Moving from localhost to a production AWS environment can be intimidating. Here's my step-by-step approach that minimizes surprises.
Step 1: Environment Parity
Use Docker locally to mirror your production environment. If it works in the container, it'll work in EC2. No more "but it works on my machine" moments.
Step 2: Infrastructure as Code
I define everything in configuration files. Security groups, RDS settings, S3 bucket policies: all version controlled. Rebuilding the entire infrastructure takes minutes, not hours.
Set up monitoring before you need it. CloudWatch logs and alarms cost almost nothing but save everything when something breaks at 2 AM.
Step 3: Database Migration Strategy
Never run migrations directly in production. Test them locally, then in a staging environment, then production. Laravel's migration system makes this disciplined approach painless.
Step 4: Monitoring from Day One
CloudWatch logs and basic alarms cost almost nothing but save everything when something breaks at 2 AM. Set them up before you need them.
The cloud is complex, but methodical deployment makes it manageable.