Essay

MVP Journey: Building a Web App with Blazor, Azure, and Smart Automation

February 22, 2026 2 min read

How I Streamlined My Process for Fast Results and Reliable Deployment

When I set out to build an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for my web application, my goal was simple: deliver value quickly, with a setup that would scale and adapt as the project grew. Choosing Blazor for this journey made sense—it’s modern, flexible, and lets me write interactive web UIs with C#. I wanted my process to be efficient, so I focused on automation and streamlined workflows from day one.

Why Blazor and Azure?

Blazor stood out because it offers a straightforward way to build rich web applications without switching languages. Pairing it with Azure Web Application hosting fit my vision for reliability and easy scalability. Azure’s platform helps keep things simple, letting me focus on building features rather than worrying about infrastructure.

Automation: GitHub and Deployment Workflows

To keep development moving smoothly, I set up a private GitHub repository. With every code change, GitHub Actions automatically deploy updates to a staging slot in Azure. This means I can preview changes before they go live without manual steps—automation handles the heavy lifting. It’s a workflow that saves time and reduces errors, letting me stay focused on what matters most: building the app.

Database Strategy: One Database, All Environments

One key decision was to have all environments—staging, production, and development—point to the same database. By skipping a separate staging database, I simplified management and avoided the overhead of syncing data across environments. While this approach comes with risks, like changes affecting real data, it’s ideal for an MVP where speed and simplicity outweigh the need for strict isolation. Eventually I will get to a point where I need to have separate databases. That time will come when I have users that are active most of the time and changes may happen when someone is using the application. We aren’t there yet.

Lessons Learned: MVP Trade-Offs and Benefits

This streamlined setup brought plenty of benefits. Automation eliminated repetitive tasks, Azure provided reliable hosting, and a single database kept things straightforward. Of course, there are trade-offs: sharing a database means testing must be careful, and the workflow will need to evolve as the app matures. But for an MVP, focusing on speed and feedback was the right move.

Next Steps and Reflections

Building this MVP taught me the value of automation and smart decisions early on. As the project grows, I’ll revisit some choices—like database setup—to ensure long-term stability. For now, this approach lets me deliver quickly, iterate with ease, and learn from real users. It’s a foundation that balances speed, reliability, and simplicity, and I’m excited for what comes next.