš€โœจ๐ŸŒ

After weeks of focused effort and testing, weโ€™re thrilled to announce a major step forward in DNS mapping for applications deployed via Railway.app. This new feature is still in its early stages, but the majority of our tests have shown excellent results. Weโ€™re confident itโ€™s ready for you to test, and weโ€™re inviting everyone to start using it now. This blog post explains the milestone weโ€™ve achieved, what it means for your applications, and how you can be a part of this transformative change. ๐ŸŽ‰โœ…๐Ÿ“ข

Whatโ€™s the Big News? ๐Ÿ“ฐ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŒŸ

ContentQLโ€™s DNS management system now allows any application deployed on Railway to be accessed through custom subdomains under the ContentQL domain. This marks a significant upgrade in how we manage, brand, and secure our deployed applications. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ”—๐Ÿ’ป

Letโ€™s take an example:

By replacing the up.railway.app portion with contentql.io, you can now access the same application, whether itโ€™s a new deployment or an older one. This seamless mapping enhances user experience and aligns applications with ContentQLโ€™s branding. โœจ๐ŸŽฏ๐Ÿ”‘

Reverse Proxy: The Magic Behind the Curtain ๐Ÿช„๐Ÿ”„๐ŸŒ‰

To fully appreciate the significance of this change, itโ€™s important to understand the concept of a reverse proxy. ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ“–โš™๏ธ

A reverse proxy acts as a middleman between the client (your browser or application) and the backend server (your deployed application). It intercepts user requests, forwards them to the server, and then sends the serverโ€™s response back to the client. ๐Ÿ”„๐Ÿ”๐Ÿ“ก

How Reverse Proxy Benefits ContentQLโ€™s DNS Mapping:

  1. Custom Domain Mapping: Transforms generic Railway-provided domains into branded ContentQL subdomains.

  2. Improved Branding: Every application deployed through Railway is now part of ContentQLโ€™s ecosystem, reinforcing our identity.

  3. Centralized Management: Simplifies DNS tracking and troubleshooting.

  4. Enhanced Security: Hides backend server details, reducing exposure to potential threats.

  5. Scalability: Enables better load distribution and application performance.

What Does This Mean for You? ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ’ก๐Ÿ“ˆ

A New Way to Access Applications

Previously, applications deployed on Railway could only be accessed via the default Railway-generated domain. Now, with our DNS mapping, you can use ContentQL-branded URLs instead. ๐Ÿ”—๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ๐ŸŒŸ

For example:

This feature applies to all applications hosted on Railway, regardless of whether they are new deployments or older projects. โœ…๐ŸŒโœจ

Better User Experience and Debugging

By shifting to .contentql.io subdomains:

  • Weโ€™re providing a consistent, branded experience for users.

  • Itโ€™s easier for our team to identify and resolve issues across projects. ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ๐Ÿ”ง๐Ÿ“Š

What You Need to Do ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“Œ๐Ÿ’ช

1. Start Using ContentQL Subdomains

From now on, please stop using .up.railway.app domains to access your projects. Instead, use the corresponding .contentql.io subdomains. ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“›

2. Test Your Applications

Start testing your applications with the new subdomains. This includes:

  • Verifying core functionality (e.g., APIs, UI rendering).

  • Checking integrations and ensuring no environment-specific configurations break.

  • Running tests across different devices and browsers. ๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿ”

3. Report Any Issues

If you encounter any problems while using the new domains, donโ€™t hesitate to reach out. Identifying and resolving bugs during this phase is critical for ensuring a smooth transition for everyone. ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ“ฃ

4. Set PUBLIC_URL to Railway Domains

Remember: The PUBLIC_URL (type of) environment variable should always point to the original Railway URL (e.g., https://qualified-beige-bass-production.up.railway.app). This ensures that internal routing and backend processes function correctly. โš™๏ธ๐Ÿ”—โœ…

Why This Matters ๐ŸŽฏ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ’ผ

This isnโ€™t just about switching URLs; itโ€™s about elevating the way we manage and present applications. Hereโ€™s why this change is a big deal:

  • Consistency: All applications are unified under the ContentQL brand, improving user trust and recognition.

  • Scalability: The reverse proxy setup prepares us for handling larger workloads and more applications efficiently.

  • Security: By using a reverse proxy, backend server details remain hidden, reducing vulnerabilities.

  • Flexibility: Whether itโ€™s a new deployment or an older project, the DNS mapping works seamlessly. ๐Ÿ”’๐Ÿ”„๐ŸŒ

Whatโ€™s Next? ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ๐Ÿš€๐Ÿ“†

  1. Full Adoption: Weโ€™re encouraging everyone to adopt the new .contentql.io subdomains for their projects.

  2. Feedback Loop: Your feedback is essential! Let us know about any issues or improvements youโ€™d like to see.

  3. Scaling Up: Once the system has been thoroughly tested, weโ€™ll roll it out as the default access method for all ContentQL applications. ๐Ÿ”„๐Ÿ“ˆ๐ŸŒŸ

Final Thoughts ๐Ÿ’ญ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŒŸ

This milestone marks a significant leap forward in how we manage, scale, and secure applications within the ContentQL ecosystem. The adoption of reverse proxy technology and DNS mapping reinforces our commitment to providing a robust and user-friendly platform for everyone. ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ”—

Letโ€™s work together to refine this system further. Start testing your applications today, and donโ€™t forget to share your feedback. Together, weโ€™re building something truly remarkable. ๐Ÿš€โœจ๐ŸŽ‰

Ready to dive in? Access your applications via .contentql.io now! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ปโœ