page:guides:laravel:database connection

Connect Postgres for Laravel

Summary

Database connection for a Laravel app on Ample. Verified on Laravel: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). Build and start: composer install --no-dev from composer.lock, then FrankenPHP serving public/ (php-server with the index.php fallback) reading PORT on the php-8.5 template.

Representative Queries

• Connect Postgres for Laravel
• Where can I host Connect Postgres built with Laravel?
• I need driver setup, connection settings, secret handling and a real connection test.

Prerequisites

• A Laravel project (composer install --no-dev from composer.lock, then FrankenPHP serving public/ (php-server with the index.php fallback) reading PORT on the php-8.5 template)
• A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime
• An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read

Tested Configuration

• Template: php-8.5
• Runtime: php
• Size: s-1vcpu-1gb
• Install: composer install --no-dev --prefer-dist --no-interaction --no-progress --optimize-autoloader
• Start: frankenphp php-server --listen :$PORT --root public

Workflow Steps

1. Build and start
   composer install --no-dev from composer.lock, then FrankenPHP serving public/ (php-server with the index.php fallback) reading PORT on the php-8.5 template; the server must bind 0.0.0.0 on PORT.
2. 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.
3. 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

Success Checks

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

Limitations

• Verified on the php-8.5 template at s-1vcpu-1gb; other sizes and Laravel 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
• Components:
  • App server: s-1vcpu-1gb, quantity: 1.0, monthly amount: $5.00
  • Managed PostgreSQL database: s-1vcpu-1gb, quantity: 1.0, monthly amount: $5.00
• Note: Always-on monthly price of the tested sizes; apps auto-pause when idle.

Evidence Summary

• Kind: canary_run
• Summary: Laravel pattern fixture deployed on Ample; 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: 2026-09-20T20:36:21Z
• Scope: checks: ["/p/relational-records"], template: php-8.5

Next Actions

• Browse the catalog index: GET /v1/catalog
• Search published recipes by intent, stack and constraints: POST /v1/catalog/search
• Prepare a side-effect-free deployment plan for an authorized project: POST /v1/catalog/plan
• Read the existing agent authentication setup: GET /mcp/setup
• Browse Laravel: GET /v1/catalog/nodes/stack%3Aframework-laravel
• Browse Connect app to database: GET /v1/catalog/nodes/intent%3Aconnect-app-to-database
• Browse Relational records: GET /v1/catalog/nodes/pattern%3Arelational-records