vercel 404 error Vercel + Node.js

 Vercel + Node.js vs. Next.js: Tackling the Mysterious 404 Errors

Recently, I worked on a project deploying a Node.js application to Vercel. Initially, I was puzzled by recurring 404 errors in my Node.js setup. Given that Vercel is closely associated with Next.js, I began to wonder if the platform is simply more optimized for Next.js projects. My suspicions were confirmed when I switched to Next.js and—almost magically—everything worked as expected with no 404 errors.

So, why did my Node.js project run into these issues? And more importantly, how can you resolve them if you’re working with Vercel and Node.js?

Understanding the Issue

Vercel is designed with Next.js in mind, offering a seamless experience with built-in routing, server-side rendering, and API routes. When you use a plain Node.js server on Vercel, you have to manually handle routing and configuration. This extra step sometimes leads to misconfigurations, which in turn can cause Vercel to return 404 errors for routes that you expect to be handled by your Node.js server.

A Possible Resolution: Configuring vercel.json

One effective way to resolve these 404 errors is by creating a vercel.json configuration file that tells Vercel exactly how to build and route your Node.js application. Here’s an example configuration that directs all routes to your Node.js server (assuming your main server file is named server.js):

json

복사

{

  "version": 2,

  "builds": [

    { "src": "server.js", "use": "@vercel/node" }

  ],

  "routes": [

    { "src": "/(.*)", "dest": "/server.js" }

  ]

}

How This Works:

Builds Section:

The builds array specifies that server.js should be handled using Vercel’s Node.js builder (@vercel/node).

Routes Section:

The routes array tells Vercel to send all incoming requests (matched by the regular expression /(.*)) to server.js. This ensures that your custom routing logic in Node.js is applied for every request, preventing Vercel’s default behavior (which might not recognize your routes) from triggering a 404.

Additional Tips

Double-check File Names and Paths:

Ensure that your file names, folder structures, and API endpoints match your configuration. Even small typos can result in unexpected 404 errors.

Consider Vercel’s Serverless Nature:

Remember that Vercel is built around a serverless model. If your Node.js application relies on persistent connections or long-lived processes, you might need to rethink your architecture or consider using Next.js API routes. Vercel’s serverless functions are ephemeral, meaning they only run in response to a request.

Look Into Vercel’s Documentation:

Vercel’s docs are a great resource when dealing with deployment issues. The official documentation covers a wide range of topics, including custom server configurations and advanced routing.

Conclusion

While Vercel offers a stellar experience for Next.js applications, deploying a plain Node.js server might require some additional setup—especially around routing. By creating a proper vercel.json file to manage builds and routes, you can overcome the pesky 404 errors and ensure that your Node.js project runs smoothly on Vercel.

Happy coding!