Static file referenced by handler not found: index.html

Question

After deploying my first app engine app, I'm receiving Static file referenced by handler not found: index.html as an error in the logs. Here is my yaml file:

application: section-14
version: v1
api_version: 1
runtime: python27
threadsafe: yes

handlers:
- url: /bower_components
  static_dir: bower_components
- url: /general
  static_dir: general
- url: /projects
  static_dir: projects
- url: /js
  static_dir: js
- url: /styles
  static_dir: styles
- url: /elements
  static_dir: elements
- url: /images
  static_dir: images

#here's the problem
- url: /
  static_files: index.html
  upload: /
#------------------

- url: /elements.html
  static_files: elements.html
  upload: /

I can travel to any of the other directories, and files located in those directories, without any problem. Also, if you look below the index entry, the elements.html route works also.

I noticed in other projects that people are defining a /static directory. Is that a requirement? My local environment serves this app without any issues as is.

Answer 1

Naming the directory static isn't a requirement. I do it because it makes the significance of the layout obvious (to me, at least).

Here's an app.yaml fragment from one of my apps that has a static home page and static assets.

handlers:
- url: /style/
  static_dir: static/style
- url: /js/
  static_dir: static/js
- url: /favicon.ico
  static_files: static/favicon.ico
  upload: static/favicon.ico
  mime_type: image/x-icon
- url: /.+
  script: main.app
- url: /
  static_files: static/index.html
  upload: static/index.html

The order is significant, as is the use of /.+ instead of /.* With the latter, requests for / would get routed to the main.app

Edited to add: Having a url mapping for a static favicon.ico is useful to prevent the request getting routed to your app, since this'll cause App Engine to spin up an instance when one isn't needed.