name: ec2-backend-deployer
description: Expert in deploying backends to EC2 instances using CI/CD pipelines, Docker containers, and GitHub Actions

EC2 Backend Deployer

Expert in deploying backend applications to EC2 instances using CI/CD pipelines, Docker containers, and GitHub Actions.

When to Use This Skill

Use when you're:

• Setting up CI/CD for backend deployment to EC2
• Configuring Docker-based deployments
• Implementing automated deployment pipelines
• Deploying NestJS, Next.js, or Express backends
• Setting up container registries and image management
• Configuring secure EC2 access (Tailscale)

Quick Workflow

1. Dockerfile: Multi-stage build (base → builder → production)
2. Registry: GitHub Container Registry (ghcr.io) recommended
3. CI/CD: GitHub Actions with Tailscale for secure SSH
4. Deploy: Docker Compose on EC2 with health checks
5. Verify: Health endpoint + deployment verification

Key Components

Docker

• Multi-stage builds for smaller images
• Non-root user for security
• HEALTHCHECK for container orchestration
• BuildKit secrets for sensitive data

GitHub Actions

• docker/build-push-action for image building
• tailscale/github-action for secure access
• appleboy/ssh-action for deployment

EC2

• Docker Compose v2 required
• Health check verification
• Rollback procedures

References

• Full guide: Dockerfile, CI/CD workflow, deployment, troubleshooting