---
description: how to deploy elmeg changes safely
---

# Elmeg Safe Deployment

## CRITICAL: Never wipe the database

When deploying changes to elmeg, **ONLY rebuild the backend and frontend containers**. The database must NEVER be rebuilt or recreated.

## Safe deployment command

```bash
# turbo
ssh nexus-vector "cd /srv/containers/elmeg-demo && git pull && docker compose up -d --build --no-deps backend frontend"
```

## DANGEROUS - Do NOT use these commands

```bash
# These will WIPE THE DATABASE:
docker compose up -d --build          # Rebuilds ALL containers including db
docker compose down && docker compose up -d  # Recreates all containers
docker compose up -d --force-recreate  # Force recreates all
```

## Backup before any deployment (optional but recommended)

```bash
# turbo
ssh nexus-vector "docker exec elmeg-demo-db-1 pg_dump -U elmeg elmeg > /srv/containers/elmeg-demo/backup-\$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).sql"
```

## Restore from backup if needed

```bash
ssh nexus-vector "cat /srv/containers/elmeg-demo/backup-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.sql | docker exec -i elmeg-demo-db-1 psql -U elmeg elmeg"
```