# Alternative Deployment Options

Your shared hosting with CloudLinux Node.js Selector is having serious issues. Here are better alternatives:

## 🚀 Option 1: Vercel (Recommended - FREE & EASY)

**Why Vercel:**
- ✅ Free tier perfect for this
- ✅ Canvas/Sharp pre-built
- ✅ Deploy in 5 minutes
- ✅ Automatic HTTPS
- ✅ Global CDN

**How to Deploy:**

```bash
# On your Mac (in CompareKit folder):
npm install -g vercel
vercel login
vercel
```

Follow the prompts:
- Project name: comparekit
- Deploy: Yes
- Done!

You'll get a URL like: `https://comparekit.vercel.app`

**Add a vercel.json file first:**

Create `/Users/rogzim/Projects/CompareKit/vercel.json`:
```json
{
  "version": 2,
  "builds": [
    {
      "src": "src/server.js",
      "use": "@vercel/node"
    }
  ],
  "routes": [
    {
      "src": "/(.*)",
      "dest": "/src/server.js"
    }
  ]
}
```

---

## 🚂 Option 2: Railway (Also FREE & Easy)

**Why Railway:**
- ✅ Free tier with 500 hours/month
- ✅ Better for long-running processes
- ✅ Supports native modules perfectly
- ✅ Easy database integration if needed

**How to Deploy:**

1. Go to https://railway.app
2. Click "Start a New Project"
3. Choose "Deploy from GitHub" or "Deploy from local"
4. Select your CompareKit folder
5. Railway auto-detects Node.js and deploys!

**Add a railway.json (optional):**
```json
{
  "build": {
    "builder": "NIXPACKS"
  },
  "deploy": {
    "startCommand": "npm start"
  }
}
```

---

## 🎨 Option 3: Render (FREE Tier)

**Why Render:**
- ✅ Free tier available
- ✅ Very similar to Heroku
- ✅ Great documentation

**How to Deploy:**

1. Go to https://render.com
2. Sign up/login
3. Click "New +" → "Web Service"
4. Connect GitHub or upload files
5. Settings:
   - Build Command: `npm install`
   - Start Command: `npm start`
6. Deploy!

---

## 💰 Option 4: DigitalOcean App Platform ($5/month)

**Why DigitalOcean:**
- ✅ Professional hosting
- ✅ Full control
- ✅ Predictable pricing
- ✅ Great performance

**How to Deploy:**

1. Go to https://cloud.digitalocean.com
2. Create an App
3. Connect GitHub or upload
4. Auto-deploys

---

## 🏠 Option 5: Keep cPanel BUT Use Different Approach

If you MUST use your current hosting:

### A. Contact Hosting Support

Send this message:

```
Subject: Node.js Application Not Starting - Need Help

Hi,

I'm trying to run a Node.js application using the CloudLinux Node.js Selector,
but Passenger keeps failing with generic errors.

My app is in: /home/ziro2006/public_html/CompareKit
Startup file: app.js
Node.js version: 18.20.8

The app uses these dependencies:
- express
- canvas (native module)
- sharp (native module)

Can you please:
1. Check the Passenger error logs for error IDs: 3ec0c2eb, 2b6afc6f, 22acd760
2. Install system libraries: cairo, pango, libvips, libjpeg, libpng
3. Or advise if Node.js apps with native modules are supported

Thank you!
```

### B. Try SSH + PM2 (If you have SSH access)

```bash
ssh yourusername@yourserver.com
cd /home/ziro2006/public_html/CompareKit
npm install
npm install -g pm2
pm2 start src/server.js --name comparekit
pm2 save
pm2 startup
```

Then create .htaccess to proxy requests to port 3000.

---

## 📊 Comparison Table

| Platform | Cost | Setup Time | Native Modules | Difficulty |
|----------|------|------------|----------------|------------|
| **Vercel** | Free | 5 min | ✅ Yes | ⭐ Easy |
| **Railway** | Free | 5 min | ✅ Yes | ⭐ Easy |
| **Render** | Free | 10 min | ✅ Yes | ⭐⭐ Medium |
| **DigitalOcean** | $5/mo | 15 min | ✅ Yes | ⭐⭐ Medium |
| **Current cPanel** | Included | ??? | ❌ Not working | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hard |

---

## 🎯 My Recommendation

**Deploy to Vercel right now.** It will take 5 minutes and actually work.

Then you can:
- Keep trying to fix cPanel in parallel
- Point a custom domain to Vercel
- Have a working app while you debug hosting

---

## 🔧 Vercel Quick Start (Copy-Paste Ready)

```bash
# 1. Install Vercel CLI
npm install -g vercel

# 2. Go to your project
cd /Users/rogzim/Projects/CompareKit

# 3. Deploy
vercel

# Follow prompts:
# - Link to existing project? No
# - Project name? comparekit
# - Directory? ./
# - Override settings? No

# Done! Your app is live.
```

Visit the URL Vercel gives you, and CompareKit will be working perfectly with canvas/sharp support!

---

Ready to try Vercel? Or do you want to keep debugging cPanel?
