Introduction
To develop and host on Square Cloud, it’s essential to follow a structured sequence of configurations and prerequisites. This technical guide will cover the entire process, from initial setup to production deployment.Prerequisites
- Square Cloud Account: Hosting platform for your application. Register through the signup page using your email.
- Active Paid Plan: Ensures dedicated resources and optimized performance for your application. Check our available plans and choose the most suitable for your needs.
Wondering how much RAM and CPU your plan needs to host Express applications?
Don't worry, we're here to help. Our Standard plan offers 4GB of RAM and 4vCPU, which should be sufficient for most Express applications. However, if you are working on a larger project and seeking extra stability, we recommend considering our Pro plan. With additional resources, you can maintain stability even during demand spikes. To purchase, simply click here.
Don't worry, we're here to help. Our Standard plan offers 4GB of RAM and 4vCPU, which should be sufficient for most Express applications. However, if you are working on a larger project and seeking extra stability, we recommend considering our Pro plan. With additional resources, you can maintain stability even during demand spikes. To purchase, simply click here.
Creating project
To create an Express application, you need to have Node.js and npm installed on your system before following the steps.Installing library
To use Express, you need to install it on your system. Run the following command:express package on your system, allowing you to use Express in your application.
Developing project
To create a new Express project, you can start by creating a new file and writing the following code:app.js
Deploying
After preparing your project files, you can now upload them to Square Cloud and host your project. To do so, create a ZIP file containing all your project files.What port should I use for my server?
You should use port 80 for your server. Port 80 is the default port for HTTP traffic, which is handled by Square Cloud to route it to 443, HTTPS, for a secure connection.
Make sure to configure it before compressing and uploading your project.
You should use port 80 for your server. Port 80 is the default port for HTTP traffic, which is handled by Square Cloud to route it to 443, HTTPS, for a secure connection.
Make sure to configure it before compressing and uploading your project.
Via dashboard
1
Access the Upload Page
Access the upload page and upload your project zip file.
2
Configure Your Environment
After uploading your zip, you will need to configure the name, main file or runtime environment and other settings for your project.
If you are uploading a web project, make sure to select "Web Publication" and set a subdomain to your project.
If you are uploading a web project, make sure to select "Web Publication" and set a subdomain to your project.
3
Deploy Your Project
Finally, click on the "Deploy" button to host your project on Square Cloud.
After deployment, you can monitor your project's status and logs from the dashboard.
After deployment, you can monitor your project's status and logs from the dashboard.

Via CLI
To use this method, you need to create a config file namedsquarecloud.app in the root directory of your project. This file will contain the necessary configuration for your project.
Learn more about: how to create the configuration file for Square Cloud.
The squarecloud.app file is a configuration file that will be used to configure your application; it will be used to define your environment.
1
Install the CLI
First, you need to have the CLI installed in your environment. If you don't have it yet, run the following command in your terminal:If you already have it, we recommend updating it. To do this, run the following command in your terminal:
- Windows
- Linux, macOS, and WSL
2
Authenticate
Now, to authenticate and use other CLI commands, you will find your authorization key here by clicking on "Request API Key". After obtaining your authorization key, run the following command:
3
Upload Your Project
Finally, to deploy your application to Square Cloud using the CLI, you need to run the following command:Or if you created the zip manually, you can use:
Additional Resources
For more information about Express and its tools, visit the official Express documentation. There, you will find detailed guides, tutorials, and API documentation to help you make the most of Express.Troubleshooting
Custom Domain
To use a custom domain (e.g.,
mysite.com) instead of the default URL https://mysite.squareweb.app/, you need the Standard plan or higher. The subdomain is defined by the SUBDOMAIN field in the configuration file. See: How to set up your custom domain.Minimum RAM Requirements
Minimum: 512MB RAM for simple websites/APIs. For sites with frameworks (Next.JS, React, Vue, Angular, etc.), we always recommend at least 1GB RAM. For larger applications, use more RAM to avoid LACK_OF_RAM error and ensure performance.
Could not find this site.
Check if the subdomain/domain matches what's configured in the SUBDOMAIN field or in the custom domain settings. If you just uploaded the site, wait up to 60 seconds for Square to enable first access.

Site took too long to respond...
Check if you correctly configured port 80 and host 0.0.0.0 in the application. We recommend using Square's forced environment variables: PORT and HOST from the 
.env file.

