You’ve done the hard part. You built a frontend that looks incredible. You finished a backend that actually works. You even pulled the trigger and bought that professional .com or .co.ke you’ve been eyeing.
But now, you’re stuck.
You’re staring at the dashboard of your domain registrar, and the realization is hitting you: "I have one domain name, but I have three different things to show the world."
- You need a Portfolio to land the job.
- You need an App to show the product.
- You need an API to power the whole thing.
You might be wondering: Did I make a mistake? Do I need to buy three different domains? How am I supposed to jam a React frontend, a Node.js backend, and a static portfolio into one single address?
Stop. You don’t need more domains. You just need to realize that you didn't buy a single room—you bought the whole plot of land.
The "Subdomain" Superpower
Right now, you’re likely looking at your domain as a static file. But your domain is actually a namespace. Think of it as a house. Your main domain is the front door (the Lobby), but you can add as many side doors as you want.
-
The Lobby (
yourdomain.com): This is for your Portfolio. It’s your handshake with the world. -
The Workshop (
app.yourdomain.com): This is where your application lives. It’s a separate space for users to interact with your code. -
The Engine Room (
api.yourdomain.com): This is where your backend sits. It’s tucked away, doing the heavy lifting without cluttering your frontend.
The "DNS Map" in Your Hands
If you’re looking at settings like A Records, CNAMEs, and Nameservers and feeling like you’re about to break the internet—take a breath.
DNS is just a map. Your job is simply to draw the lines:
- Point the "root" (@) to wherever you decide to host your portfolio.
- Create a CNAME record named `app` and point it to your frontend host.
- Create a CNAME record named `api` and point it to your backend host.
The moment you do this, you stop being someone who just "writes code" and you become a System Architect. You are now managing a professional-grade ecosystem where every part of your stack has its own home.
The Final "Handshake" (CORS)
Once you get those subdomains live, you’ll likely hit one last wall. Your frontend will try to talk to your backend, and the browser will stop it. It will say: "I don't trust this connection."
Don't panic. This is the CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) talk.
Even though your App and your API share a "last name," they are separate origins. You must go into your backend code and explicitly say: "I trust my workshop. Let app.yourdomain.com in." It’s the final handshake that connects your engine to your interface.
The Takeaway
If you’re frustrated today because your domain feels "too small" for your project, remember this: Your domain is as big as you make it. You have the power to host a portfolio, a production app, and a robust API all under one roof. You aren't just pointing URLs; you're building a professional infrastructure.
Stop staring at the "Site Not Found" error. Go to your DNS manager, add those records, and turn your one domain into a powerhouse.
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