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1 | | -# Azure Container Apps Express Overview [Public Preview] |
| 1 | +# Azure Container Apps express |
2 | 2 |
|
3 | | -Azure Container Apps express gives you the fastest way to deploy containerized web applications to Azure. With opinionated defaults and a minimal configuration surface, express is a developer-first and agent-first platform designed to get your web apps running in the cloud as fast as possible. Rapid provisioning and scale-from-zero make express an ideal host for AI-powered applications and agent backends. |
4 | | - |
5 | | -## Prerequisites |
6 | | - |
7 | | -- An Azure account with an active subscription. |
8 | | - - If you don't have one, you [can create one for free](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/purchase-options/azure-account?cid=msft_learn). |
9 | | -- A **Microsoft Entra ID account**. Only Entra ID accounts can sign in to Express. Non-AAD accounts, such as personal Microsoft accounts, aren't supported. |
10 | | -- Install the [Azure CLI](/cli/azure/install-azure-cli). |
11 | | - |
12 | | -## Quickstart: Deploy with the CLI |
13 | | - |
14 | | -Get your first Express container app running with a few CLI commands. |
15 | | - |
16 | | -### Update the Container Apps extension |
17 | | - |
18 | | -Before you begin, upgrade the Azure Container Apps CLI extension to the required version. |
19 | | - |
20 | | -```azurecli |
21 | | -az extension update --name containerapp |
22 | | -``` |
23 | | - |
24 | | -> [!NOTE] |
25 | | -> You need version **1.3.0b4** or later of the `containerapp` extension. |
26 | | -
|
27 | | -### Create an Express environment |
28 | | - |
29 | | -Create a resource group and an Express environment. Replace `<ENVIRONMENT_NAME>` and `<RESOURCE_GROUP>` with your own values. |
30 | | - |
31 | | -```azurecli |
32 | | -az containerapp env create \ |
33 | | - --environment-mode express \ |
34 | | - --name <ENVIRONMENT_NAME> \ |
35 | | - --resource-group <RESOURCE_GROUP> \ |
36 | | - --logs-destination none |
37 | | -``` |
38 | | - |
39 | | -### Deploy a container app |
40 | | - |
41 | | -Deploy a container image to the Express environment. |
42 | | - |
43 | | -```azurecli |
44 | | -az containerapp up \ |
45 | | - --image docker.io/nginx \ |
46 | | - --name <APP_NAME> \ |
47 | | - --resource-group <RESOURCE_GROUP> |
48 | | -``` |
49 | | - |
50 | | -## Region availability |
51 | | - |
52 | | -During the private preview, Express is available only in the **West Central US** region. Support for more regions will be added in future releases. |
53 | | - |
54 | | - |
55 | | -## Filing issues |
56 | | - |
57 | | -If you encounter issues or have feedback during the private preview, file an issue on the [Azure Container Apps GitHub repository](https://github.com/microsoft/azure-container-apps/). Start the issue title with **[EPP]** to identify it as an Express Private Preview issue. |
58 | | - |
59 | | -For example: `[EPP] Deployment fails when using custom environment variables` |
60 | | - |
61 | | -## Key benefits |
62 | | - |
63 | | -Express removes infrastructure decisions so you can go from code to production quickly. |
64 | | - |
65 | | -- **High-speed launch**: Deploy in minutes with no infrastructure tuning required. Scaling behavior is built in from the start. |
66 | | - |
67 | | -- **Simple, powerful apps**: Run HTTP-first workloads including APIs, SaaS frontends, AI gateways, and event-driven web backends. |
68 | | - |
69 | | -- **Automatic elasticity**: Scale from zero to hyperscale automatically. Express is designed for unpredictable traffic patterns, and scaling is handled for you. |
70 | | - |
71 | | -Express also provides: |
72 | | - |
73 | | -| Feature | Description | |
74 | | -|---|---| |
75 | | -| Scale from zero | Your app scales down to zero when idle and back up on demand, so you only pay for what you use. | |
76 | | -| High-speed startup | Optimized cold start ensures your app is ready to serve traffic quickly. | |
77 | | -| Opinionated defaults | Sensible defaults are applied automatically so you don't have to configure infrastructure settings. | |
78 | | -| Minimal configuration surface | Fewer decisions to make means faster time to production. | |
79 | | -| Developer velocity | Spend less time on infrastructure and more time writing code. | |
80 | | - |
81 | | -## Common scenarios |
