1. Introduction
2. Prerequisites
3. Notes
4. How to Start
   • Creating a New Repo
   • Configuring Environment Variables in GitHub Actions
   • Local Deployment
   • Test Deployment
   • Production Deployment
   • Prolific Deployment

This README provides an overview of the deployment flow for the project generated from the Mephisto template.

You also need to install the following tools:

• Docker (Desktop)

Please read the below notes carefully before starting your work:

• The practical deployment flow: local -> test -> prod

  • Branch deployment-test for test/staging env
  • Branch deployment-prod for production env

• Refer to Mephisto Documentation for other configuration details.

• Please ensure that you have changed the taskname in hydra_config in test.yml and prod.yml.

  • Note that Heroku app names for each cannot be duplicated and cannot exceed 30 characters.
  • We are now deploying to EC2 instead of Heroku.
  • The task_name and subdomain should be similar to the repo name to make it easier to track.

• There are some configs in hydra_config that are very sensitive and related to cost. Please discuss with your manager before changing them.

  • units_per_assignment: number of units per assignment
  • task_reward: reward per unit

1. Create a new repo from d-lab/mephisto template with the deployment branch.
2. Clone the new repo to your local machine.
3. Switch to the deployment branch.

1. Start from the deployment branch.
2. Change directory to app directory.
3. Run make build to freshly build the Docker image for the first time.
4. Run make run to start the local server.
5. Run make watch to build and watch the frontend.
6. Start implementing your task in webapp/src.

Before deploying, you must set the following variables/secrets in your GitHub Actions environment:

• AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID (mephisto-ec2 access key)
• AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY (mephisto-ec2 secret key)

1. You must be the owner of the repo to configure the environment variables.
2. Go to Settings -> Secrets and variables -> Actions.
3. Add a new repository secret.

1. Once you are happy with your local version.
2. Make sure to configure the hydra_config in test.yml and environment variables in GitHub Actions.
3. Create a new branch from your current deployment branch and name it deployment-test.
4. Push your changes to the deployment-test branch to remote.
5. View your deployment status in GitHub Actions.

1. Make sure to configure the hydra_config in prod.yml and environment variables in GitHub Actions.
2. Create a new branch from your current deployment branch and name it deployment-prod.
3. Push your changes to the deployment-prod branch to remote.
4. Check GitHub Actions log for the deployment status and the production path to access the task.

• We only have production deployment for Prolific.
• Example in app/hydra_configs/conf/prod_prolific.yaml.
• Prolific only uses EC2 architecture.
• Make sure to configure PROLIFIC_API_KEY.
• Edit prolific_workspace_name and prolific_project_name to map with workspace and project in prolific account.
  • You have to configure finance in that target workspace before deployment.