A simple Python Flask app on WebFaction
Flask is a popular Python-based micro framework. Here is how to install it on WebFaction.
This is based on the Flask instructions and the WebFaction instructions.
- Log into your WebFaction control panel
 - Domains/Websites -> Applications -> Add new application
- Name: FlaskTest
 - mod_wsgi
 - mod_wsgi / Python 2.7
 - (keep port closed)
 
 - Domains/Websites -> Websites
- Click on website
 - Add an application -> Reuse an existing application
 - Select flasktest, url: http://cm-demo.com/flasktest
 - Save the Website (important: this step is easy to miss, I’ve missed it myself a few times)
 
 - ssh into host
- cd webapps/flasktest
 - vi setup.sh
 - cut and paste script from https://community.webfaction.com/questions/12718/installing-flask
 - Change APPNAME and URLPATH (e.g. /foo)
 - exit vi (<esc>ZZ)
 - sh setup.sh
 
 - Test it: point your browser to <domain>/foo
- This should show “Hello World!”
 - Edit webapps/flasktest/flasktest/__index__.py, line:
return “Hello World!”
to return some different text - Refresh page in browser
 - Browser should now show the new text
 
 - Set up the static files – make all files in /foo/static static:
- Domains/Websites -> Websites
 - Click on website
 - Add an application
- Create a new application
 - Name: flasktest_static
 - Symbolic link
 - Symbolic link to static-only app
 - Extra info: /home/<user_name>/<webapps/<app>/<app>/static
 
 - Create the static folder
 - Create a test page in the new static folder
 - Try loading the page in your browser