page:guides:gin:database connection

Connect Postgres for Gin

Summary

Database connection for a Gin app on Ample. Verified on Gin: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). Build and start: CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o app ./... then ./app on the ubuntu-24.04 template (go.sum committed for a reproducible build).

Prerequisites

A Gin project (CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o app ./... then ./app on the ubuntu-24.04 template (go.sum committed for a reproducible build))
A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime
An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read

Resource Requirements

primitive:compute
primitive:postgres

Infrastructure Requirements

Compute: Apps run in isolated x86_64 Firecracker microVMs that auto-pause when idle and wake on request; sizes are the priced VM sizes.
Postgres: Managed PostgreSQL 16 runs in its own microVM and is auto-provisioned when an app needs a database and no DATABASE_URL is supplied.

Workflow Steps

Build and start

Build: CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o app ./... then ./app on the ubuntu-24.04 template (go.sum committed for a reproducible build); the server must bind 0.0.0.0 on PORT.
Read DATABASE_URL at runtime

Open connections from the environment inside handlers or a pool; omit DATABASE_URL to auto-provision a managed database or pass --env DATABASE_URL=... for an existing one.
Verify

Fetch the live URL and /p/relational-records on the example; on failure read the build and runtime logs. Command: ample logs --kind build

Examples

Gin pattern fixture: Verified database connection on Gin. Source: tests/deploy-canaries/gin-patterns

Success Checks

Check: App responds on its public URL
- Kind: http_get
- Path: /
- Expect: ample canary gin patterns
Check: Relational-records check from the example
- Kind: http_get
- Path: /p/relational-records
- Expect: see the pattern fixture checks

Limitations

Verified on the ubuntu-24.04 template at s-1vcpu-1gb; other sizes and Gin major versions are not verified.
Region, compliance attestations, and request-duration limits are unknown and not claimed.
Managed PostgreSQL 16 only; extensions, connection limits and backup or restore procedures are not verified.

Cost Estimate

Currency: USD
Monthly Amount: $10.00
Basis: Size prices from pricing.toml (loaded by the API) at build revision 1ac5595375130d45290090e82ed0f554ccd45405-dirty
Components:
- App server: s-1vcpu-1gb - $5.00
- Managed PostgreSQL database: s-1vcpu-1gb - $5.00
Note: Always-on monthly price of the tested sizes; apps auto-pause when idle.

Evidence Summary

Kind: canary_run
Summary: Gin pattern fixture deployed on Ample (CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o app ./... then ./app on the ubuntu-24.04 template (go.sum committed for a reproducible build)); for this guide: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). Observed At: 2026-09-21T01:15:54Z Impl. Revision: 50dbac567d2c5cc8e55e6c748a646be0025d9cfb-dirty (CLI 0.1.21) Expires At: 2027-03-20T01:15:54Z Scope: checks: /p/relational-records, template: ubuntu-24.04