Online Deployment Question (already checked the FAQ and guide)

[michael.simpsonii]

Greetings:

My students have created a game that we are trying to host in a web browser for a competition. I have deployed it and it works when I activate the Index (in Mozilla firefox). My question is how do I get this to work using something like Firebase? I've seen a lot of posts in other threads about Firebase and other such web hosts but none about how to get it to work. I've uploaded all of the folders/files to a firebase account but have no idea what the next step is. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.



Thank you.

 

 

[Andar]

what is firebase?


Basically all you need to do is uploading the files to a website by FTP or a similiar function. The game structure requires a webadress that either points to a folder containing the index.html (and all subfolders in the same structure) or an adress that end on the index.html itself.


If that firebase (whatever it is) does not allow you to create those regular webfolders, for example because it is a pure CMS design, then you can't run it there.

 

[Zalerinian]

Well assuming you're using the web hosting part of Firebase, you go to the URL where the page is presented to the internet, as you would with any web host. What that URL is would likely have been given to you when you uploaded the project to their servers. That should really be enough to get it to work, because I doubt you're storing any user generated content for your game.

 

[michael.simpsonii]

Ah, so I may have been doing this wrong the whole time. I uploaded the project to the storage section of firebase thinking that would be sufficient. I'll take a look at their hosting procedure and see if I can figure that part out and then show my students. All of our projects up to this point have never required any sort of online hosting so this is new to me.

 

[Dad3353]

I host several of my Demo Games using Firebase, and it works very well (for me...). There are instructions on the Firebase site as to how the Projects are to be declared, and how to use the tools to deploy the Project. Some minimum knowledge of how to navigate MS-DOS interface windows is helpful, but following strictly the instructions should enable anyone to get it all set up easily enough; after all, even I managed it..! The first time I encountered Firebase, It took about 30 minutes to set up the (free...) account and download the tools required. Now, having done a few, it takes me all of several seconds to deploy a Project. I'm not sure of the scalability, as I only have modest stuff hosted there, and the one downside I would mention is the requirement to deploy, at each update, the whole project, not simply a file or two. As the deployment is a 'doddle', I don't consider that to be too much of a burden.


Read through the instructions carefully; I'll try to help out if you get stuck somewhere, although I'm far from expert.

 

[michael.simpsonii]

I host several of my Demo Games using Firebase, and it works very well (for me...). There are instructions on the Firebase site as to how the Projects are to be declared, and how to use the tools to deploy the Project. Some minimum knowledge of how to navigate MS-DOS interface windows is helpful, but following strictly the instructions should enable anyone to get it all set up easily enough; after all, even I managed it..! The first time I encountered Firebase, It took about 30 minutes to set up the (free...) account and download the tools required. Now, having done a few, it takes me all of several seconds to deploy a Project. I'm not sure of the scalability, as I only have modest stuff hosted there, and the one downside I would mention is the requirement to deploy, at each update, the whole project, not simply a file or two. As the deployment is a 'doddle', I don't consider that to be too much of a burden.


Read through the instructions carefully; I'll try to help out if you get stuck somewhere, although I'm far from expert.

 Thank you. I'm looking more into Firebase at the moment and have made some progress. No where near being able to set up a page yet. 

 

[Dad3353]

 Thank you. I'm looking more into Firebase at the moment and have made some progress. No where near being able to set up a page yet. 

This is your point of entry...


Firebase Hosting...

 

[michael.simpsonii]

This is your point of entry...


Firebase Hosting...

Alright so I think I may have messed something up. I got the deployment software functioning and I watched some tutorial videos from firebase but my issue is actually getting the game to deploy. I'm assuming that it has something to do with the deployment software recognizing where the index file is from RPG Maker. At the moment I have it stored in the the storage section of the project in Firebase. Is there a code I'm missing to get the deployment/hosting software to reach out to storage and make use of the index to create the page?

I feel like I'm circling the solution and just can't see it.

 

[Andar]

the entire www-folder of the deployment package needs to be available with its exact folder structure on the web. only uploading the index.html will do nothing.


And if you tell us that you have to point your software to the index.html, then that software is used with the wrong options - you need to upload the folder and not a single file.


If the software looks for a single file to upload, it's probably intended to upload exe files - you need to look for a software that can upload the entire folder.

 

[michael.simpsonii]

the entire www-folder of the deployment package needs to be available with its exact folder structure on the web. only uploading the index.html will do nothing.


And if you tell us that you have to point your software to the index.html, then that software is used with the wrong options - you need to upload the folder and not a single file.


