Request for SPanel Dashboard Enhancements for Node.js Applications:

To optimize the deployment and management of my Node.js applications (like my MERN stack) on my SPanel VPS, I would like to request the addition or activation of the following features within the SPanel dashboard, particularly in the "Setup Node.js App" section or a similar application management area:

1. Dedicated "Environment Variables" Section:

   • Description: A clear interface to add, edit, and delete key-value pair environment variables that are automatically loaded when the Node.js application starts. This is crucial for managing database credentials, API keys, NODE_ENV, PORT, DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_NAME, DB_PORT, DB_DIALECT, and other sensitive or configuration-specific variables.
   • Benefit: Eliminates the need for .env files in production and simplifies secure configuration management directly within the UI.

2. "Install Dependencies" / "Run NPM Install" Button:

   • Description: A one-click button or option to execute npm install (or yarn install if yarn.lock is detected) within the application's root directory on the server.
   • Benefit: Streamlines dependency installation after code uploads or updates, ensuring all required Node.js modules are in place without manual SSH commands.

3. Integrated "Application Logs" Viewer:

   • Description: A real-time or easily accessible log viewer within the dashboard for the Node.js application's stdout (standard output) and stderr (standard error).
   • Benefit: Essential for debugging, monitoring application health, and quickly identifying issues without needing to connect via SSH and manually check log files.

4. Git Integration for Deployment:

   • Description: The ability to link a Git repository (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) to the Node.js application. This would allow deploying new versions by simply pulling the latest commit from the connected repository with a click of a button (e.g., "Deploy from Git").
   • Benefit: Automates code updates, simplifies version control, and is a standard feature in modern deployment platforms.

5. Custom Build Command Execution (for Frontends/Bundling):

   • Description: An option to define and execute custom shell commands as part of the deployment process (e.g., npm run build for a React frontend, or webpack commands). This would be for instances where the frontend is built on the server.
   • Benefit: Enables automated server-side building of assets, useful for more complex deployments where pre-built assets aren't uploaded directly.

6. Database Migrations Management (Advanced - if applicable):

   • Description: An interface or command line option within the SPanel UI to run Sequelize CLI migrations (e.g., npx sequelize-cli db:migrate).
   • Benefit: Provides a safe and structured way to update your database schema in production, moving away from sequelize.sync({ alter: true }) for live data. This is more of an advanced feature but crucial for robust production environments.

By having these capabilities directly within your SPanel dashboard, you would gain a much more efficient, controlled, and visual workflow for deploying and managing your MERN stack application on your VPS.

Thank you for considering these improvements.