Build & Deploy Lifecycle
The build pipeline from git push to live site, including triggers, monitoring, and rollbacks.
Jamdesk handles the full build and deploy lifecycle automatically. Push to GitHub and your docs go live within minutes.
Build Lifecycle
Build Triggers
| Trigger | How It Works | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Git Push | Webhook fires on push to connected branch | Normal development |
| Dashboard | Click "Rebuild" in project settings | Force refresh after config changes |
| API | POST /projects/{id}/rebuild | CI/CD pipelines, scheduled updates |
Builds are debounced. Multiple commits within 10 seconds are batched into a single build.
What Happens During a Build
Jamdesk clones your repo, validates docs.json and MDX syntax, compiles to optimized HTML with search indexing, then deploys to Cloudflare R2. Most sites build in 30-90 seconds.
For the full pipeline breakdown with architecture diagram, see How Jamdesk Works.
Deployment Status
Check build status in the dashboard:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Building | Build in progress |
| Deployed | Live at your domain |
| Failed | Build error - check logs |
| Queued | Waiting for previous build |
The Build History section shows recent deployments with status and the ability to trigger manual rebuilds:
Manual Rebuild
Trigger a rebuild without pushing changes:
- Go to your project in the dashboard
- Open Settings
- Click Rebuild
Use this when:
- Updating environment variables
- Fixing a stuck build
- Refreshing after platform updates
Environment Variables
Set build-time variables in Settings → Environment:
ANALYTICS_ID=G-XXXXXXXXXX
API_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com
Variables are available during the build process and can be referenced in your docs.json or MDX files.
Build Logs
View detailed build logs for debugging:
- Go to Deployments in your project
- Click on a specific deployment
- View the full build log
Common issues appear in logs:
- Invalid MDX syntax
- Missing images or assets
- Broken internal links
- Configuration errors
Rollbacks
Revert to a previous version:
- Go to Deployments
- Find the deployment you want to restore
- Click Rollback
The previous version goes live immediately while a new build starts.
Branch Deployments
Branch deployments are available on Pro plans.
Preview changes before merging:
- Push to a feature branch
- Jamdesk creates a preview at
branch-name.your-project.jamdesk.app - Review and merge when ready
API Triggers
Trigger builds programmatically:
curl -X POST "https://api.jamdesk.com/projects/YOUR_PROJECT_ID/rebuild" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Find your API key in Settings → API.
See Builds API / Triggers for authentication, error handling, and rate limits.