82 | | - |
83 | | -Express is ideal for HTTP-based web workloads where speed of deployment and simplicity are priorities. |
84 | | - |
85 | | -- **SaaS applications**: Launch SaaS products without worrying about scaling infrastructure. |
86 | | - |
87 | | -- **AI app frontends**: Deploy AI-powered interfaces and gateways that scale with demand. |
88 | | - |
89 | | -- **Developer tools**: Ship internal and external dev tools with zero-config deployment. |
90 | | - |
91 | | -- **Web dashboards**: Build internal analytics, monitoring, and admin panels with instant availability. |
92 | | - |
93 | | -- **Startups and new projects**: Go from idea to production in minutes. Prototype fast, and scale as you grow. |
94 | | - |
95 | | -- **Rapid prototyping**: Build and validate ideas quickly, then keep running in production without replatforming. |
96 | | - |
97 | | -## How express works |
98 | | - |
99 | | -Express simplifies the deployment experience by removing the need to create and manage a Container Apps environment. You deploy your app directly, and the platform provisions the underlying resources for you. |
100 | | - |
101 | | -- **No environment to manage**: Deploy your container app without creating or configuring an environment. Express handles infrastructure allocation automatically. |
102 | | - |
103 | | -- **Consumption-based compute**: Express runs on consumption CPU with pay-as-you-go pricing. Your apps scale to zero when idle, so you only pay for the compute your app uses. |
104 | | - |
105 | | -- **Opinionated defaults**: Configuration decisions like scaling rules, networking, and resource allocation are handled by the platform with production-ready defaults. |
106 | | - |
107 | | -- **Request-driven duration**: Compute runs when your app receives requests and scales down when traffic stops. |
108 | | - |
109 | | -- **Optimized cold start**: Express automatically optimizes cold-start behavior, so your app is ready to serve traffic quickly after scaling from zero. |
110 | | - |
111 | | -## When to use express |
112 | | - |
113 | | -Use the following table to determine if Express is the right fit for your workload. |
114 | | - |
115 | | -| Scenario | Use express? | Alternative | |
116 | | -|---|---|---| |
117 | | -| Web apps and REST APIs | ✅ Yes | | |
118 | | -| SaaS frontends and AI gateways | ✅ Yes | | |
119 | | -| Rapid prototyping and startups | ✅ Yes | | |
120 | | -| Web dashboards and admin panels | ✅ Yes | | |
121 | | -| GPU workloads | ❌ No | Use [serverless GPUs](gpu-serverless-overview.md) with dedicated workload profiles | |
122 | | -| TCP-based services | ❌ No | Use standard [Container Apps environments](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-apps/environment) | |
123 | | -| Jobs and batch processing | ❌ No | Use [Container Apps jobs](jobs.md) | |
124 | | -| Microservices with service discovery | ❌ No | Use standard [Container Apps environments](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-apps/environment) | |
125 | | - |
126 | | -## Considerations |
127 | | - |
128 | | -Keep the following points in mind when using express: |
129 | | - |
130 | | -- **HTTP workloads only**: Express supports web apps and APIs that communicate over HTTP. TCP-based workloads aren't supported. |
131 | | - |
132 | | -- **Consumption CPU compute**: Express runs on consumption-based CPU compute. GPU workloads require standard Container Apps with [dedicated workload profiles](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-apps/workload-profiles-overview). |
133 | | - |
134 | | -- **Opinionated configuration**: Express uses opinionated defaults with a minimal configuration surface. If you need fine-grained control over compute, networking, or cold-start behavior, use standard Container Apps with a [workload profiles environment](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-apps/environment). |
135 | | - |
136 | | -- **Feature availability**: Express offers a focused set of features at launch. Some capabilities available in standard Container Apps environments, such as custom virtual networks, Dapr integration, and built-in service discovery, aren't available in Express. |
| 3 | +Read the official docs on [Azure Container Apps express](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-apps/express-overview) on Microsoft Learn. |
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