Angular SSR Not Rendering in Production: A Troubleshooting Guide

Are you facing issues with Angular Server-Side Rendering (SSR) not rendering in production? You’re not alone! SSR can be a game-changer for Angular applications, but it can also be a nightmare to troubleshoot. In this article, we’ll dive into the common issues that might be causing your SSR setup to fail and provide step-by-step solutions to get you back on track.

Understanding Angular SSR

Before we dive into the troubleshooting process, let’s quickly recap what Angular SSR is and how it works. Server-Side Rendering is a technique that allows Angular to render your application on the server, generating static HTML that can be served to clients. This approach provides several benefits, including:

• Faster page loads: By rendering the initial HTML on the server, users can see the content of your application before the JavaScript code is even executed.
• Improved SEO: Search engines can crawl and index your application’s content, making it more discoverable.
• Enhanced security: SSR can help protect your application from malicious JavaScript attacks.

Common Issues with Angular SSR

Despite its benefits, Angular SSR can be finicky. Here are some common issues you might encounter:

• Blank page or no rendering in production
• Slow rendering or timeouts
• Missing or incorrect metadata
• Renderer crashes or errors

Troubleshooting Steps for Angular SSR Not Rendering in Production

Let’s get started with the troubleshooting process. Follow these steps to identify and resolve the issue:

Step 1: Verify Your Angular Version

Make sure you’re running the latest version of Angular. SSR is only supported in Angular 9 and later versions. You can check your Angular version by running:

ng --version

If you’re running an earlier version, upgrade to the latest version using:

ng update @angular/cli@latest

Step 2: Check Your Server Configuration

Verify that your server configuration is correct. Make sure you’ve installed the required dependencies, including @angular/platform-server and @nguniversal/express-engine. You can check your package.json file to ensure the following dependencies are present:

"dependencies": {
  "@angular/platform-server": "^13.0.0",
  "@nguniversal/express-engine": "^13.0.0",
  ...
}

If you’re using a different server setup, ensure you’ve configured it correctly according to the official Angular documentation.

Step 3: Review Your App Configuration

Check your app configuration to ensure it’s set up for SSR. In your app.module.ts file, verify that you’ve imported the ServerModule from @angular/platform-server:

import { ServerModule } from '@angular/platform-server';

@NgModule({
  imports: [
    ServerModule,
    // Other modules...
  ],
  // ...
})
export class AppModule {}

Step 4: Inspect Your RouterModule Configuration

Review your RouterModule configuration to ensure it’s set up correctly for SSR. In your app-routing.module.ts file, verify that you’ve imported the ServerRouterModule from @nguniversal/express-engine:

import { ServerRouterModule } from '@nguniversal/express-engine';

@NgModule({
  imports: [
    ServerRouterModule,
    RouterModule.forRoot(routes),
    // Other modules...
  ],
  // ...
})
export class AppRoutingModule {}

Step 5: Check Your Components and Templates

Inspect your components and templates to ensure they’re compatible with SSR. Make sure you’ve removed any browser-specific code and replaced it with SSR-friendly alternatives. For example, instead of using the window object, use the injection token from @angular/platform-server:

import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';
import { WINDOW } from '@angular/platform-server';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-example',
  template: '
Example Component
'
})
export class ExampleComponent {
  constructor(@Inject(WINDOW) private window: Window) {}

  ngAfterViewInit(): void {
    // Use the injected window object instead of the global window
    this.window.scrollTo(0, 0);
  }
}

Step 6: Verify Your Production Build

Review your production build configuration to ensure it’s set up correctly for SSR. In your angular.json file, verify that you’ve enabled SSR and specified the correct server configuration:

"projects": {
  "my-app": {
    ...
    "architect": {
      "build": {
        ...
        "configurations": {
          "production": {
            ...
            "server": {
              "type": "server",
              "platformServer": true,
              "outputPath": "dist/server"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 7: Inspect Your Server Logs

Check your server logs for any errors or warnings that might indicate the cause of the issue. You can use tools like pm2 or nodemon to monitor your server logs:

pm2 logs

Look for any error messages related to Angular SSR, and address them accordingly.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

If you’re still experiencing issues, try the following:

• Verify that your server is correctly configured to serve static files.
• Check that your Apache or Nginx configuration is correct.
• Ensure that your application is correctly configured to handle HTTPS requests.
• Try disabling any Angular modules or components that might be causing issues.
• Review your application’s performance and optimization settings.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting Angular SSR can be a challenging task, but by following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue. Remember to:

• Verify your Angular version and server configuration.
• Review your app configuration, RouterModule, and components.
• Check your production build and server logs.
• Inspect your application’s performance and optimization settings.

By following these steps and tips, you should be able to get your Angular SSR setup working smoothly in production.

Troubleshooting Step	Description
Step 1: Verify Angular Version	Check that you’re running the latest version of Angular.
Step 2: Check Server Configuration	Verify that your server configuration is correct and that you’ve installed the required dependencies.
Step 3: Review App Configuration	Ensure that your app configuration is set up for SSR and that you’ve imported the required modules.
Step 4: Inspect RouterModule Configuration	Review your RouterModule configuration to ensure it’s set up correctly for SSR.
Step 5: Check Components and Templates	Inspect your components and templates to ensure they’re compatible with SSR.
Step 6: Verify Production Build	Review your production build configuration to ensure it’s set up correctly for SSR.
Step 7: Inspect Server Logs	Check your server logs for any errors or warnings that might indicate the cause of the issue.

Remember, troubleshooting Angular SSR requires patience and attention to detail. By following these steps and tips, you’ll be well on your way to resolving the issue and getting your application rendering smoothly in production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stuck with Angular SSR not rendering in production? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are some FAQs to help you troubleshoot the issue: