The code is written, the tests pass (mostly), and you're ready to launch. But is your app actually ready for the real world? Run through this checklist to avoid launch-day disasters.

1. Performance Audit

Run a Lighthouse audit. Aim for all green scores. A slow site kills conversions faster than bad copy. Optimize images, minify CSS/JS, and ensure your caching strategy is working.

2. SEO Basics

Does every page have a unique title and meta description? Do you have a sitemap.xml and robots.txt? Verify your site with Google Search Console immediately after launch.

3. Analytics (The Right Way)

You need to know if people are using your app. But respect their privacy. Choose privacy-first analytics tools that don't require intrusive cookie banners or track personal data.

4. Error Tracking

Users won't always tell you when things break; they'll just leave. Set up error tracking (like Sentry) to catch crashes in real-time.

5. Uptime Monitoring

You can't fix what you don't know is broken. Set up an external uptime monitor like Pingbird to ping your site every minute. If your server crashes at 3 AM, you want to be the first to know.

6. Legal & Compliance

Do you have a Privacy Policy and Terms of Service? Are they accessible from the footer? If you handle user data, ensure you're GDPR/CCPA compliant.

7. Backup Strategy

What happens if your database vanishes tomorrow? Ensure automated backups are running and—more importantly—that you know how to restore from them.

Ready? If you've checked all these boxes, you're ready to fly. Good luck!