diff --git a/config/vite.json b/config/vite.json
index 22f4a6d..d19a7dd 100644
--- a/config/vite.json
+++ b/config/vite.json
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 {
   "all": {
     "sourceCodeDir": "app/javascript",
-    "watchAdditionalPaths": []
+    "watchAdditionalPaths": [],
+    "ssrBuildEnabled": true
   },
   "development": {
     "autoBuild": true,
diff --git a/docs/hatchbox-deployment-guide.md b/docs/hatchbox-deployment-guide.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7902d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/hatchbox-deployment-guide.md
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+# Hatchbox deployment guide
+
+Quick reference for deploying an app generated from this template to Hatchbox. Steps are in the order you'd do them in the Hatchbox UI.
+
+## 1. Spin up a cluster (server)
+
+Create a new cluster in Hatchbox — typically on Digital Ocean. The cluster needs these roles:
+
+- **Web** — Rails app + the SSR Node process
+- **Worker** — Solid Queue background jobs (`bin/jobs`)
+- **Cron** — scheduled jobs (only needed if you add any; safe to include by default)
+- **PostgreSQL** — the single database that backs Active Record, Solid Queue, Solid Cache, and Solid Cable
+
+A single-server cluster with all roles is fine for a small app. Split them later if you outgrow it.
+
+Make sure the server image has compatible Ruby and Node versions — this app expects:
+
+- Ruby `3.3.6` (from `.ruby-version`)
+- Node `22.12.0` (from `.nvmrc`)
+
+## 2. Create the app
+
+- Hatchbox dashboard → New App
+- Connect your GitHub repo and pick the branch to deploy (e.g. `main` or `staging`)
+- (Optional) Enable auto-deploy on push for that branch
+
+## 3. Set environment variables
+
+App → **Environment**. At minimum:
+
+| Variable | Value | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `RAILS_MASTER_KEY` | Contents of `config/master.key` (or `config/credentials/production.key` if you've set up environment-scoped credentials) | Required. Do **not** commit the key file. |
+| `APP_HOST` | `https://yourdomain.com` | Used by `config/sitemap.rb` to build absolute URLs in `public/sitemap.xml`. Without it, the sitemap falls back to `https://example.com`. |
+
+Optional / situational:
+
+| Variable | Value | When to set it |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `INERTIA_SSR` | `1` or `0` | SSR is **on by default in production** (see `config/initializers/inertia_rails.rb`). Set `0` to force-disable, e.g. for debugging. |
+| `INERTIA_SSR_URL` | `http://localhost:13714` | Only needed if you move the SSR process to a non-default port. |
+| `DATABASE_URL` | postgres URL | Hatchbox usually sets this automatically when you attach the database (step 4). Only override if you're pointing at an external database. |
+
+## 4. Create the database
+
+App → **Databases** → click the button to create a PostgreSQL database for this app. Hatchbox provisions it on the PostgreSQL-role server and wires `DATABASE_URL` into the app automatically.
+
+This single database is also used by Solid Queue, Solid Cache, and Solid Cable — no separate databases needed (see `CLAUDE.md`).
+
+## 5. Set up the domain
+
+App → **Domains & SSL**:
+
+- Add your domain (e.g. `yourdomain.com` and/or `www.yourdomain.com`)
+- Point DNS at the Hatchbox server IP (A record for apex, CNAME for `www`)
+- Let Hatchbox auto-provision Let's Encrypt SSL once DNS propagates
+
+## 6. Create the SSR process
+
+App → **Processes** → Add Process. This runs the long-lived Node server that handles Inertia SSR requests from Rails.
+
+| Field | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| Runs on | **web** |
+| Process name | `ssr` |
+| Start command | `bin/vite ssr` |
+| Reload command | *(empty)* |
+| Stop command | *(empty)* |
+| Restart this process on every deploy | ✅ checked |
+| Socket activation | unchecked |
+
+**Why this matters:** the Inertia Rails renderer POSTs page renders to this Node process at `http://localhost:13714`. If the process isn't running, Inertia silently falls back to client-only rendering — crawlers (Google, GPTBot, ClaudeBot, etc.) see an empty `<div id="app">` on public pages.
+
+The SSR bundle itself (`public/vite-ssr/ssr.js`) is built automatically during `assets:precompile` because `config/vite.json` has `"ssrBuildEnabled": true`. No extra build step needed.
+
+## 7. Create the jobs process
+
+App → **Processes** → Add Process. This runs Solid Queue.
+
+| Field | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| Runs on | **worker** |
+| Process name | `jobs` |
+| Start command | `bin/jobs` |
+| Restart this process on every deploy | ✅ checked |
+
+## 8. Deploy
+
+App → **Deploy**. Hatchbox will:
+
+1. Pull the latest commit
+2. Run `bundle install` and `npm install` (or `bun install`)
+3. Run `assets:precompile` — produces both `public/vite/` (client) and `public/vite-ssr/ssr.js` (SSR)
+4. Run `db:prepare` (migrations + seeds on first deploy)
+5. Boot the web process + restart the `ssr` and `jobs` processes
+
+## Post-deploy checks
+
+- Visit the site and **view source** on a public page — `<div id="app">` should contain rendered HTML, not be empty. If it's empty, SSR isn't reaching the Node process (check the `ssr` process logs in Hatchbox).
+- Visit `/sitemap.xml` (after deploy + sitemap regen) — URLs should use your real domain, not `example.com`. If they don't, `APP_HOST` isn't set.
+- Update `public/robots.txt` so the `Sitemap:` line points at your real domain (it ships pointing at `https://example.com/sitemap.xml`).
+- Trigger a background job to confirm Solid Queue is processing — check the `jobs` process logs.
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+**Blank page / empty `<div id="app">` in view source.** SSR Node process isn't running or isn't reachable. Check the `ssr` process logs. Confirm `public/vite-ssr/ssr.js` exists in the deployed release (it should, after the `ssrBuildEnabled` fix).
+
+**`ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished` or queue/cache errors.** The single PostgreSQL DB powers all four (Active Record + Solid Queue/Cache/Cable). Make sure `DATABASE_URL` is set and the DB was provisioned in step 4.
+
+**`Missing secret_key_base` or credentials errors.** `RAILS_MASTER_KEY` not set or doesn't match the encrypted credentials file in the repo.
+
+**Sitemap shows `example.com` URLs.** `APP_HOST` env var not set.