How to deploy a Hono app | Ample
The short version
To deploy a Hono app on Ample, run ample deploy . --name <app-name> --public in the project directory, or ask your coding agent to deploy it to Ample. Ample builds it on the node-22 template, starts it with npm run start and returns a public HTTPS URL.
Deploy Hono
- 1
Ask your coding agent
Install the Ample CLI and create an account (no browser or card needed), then ask Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or any agent with a shell to deploy the project. See Ample for coding agents.
curl -fsSL https://get.ample.computer/install.sh | sh
ample auth signup
# then, in your agent:
# "Deploy this Hono app to Ample"
- 2
Or deploy from the CLI
Run the deploy once from the project directory. It waits until the app is live or failed and prints the URL; exit 0 is live, 1 failed, 2 needs input.
ample deploy . --name <app-name> --public
- 3
Or use MCP
Agents connected to the Ample MCP server (https://api.ample.computer/mcp, or ample mcp over stdio) call ample_deploy with the same arguments.
- 4
Verify
Open the URL. If the deploy failed, read the build log, then the runtime log, fix the cause and deploy again.
ample logs <deployment_id> --kind build
What Ample runs
| Template | node-22 |
| Install | npm install |
| Build | npm run build --if-present |
| Start | npm run start |
| Tested size | s-1vcpu-1gb |
Verified on Hono: the app built and started with the documented commands and answered on its public HTTPS URL. Build and start: npm install and npm run start with @hono/node-server on the node-22 template.
Last verification (September 21, 2026): Hono pattern fixture deployed on Ample (npm install and npm run start with @hono/node-server on the node-22 template); for this guide: the app built and started with the documented commands and answered on its public HTTPS URL.
Before you deploy
You need
- A Hono project (npm install and npm run start with @hono/node-server on the node-22 template)
- An Ample account token with servers:write
Know the limits
- Verified on the node-22 template at s-1vcpu-1gb; other sizes and Hono major versions are not verified.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Dockerfile to deploy Hono?
No. Ample detects Hono from the repository and builds it from source on the node-22 template. Dockerfile build steps are not run.
How do I add a database to a Hono app?
Leave DATABASE_URL unset and deploy: when the code needs Postgres, MySQL, Redis or MongoDB, Ample creates a managed database and passes its connection string to the app. See Connect Postgres for Hono.
What does it cost to host a Hono app on Ample?
The Free plan runs 2 apps at once with no card and a hard monthly budget, so it never bills you. Larger needs are priced on volume; see pricing.
What if the deploy fails?
ample deploy waits until the app is live or failed. A failure returns who must act, a diagnosis and a suggested fix; read the logs with ample logs <deployment_id> --kind build. See Diagnose deployment failures for Hono.