Setting up a custom domain for your Shiny app

Before you can setup an SSL certificate and custom domain for your Shiny app, you must have deployed your application first.

Ready to assign a custom domain for your Shiny app?

We can offer *.hmdc.harvard.edu subdomains or you can bring your own. If you would like an HMDC sub-domain, please e-mail [e-mail] after completing the following instructions.

Enabling automatic or manual SSL certificate management

In the Heroku dashboard, go to your app and click on the Settings tab, pictured below using my-docker-r-example-app as an example.

Select Settings tab on your application in Heroku

Scroll down and click on Configure SSL.

Click the Configure SSL button

Select Automatic if you're not bringing your own custom SSL certificates, or Manually if you are. Continue through the screens as shown below until you're brought back to the settings page.

Select automatic or manual. You most likely want to select Automatic.

Now, you're ready to configure your custom domain.

Configuring your custom domain

Underneath the Configure SSL button, click Add domain.

• Enter your custom domain or HMDC sub-domain and click Next.

Enter your domain name

• Heroku will return a new hostname for your app. Use this hostname in the next section. If you entered an HMDC sub-domain, provide this custom domain to support and skip the next section.

Your new DNS target for CNAME

Copy the returned DNS target to the clipboard

Adding a DNS CNAME entry

Most domain registration services - GoDaddy, Google Domains, Hover - have their own DNS service. Create a CNAME DNS entry from your domain to the returned DNS target. After fiteen minutes, depending on DNS refresh rate, your custom domain should be accessible and display your app when visited.