Session Data Not Being Stored in the Server Database Upon App Installation

[dev-arpitpatel]

I have updated my .env file and configured the DB_CONNECTION as follows:

APP_NAME="Essential Trust Badges & Icons Dev"
APP_ENV=production
APP_KEY=**********
APP_DEBUG=true

LOG_CHANNEL=stack
LOG_LEVEL=debug

DB_CONNECTION=sqlite

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=************
DB_PORT=****
DB_DATABASE=************
DB_USERNAME=************
DB_PASSWORD=************

The path to the database file should be absolute; ensure it is updated accordingly.

DB_DATABASE=storage/db.sqlite

DB_FOREIGN_KEYS=true
SESSION_DRIVER=database

SHOPIFY_API_KEY=""
SHOPIFY_API_SECRET="****"

However, after deploying the application on the server and installing it in my store, the session data is not being stored in the session table in the server database.
Could you please assist me in identifying the issue and provide potential solutions?

[dev-arpitpatel]

"The above problem is completely solved, and below is the complete process for deploying the app on the server."

Here is a step-by-step guide to deploying a Laravel, React Shopify App, and Theme App Extension on a production server:

Step 1: Install dotenv Package and Create .env File
Navigate to the web/frontend folder.
Run the following command to install the dotenv package:

npm install dotenv
Create a .env file in the web/frontend folder.

Step 2: Update vite.config.js
Add the following lines to web/frontend/vite.config.js:

import * as dotenv from "dotenv";
dotenv.config();

Step 3: Build the App
From the root folder, run the following command to build the app:

npm run build --api-key=your_api_key
Replace your_api_key with your actual API key.

Step 4: Modify composer.json for Windows
If you are using Windows for the server, update composer.json with the following:

"build-frontend-links": "mklink /D public\assets ..\frontend\dist\assets && mklink public\index.html ..\frontend\dist\index.html"

Step 5: Modify composer.json for Ubuntu/Linux
If you are using Ubuntu or Linux for the server, update composer.json with the following:

"build-frontend-links": "ln -sf ../frontend/dist/assets public/assets && ln -sf ../frontend/dist/index.html public/index.html"

Step 6: Create Frontend Folder in Public Directory
Create a frontend folder in the public directory.
Copy the assets and index.html from web/frontend/dist to web/public/frontend.

Step 7: Update .env Files

Add the following lines to /root/.env:

SHOPIFY_API_KEY=your_api_key
SHOPIFY_API_SECRET=your_api_secret

Add the following lines to /frontend/.env:

SHOPIFY_API_KEY="your_api_key"
SHOPIFY_API_SECRET="your_api_secret"
SCOPES="write_order_edits,read_content,write_content,read_products,write_products,read_orders,write_orders,read_draft_orders,write_draft_orders,read_customers,read_checkouts,write_checkouts,read_payment_terms,write_payment_terms"
HOST="app_url" // Replace app_url with your server URL

Update the web/.env file with the following content:

APP_NAME=""
APP_ENV=production
APP_KEY=
APP_DEBUG=false
APP_URL="" // Server URL
HOST="" // Server URL
LOG_CHANNEL=stack
LOG_LEVEL=debug
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=
DB_PORT=
DB_DATABASE=
DB_USERNAME=
DB_PASSWORD=
DB_FOREIGN_KEYS=true

SHOPIFY_API_KEY=
SHOPIFY_API_SECRET=
SCOPES=read_checkouts,read_content,read_customers,read_orders,read_price_rules,read_product_listings,read_products,read_reports,read_resource_feedbacks,read_script_tags,read_themes,unauthenticated_read_checkouts,unauthenticated_read_content,unauthenticated_read_customer_tags,unauthenticated_read_customers,unauthenticated_read_product_inventory,unauthenticated_read_product_listings,unauthenticated_read_product_tags,unauthenticated_write_checkouts,unauthenticated_write_customers,write_checkouts,write_content,write_customers,write_orders,write_price_rules,write_products,write_reports,write_resource_feedbacks,write_script_tags,write_themes

SHOPIFY_API_SCOPES="read_checkouts,read_content,read_customers,read_orders,read_price_rules,read_product_listings,read_products,read_reports,read_resource_feedbacks,read_script_tags,read_themes,unauthenticated_read_checkouts,unauthenticated_read_content,unauthenticated_read_customer_tags,unauthenticated_read_customers,unauthenticated_read_product_inventory,unauthenticated_read_product_listings,unauthenticated_read_product_tags,unauthenticated_write_checkouts,unauthenticated_write_customers,write_checkouts,write_content,write_customers,write_orders,write_price_rules,write_products,write_reports,write_resource_feedbacks,write_script_tags,write_themes"

Step 8: Install Dependencies and Generate Keys
Navigate to web/frontend and run:

npm install
Navigate to web/ and run:

composer install
php artisan key:generate
php artisan migrate

Step 9: Update index.html Paths
In web/public/frontend/index.html, update the paths as follows:

<script type="module" crossorigin src="/frontend/assets/"></script> Step 10: Update web.php Route In web/routes/web.php, update the fallback route as follows:

Route::fallback(function (Request $request) {
Log::info("fallback");

if (Context::$IS_EMBEDDED_APP &&  $request->query("embedded", false) === "1") {
    if (env('APP_ENV') === 'production') {
        return file_get_contents(public_path('frontend/index.html'));
    } else {
        return file_get_contents(base_path('frontend/index.html'));
    }
} else {
    return redirect(Utils::getEmbeddedAppUrl($request->query("host", null)) . "/" . $request->path());
}

})->middleware('shopify.installed');

Step 11: Deploy Extension Code Updates
When updating the extension code, run npm run deploy on root/extensions/extenstio_name your local machine. This command updates the code on the Shopify server, eliminating the need to update the code on your server.

Step 12: Update Shopify Partner Account and shopify.app.toml
Update the App URL and Allowed redirection URL(s) with your server URL in your Shopify Partner account.
Update the shopify.app.toml file on the server with the following content:

application_url = "" // Server URL
redirect_urls = [
// Server URL
]
Change automatically_update_urls_on_dev from true to false.

13. Also add this in route/web.php

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Artisan;

// Route to clear all caches
Route::get('/clear-cache', function() {
// Clear application cache
Artisan::call('cache:clear');

// Clear route cache
Artisan::call('route:clear');

// Clear configuration cache
Artisan::call('config:clear');

// Clear compiled views cache
Artisan::call('view:clear');

// Return success message
return "All caches have been cleared!";

});
Once you've added this to your routes/web.php file, you can run the cache clearing in your browser by navigating to:

http://your-server-url/clear-cache

This guide should help you deploy your Laravel, React Shopify App, and theme app extension on a production server effectively.