GitHub Actions: CI/CD Workflow for Deploying a Backend API to AWS (Staging & Production)

This project demonstrates a real-world continuous deployment setup using GitHub Actions, Terraform, and EC2 for a simple FastAPI backend. It covers two environments: staging (auto-deployed) and production (manual approval).

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Project Structure

.
├── .github/
│   └── workflows/
│       ├── deploy_staging.yml         
│       └── deploy_production.yml       
├── app/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── main.py                        
├── terraform/
│   ├── ec2.tf                         
│   ├── ecr.tf                         
│   ├── iam.tf                         
│   ├── outputs.tf
│   ├── provider.tf
│   ├── variables.tf
│   └── .terraform.lock.hcl
├── Dockerfile                       
├── requirements.txt                 
└── README.md

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What This Project Shows

• GitHub Actions CI/CD pipeline for two environments
• Secure environment variables using GitHub secrets
• Docker image build and push to AWS ECR
• Terraform-managed EC2 and IAM setup
• Dynamic environment injection (staging/production)
• Clean production deployment triggered manually

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API Output Examples

// Staging
{"env": "staging", "version": "1", "status": "running"}

// Production
{"env": "production", "version": "1", "status": "running"}

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How to Use

1. Set Up AWS & Terraform

• Configure AWS credentials and backend.
• Run terraform init & terraform apply from the terraform/ directory.

2. Configure GitHub Secrets

In your GitHub repository settings, add these secrets:

• AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID
• AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY
• ECR_REPOSITORY
• EC2_STAGING_IP
• EC2_PROD_IP

3. CI/CD Pipeline

• On push to main: auto-deploys to staging.
• From GitHub UI: trigger manual production deployment when staging looks good.

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Note

Not just a random demo — this was built step by step with real hands-on effort, debugging weird issues and setting things up like you would in a real team. If it helps you or you want to tweak it for your own setup, go ahead. PRs always welcome.

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