If the software looks for a single file to upload, it's probably intended to upload exe files - you need to look for a software that can upload the entire folder.

I guess I didn't explain that well. I've uploaded the entire WWW file to the storage option in Firebase. I downloaded the node.js software that Firebase is telling me to use to host/deploy the game. Firebase seems to function for other people using these methods but there seems to be a step that I am missing in the node.js software for the deployment of the game and I feel like it's getting the site that Firebase has generated for the project to pull the index file of the game. 

 

[Andar]

Then you have to ask firebase support.


It looks as if they're using a virtual storage system that redirects the filepaths, and that will cause the MV-deployment to fail.

 

[michael.simpsonii]

Then you have to ask firebase support.


It looks as if they're using a virtual storage system that redirects the filepaths, and that will cause the MV-deployment to fail.

Firebase seems pretty popular with people. Is there something else that you recommend for deploying online?

Thank you.

 

[Dad3353]

@michael.simpsonii...


I create my Project in Firebase; I'll assume a Project name of 'Dummy', just for the example...


Once I've declared my Project to Firebase, through their web page, here's my deployment procedure...


Preambule: I've a folder into which I deploy my Web Projects. I've another folder from which to deploy Firebase Projects. These are both on my local hard drive.


I deploy from MV into Web/Dummy


I copy the entire 'www' folder from that deployment into Firebase/Dummy


I rename the copied 'www' folder to become 'public'


In the open Firebase 'Dummy' folder on my hard drive, I 'Shift Right-click' and choose 'Open command window here'


In the resulting DOS window, I type 'firebase init'...


This brings up the following series of questions -replies...

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

It's here that we associate the Firebase Project with the current local folder...

Spoiler

Use 'Space bar' to de-select 'Database'...

Spoiler

'public' is the name of the folder that will be uploaded to Frirebase...

Spoiler

Yes, it's a 'single app' that we're deploying, entered through 'index.html'...

Spoiler

NO..! Do not overwrite our precious index.html..! That's what sets off our Game..!

Spoiler

OK, all is ready for deployment, so we type 'firebase deploy' (shortcut: 'Up' and edit 'init' to become 'deploy'...)...

Spoiler

...and it deploys..! A few minutes, depending on broadband speed and 'public' folder size, until...

Spoiler

Bingo..! It's deployed, and on line. The URL to reach it is displayed; enter it into your browser and enjoy..!

The liaison with the 'Dummy' folder is only asked the first time that the project is deployed. Once the association is made, any future deployment from any associated Project folder will only need to ask from 'public' onwards. If one deploys from any Project folder again, Firebase will already know of the association.


The important part is to reply 'N' for the 'Replace html', as it is this that allows the use of the MV index.html as the entry point to the web version.


Hope this helps.

 

[michael.simpsonii]

@michael.simpsonii...


I create my Project in Firebase; I'll assume a Project name of 'Dummy', just for the example...


Once I've declared my Project to Firebase, through their web page, here's my deployment procedure...


Preambule: I've a folder into which I deploy my Web Projects. I've another folder from which to deploy Firebase Projects. These are both on my local hard drive.


I deploy from MV into Web/Dummy


I copy the entire 'www' folder from that deployment into Firebase/Dummy


I rename the copied 'www' folder to become 'public'


In the open Firebase 'Dummy' folder on my hard drive, I 'Shift Right-click' and choose 'Open command window here'


In the resulting DOS window, I type 'firebase init'...


This brings up the following series of questions -replies...

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

It's here that we associate the Firebase Project with the current local folder...

Spoiler

Use 'Space bar' to de-select 'Database'...

Spoiler

'public' is the name of the folder that will be uploaded to Frirebase...

Spoiler

Yes, it's a 'single app' that we're deploying, entered through 'index.html'...

Spoiler

NO..! Do not overwrite our precious index.html..! That's what sets off our Game..!

Spoiler

OK, all is ready for deployment, so we type 'firebase deploy' (shortcut: 'Up' and edit 'init' to become 'deploy'...)...

Spoiler

...and it deploys..! A few minutes, depending on broadband speed and 'public' folder size, until...

Spoiler

Bingo..! It's deployed, and on line. The URL to reach it is displayed; enter it into your browser and enjoy..!

The liaison with the 'Dummy' folder is only asked the first time that the project is deployed. Once the association is made, any future deployment from any associated Project folder will only need to ask from 'public' onwards. If one deploys from any Project folder again, Firebase will already know of the association.


