Understanding Deployment Options

Once you've built your Apps Script project, the next crucial step is making it accessible to others or enabling it to run automatically. Google Apps Script offers several deployment options, each suited for different use cases. Understanding these options will empower you to share your automations effectively and ensure they run when and where you need them to.

The primary way to make your Apps Script project available is through its deployment. A deployment is essentially a snapshot of your script at a specific version, allowing you to control which version of your code is active. This is particularly useful for updating your scripts without disrupting users who are currently relying on an older, stable version.

Here's a breakdown of the key deployment options and considerations:

1. Web App Deployment: This allows your Apps Script to be accessed as a web page. When a user navigates to the provided URL, your script's doGet(e) function (for GET requests) or doPost(e) function (for POST requests) will execute. This is ideal for creating simple web interfaces, data entry forms, or interactive dashboards that can be accessed from any browser.

• Execution Control: You can choose to run the web app 'as the user accessing the web app' or 'as the developer' (the person who deployed it). Running as the user is crucial for ensuring that the script has the correct permissions to access or modify their Google Workspace data. Running as the developer can be useful for scenarios where a single account's permissions should be used for all users.

• Who has access: You can also specify who can access the web app: 'Anyone, even anonymous', 'Anyone within your domain', or 'Only myself'.

2. Add-on Deployment: If you want to distribute your script as a functional add-on for Google Workspace applications like Sheets, Docs, or Forms, you'll use an add-on deployment. This process involves publishing your script to the Google Workspace Marketplace, where users can discover, install, and enable your add-on within their respective applications. Add-ons typically involve creating custom menus, sidebars, or dialog boxes.

3. API Executable Deployment: This advanced option allows your Apps Script to be invoked programmatically by other applications or services. It exposes your script's functions as an API endpoint, enabling external systems to trigger specific script actions. This is powerful for integrating Apps Script with external workflows or custom applications.

4. Standalone Script Deployment: While not a formal 'deployment type' in the same vein as web apps or add-ons, you can also share your standalone scripts directly. When you share a script with others, they can make a copy of it, and if it's bound to a Google Sheet, Doc, or Form, they will have their own instance of the script linked to their document. This is the simplest form of sharing for collaborative editing or direct script usage.

5. Deploying as a Library: You can also deploy your Apps Script project as a library. This allows other Apps Script projects to call functions from your deployed library. This is excellent for creating reusable code modules that can be shared across multiple projects, promoting code organization and reducing duplication.

Each deployment type has specific configurations and considerations related to authorization, execution, and accessibility. Choosing the right deployment strategy is key to ensuring your Apps Script project functions as intended and reaches its intended audience.

graph TD
    A[Apps Script Project] --> B{Deployment Options};
    B --> C[Web App];
    B --> D[Add-on];
    B --> E[API Executable];
    B --> F[Standalone Script Sharing];
    B --> G[Library Deployment];
    C --> C1[Execute as User];
    C --> C2[Execute as Developer];
    C --> C3[Access Control];
    D --> D1[Google Workspace Marketplace];
    E --> E1[External Application Integration];
    G --> G1[Reusable Code Modules];