How do I set up SSH keys for GitHub Actions to EC2?

Generate with `ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096`. Copy pubkey to EC2's `~/.ssh/authorized_keys`. Paste private key (sans headers) into GitHub repo Secrets as SSH_KEY. Add SSH_HOST (EC2 IP) and SSH_USERNAME (ubuntu).

What's the monthly cost for this Node.js CI/CD on AWS?

T2.micro: free tier eligible (~$0 first year). Data transfer: pennies. Watch EBS volume growth from Docker images—prune helps.

Can I use this pipeline with Render or DigitalOcean instead of EC2?

Yes. Swap SSH host/script for their APIs. DigitalOcean Droplets mirror EC2 setup perfectly.

🏗️ DevOps & Infrastructure

GitHub Actions and Docker: Finally Sane CI/CD for Your Node.js Side Hustle

Your Node.js app crashing because you forgot to restart the server? This CI/CD pipeline with GitHub Actions and Docker fixes that—automatically. No more manual babysitting.

Open Source Beat Apr 11, 2026 4 min read

CI/CD pipeline diagram: GitHub push triggers Docker build and deploy to EC2 instance

⚡ Key Takeaways

Automates Node.js deploys via GitHub Actions SSH to EC2—push and forget. 𝕏
Docker Compose simplifies local/prod parity; prune images to avoid bloat. 𝕏
Cheap for prototypes, but watch AWS bills and security holes for scale. 𝕏

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Open Source Beat

Community-driven. Code-first.

#AWS EC2 #CI/CD #Docker #Docker deployment #EC2 Node app #EC2 automation #Express #GitHub Actions #Node.js CI/CD #node.js

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Originally reported by Dev.to

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