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# Vercel.json not working, 404 not found error

282 views · 1 like · 4 posts


Tabuariki (@tabuariki) · 2024-07-21

im trying to create an INCREDIBLY simple backend for a web app im trying to build, and i cannot figure out how to correctly host it here on Vercel. 

i think i just dont understand vercel.json. i have one single python script inside of my api folder, and in the root folder i have my requirements.txt and my .db file.  ive tried many different configurations, similar to seen below. ill either get errors saying something like "Function Runtimes must have a valid version, for example `now-php@1.0.0`."

or when i try other configurations, i just cant access the database at all.

{
  "version": 2,
  "builds": [
    {
      "src": "api/app.py",
      "use": "@vercel/python"
    }
  ],
  "routes": [
    {
      "src": "/api/(.*)",
      "dest": "api/app.py"
    }
  ]
}



My python script and database work perfectly on my localhost. please help!


Tabuariki (@tabuariki) · 2024-07-21

im trying to figure out if it is possible to have a static splite database that i can access with my python script to use vercel as a backend for my website. is this possible? if so, how do i achieve this with vercel.json?


Amy Egan (@amyegan) · 2024-07-22 · ♥ 1

Hey @tabuariki! You can specify the version number, like `@vercel/python@4.3.0` from one of those available in the npm package at https://www.npmjs.com/package/@vercel/python?activeTab=versions

However, any `*.py` files in the `/api` directory should automatically use the [Python Runtime](https://vercel.com/docs/functions/runtimes/python#using-the-python-runtime-with-serverless-functions). Meaning you could remove that `builds` section entirely.

A database is a trickier thing since you wouldn't be able to write to the files after they were deployed. An external database, or one of the [Vercel Storage](https://vercel.com/docs/storage) options, is typically the preferred solution for data storage.


Pauline P. Narvas (@pawlean) · 2026-02-25

For anyone landing on this thread — the `now-php@1.0.0` style runtime error here is rooted in legacy `now.json` configuration patterns, and this is now especially important: **Vercel is removing `now.json` support on March 31, 2026**.

If your project still has a `now.json` file, the migration is just a rename to `vercel.json` with no content changes required.

Reference: https://vercel.com/changelog/support-for-now-json-will-be-removed-on-march-31-2026