The important part is to reply 'N' for the 'Replace html', as it is this that allows the use of the MV index.html as the entry point to the web version.


Hope this helps.

This was perfect, but, mine only deployed 2 files(?) which is a little odd. Suggestions?

 

[Dad3353]

This was perfect, but, mine only deployed 2 files(?) which is a little odd. Suggestions?

Create a Windows deployment of the same Project, and try running it yourself, locally. Does it play correctly..?


Create a small, almost empty, simple one-Map Project, deploy for Web and then deploy to Firebase. Does that work..?

 

[michael.simpsonii]

So i've tried both of those things since my last post. I made a new project and then immediately deployed it for web. Went through the process -- deployed two files and the link gives me the "Welcome to Firebase Hosting. etc..." I tried one where i got rid of unused files. I did one with all files includes. Same result. 

Tried the game my students made and got the same result. It seems weird, like I'm still missing a step somewhere but I've done exactly what you sent. 

Also, thank you for all of this help.

 

[Dad3353]

@michael.simpsonii...


Let's just check, then. You've created, through the Firebase web page, a Project under the 'Hosting' section. Yes/No


You've deployed to Web your MV Project. Yes/No


That deployment has made a folder containing a 'www' folder Yes/no


That 'www' folder contains a set of MV folders (img, audio etc...) and an index.html file. Yes/No


You've copied that deployed 'www' folder integrally to a Firebase deployment folder, with the same name as your declared Firebase Project. Yes/No


You've re-names the copied 'www' folder to 'public' Yes/no


You've evoked the Firebase init in a Dos window, which shows the path to this Firebase-project-names folder on your hard drive Yes/No


During the init session you've confirmed that your folder to be deployed is named 'public'. Yes/No


You've de-selected 'database', and retained the selection 'hosting' Yes/No


You've confirmed that it's a single app Yes/No


You've replied 'N' to the question concerning overwriting the index file. Yes/No


Once the Init session is over (a few seconds...), there are now two extra files in the folder containing 'public' Yes/No


You've evoked 'firebase deploy', which reflects for a while, then uploads your files. Yes/No


There is a URL to the deployed Project Yes/No


Copying that URL to a web browser triggers the deployed Game Yes/No


Over to you... 

 

[michael.simpsonii]

@michael.simpsonii...


Let's just check, then. You've created, through the Firebase web page, a Project under the 'Hosting' section. Yes


You've deployed to Web your MV Project. Yes


That deployment has made a folder containing a 'www' folder Yes


That 'www' folder contains a set of MV folders (img, audio etc...) and an index.html file. Yes


You've copied that deployed 'www' folder integrally to a Firebase deployment folder, with the same name as your declared Firebase Project. Yes/No


You've re-names the copied 'www' folder to 'public' Yes/no


You've evoked the Firebase init in a Dos window, which shows the path to this Firebase-project-names folder on your hard drive Yes/No


During the init session you've confirmed that your folder to be deployed is named 'public'. Yes/No


You've de-selected 'database', and retained the selection 'hosting' Yes/No


You've confirmed that it's a single app Yes/No


You've replied 'N' to the question concerning overwriting the index file. Yes/No


Once the Init session is over (a few seconds...), there are now two extra files in the folder containing 'public' Yes/No


You've evoked 'firebase deploy', which reflects for a while, then uploads your files. Yes/No


There is a URL to the deployed Project Yes/No


Copying that URL to a web browser triggers the deployed Game Yes/No


Over to you... 

 I'm going to try from scratch again. But I've indicated above the yes/no split.

 

[Dad3353]

@michael.simpsonii...


"Once the Init session is over (a few seconds...), there are now two extra files in the folder containing 'public' Yes/No"


No point deploying without those two files, which should be '.firebaserc' and 'firebase.json'.


Once the init session finished, do you see a screen like this..?

Spoiler

Does it say that those files have been created, or something else..?


Does the firebace project to be associated correspond to that created on the Firebase site..?


Are any of the blue messages different from mine (except for the associated Project name, of course...).

 

[michael.simpsonii]

@Dad3353 Hey, so I was using an Alienware with Windows 10 in my classroom. I installed the software on a laptop using Windows 7. Not sure what happened or why things switched but now it works (minus it having an issue loading one of the images, but I think that's a naming issue that I'll have the kids fix when we get back from break.)

https://project3-82f51.firebaseapp.com/

That is the link to the game that my students are still working on. They're 8th graders and in their second year of my course. You really came through for them and my program in general with your help. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.