Domain and production readiness
Day 23 of 30 · Generative AI 2026: Build AI Apps and Agents
One-liner: Prepare the app for a production release.
Time: 20 to 30 min
Deliverable: Production Readiness Checklist
Learning goal
You will be able to: Prepare a basic production readiness checklist.
Success criteria (observable)
- Domain and SSL status are confirmed.
- Key pages work on production.
- A release checklist is completed.
Output you will produce
- Deliverable: Production Readiness Checklist
- Format: Checklist
- Where saved: Course folder under
/generative-ai-2026-build-ai-apps-and-agents/
Who
Primary persona: Digital nomad preparing for launch Secondary persona(s): Users who will test the live app Stakeholders (optional): Collaborators
What
What it is
A short checklist that confirms the app is ready for production use. It covers domain setup, SSL, and key user flows.
What it is not
It is not a full scale release engineering process. It is a practical launch gate for a small app.
2-minute theory
- Production readiness reduces launch day surprises.
- Simple checklists catch the most common issues.
- A clear go or no go step prevents rushed releases.
Key terms
- Domain: The public URL users will visit.
- SSL: Secure connection that protects user data.
Where
Applies in
- Domain setup
- Production deployment
Does not apply in
- Local only testing
Touchpoints
- DNS settings
- SSL status
- Production URL
When
Use it when
- You are ready to launch
- You want to reduce risk before going live
Frequency
Once per release
Late signals
- Broken pages after launch
- Users report SSL warnings
Why it matters
Practical benefits
- Safer launches
- Fewer user trust issues
- Clear release decisions
Risks of ignoring
- Broken first impressions
- Security warnings
Expectations
- Improves: launch quality and trust
- Does not guarantee: zero bugs
How
Step-by-step method
- Connect the domain and confirm SSL.
- Test the main user flow in production.
- Check login, payment, and output.
- Sign off on the checklist.
Do and don't
Do
- Test the core flow end to end
- Confirm SSL before launch
Don't
- Launch without a final check
- Ignore broken links
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: No SSL. Fix: Wait until SSL is active.
- Mistake: Only tested locally. Fix: Test the production URL.
Done when
- Domain is connected and SSL is active.
- Core flow works in production.
- Checklist is signed off.
Guided exercise (10 to 15 min)
Inputs
- Production URL
- Release checklist template
Steps
- Verify domain and SSL.
- Test the main flow.
- Mark each checklist item.
Output format
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Domain | |
| SSL status | |
| Core flow test | |
| Sign off |
Pro tip: Do one test on mobile and one on desktop before launch.
Independent exercise (5 to 10 min)
Task
Test the checkout flow and record the result.
Output
Checkout test note.
Self-check (yes/no)
- Is SSL active?
- Does the main flow work?
- Is the checklist complete?
- Is a release decision made?
Baseline metric (recommended)
- Score: 3 of 4 checks met
- Date: 2026-02-06
- Tool used: Browser
Bibliography (sources used)
Vercel Domains. Vercel. 2024-01-01. Read: https://vercel.com/docs/projects/domains
Google HTTPS Guidelines. Google. 2024-01-01. Read: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/advanced/security/https
Read more (optional)
- Launch Checklist Why: Common items for production readiness. Read: https://www.atlassian.com/incident-management/devops/release-checklist