# Commercial deployment checklist

The application keeps provider credentials on the server. Before a commercial launch, review the current terms for every provider used by the deployment and keep the corresponding attribution visible.

## Default integrations

- NOAA/NWS radar, warnings, stations, aviation, outlooks, hydrology, fire and smoke: [weather.gov](https://www.weather.gov/)
- NOAA NWPS river and lake observations, forecasts, and hydrographs: [NWPS API documentation](https://api.water.noaa.gov/nwps/v1/docs/)
- NOAA nowCOAST lightning activity and coastal layers: [nowCOAST information](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/nowcoast.html)
- Open-Meteo point forecasts, air quality, pollen, marine data, and model profiles: [Open-Meteo licence](https://open-meteo.com/en/licence)
- MapLibre/OpenFreeMap/OpenMapTiles/OpenStreetMap basemap: retain visible attribution and review current tile-service terms before production traffic.

## Optional integrations

- Community/private weather stations use a server-side `SYNOPTIC_PUBLIC_TOKEN`. Confirm the Synoptic plan and redistribution terms for the intended commercial use: [Synoptic public API tokens](https://docs.synopticdata.com/account/public-api-tokens).
- Exact lightning strike points use a server-side `LIGHTNING_STRIKE_URL` endpoint. The endpoint must be an approved, licensed provider that returns GeoJSON or records containing latitude, longitude, and a timestamp. NOAA nowCOAST remains the default density-cell source.

## Before launch

1. Confirm attribution, rate limits, caching, redistribution, and tile/API-plan requirements with each provider.
2. Keep API keys and provider URLs in server environment variables; never put secrets in `frontend/app.js`.
3. Keep the in-app **Data sources & licensing** panel visible in the deployed UI.
4. Configure provider-specific caching and monitoring so refresh intervals stay within the selected plan.
5. Re-check these terms whenever a provider, endpoint, or deployment region changes.

This checklist is operational guidance, not legal advice or a grant of third-party rights.