Host documentation site with Flask: object-stored public media

Deploy a documentation site built with Flask on Ample using the public media library pattern. Compute runs the app in an isolated microVM behind a public HTTPS URL, a managed PostgreSQL 16 database is auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, a private S3-compatible bucket holds objects with credentials delivered as encrypted environment variables, and a published bucket serves public assets from the CDN host. Verified on Flask: an object written to a published bucket with an immutable Cache-Control header, a mapping row, and the CDN URL serving it publicly. Not separately tested: your media processing, object layout and cache policy; treat the documentation site-specific behavior as your application code.

Representative Queries

• Host documentation site with Flask: object-stored public media
• Where can I host Documentation site built with Flask?
• I need an object layout, public asset URL policy and CDN delivery configuration.

Prerequisites

• A Flask project that builds and starts with the documented commands (pip install into .ample/python from requirements.txt, then waitress from app.py reading PORT on the python-3.12 template)
• A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime (auto-provisioned when omitted, or supplied with --env)
• A bucket from ample bucket create with its credentials passed as encrypted S3_* environment variables and a second, published bucket for public assets (CDN_*)
• An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read, buckets:read

Workflow Steps

1. Build and start
   pip install into .ample/python from requirements.txt, then waitress from app.py reading PORT on the python-3.12 template. The server must bind 0.0.0.0 on PORT.

2. Implement the pattern on PostgreSQL
   The fixture's module implements public media library: an object written to a published bucket with an immutable Cache-Control header, a mapping row, and the CDN URL serving it publicly. Copy the approach into your schema; keep migrations idempotent and run them with --release-command.

3. Wire object storage
   Create the bucket(s), then pass endpoint, region, bucket and keys as --env values. Use path-style addressing. Keep private data in an unpublished bucket. Publish only the bucket that serves public assets and reference its CDN URL.

4. Deploy
   Run the synchronous deploy once and read the result (exit 0 live, 1 failed, 2 blocked). Re-running with no change is a no-op.

   ample deploy . --name --public --start "python3 app.py" --env S3_ENDPOINT=... --env S3_REGION=... --env S3_BUCKET=... --env S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID=... --env S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=... --env CDN_PUBLIC_URL=...
   

5. Verify
   Fetch the live URL and the pattern self-test route(s) (/p/public-media-library) from the example; then run your own checks. On failure read ample logs --kind build then --kind runtime.

   ample logs  --kind build
   

Limitations

• Verified on the python-3.12 template at s-1vcpu-1gb with the example fixture; other sizes, templates and Flask major versions are not verified.
• The documentation site itself (your media processing, object layout and cache policy) is application code and was not separately tested; the pattern checks are what was verified.
• Region, compliance attestations and request-duration limits are unknown and not claimed.
• Apps auto-pause when idle and wake on the next request; always-on is an operator setting, not a plan feature.

Examples

• Flask pattern fixture
  Multi-pattern Flask app whose public media library module was checked live; the module is under tests/deploy-canaries/_pattern-modules.
  • Source: tests/deploy-canaries/flask-patterns

Cost Estimate

Success Checks

1. app responds on its public URL

   • Kind: http_get
   • Path: /
   • Expect: ample canary flask patterns

2. public-media-library self-test

   • Kind: http_get
   • Path: /p/public-media-library
   • Expect: a CDN URL whose content is served publicly

Evidence Summary

• Canary Run: Flask pattern fixture deployed on Ample; checks passed for public-media-library and configuration-secrets. Pattern proof: an object written to a published bucket with an immutable Cache-Control header, a mapping row, and the CDN URL serving it publicly.
• Observed At: 2026-09-21

Formats

• HTML Version
• Markdown Version
• JSON Version