The solo developer's backend. Push code, get a URL. The cheat sheet for the platform we run on.
$5-30
Typical Solo /mo
3
Core Concepts
~5min
First Deploy
Zero
Downtime Deploys
Mental model — projects, services, environments
CONTAINER
Project
Top-level. RDR2 Companion = one project. Groups all related services + env config.
Service
A running piece of software. Typical: backend + maybe worker + maybe cron.
Environment
Copy of services with different config. production + staging standard.
Managed databases (one-click)
DEFAULT
PostgreSQL
Relational. Use this unless you have a specific reason otherwise.
Redis
Key-value cache. Rate limiting state. Sessions.
MySQL
Legacy compat.
MongoDB
Document store.
Service References
Cross-service variables: ${{Postgres.DATABASE_URL}} resolves automatically. Swap the DB; your backend code doesn't change.
When to Grow Out
Bill consistently > $500/mo after optimization · need niche service Railway doesn't offer · regulated compliance requirements · global multi-region · then AWS / GCP.
Tips you only learn later
CLI essentials
Pin Node version In package.json engines field
Use service references Internal calls go over fast private network