Host form collection with Next.js: structured data imports

Deploy a form collection built with Next.js on Ample using the bulk import staging 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. Verified on Next.js: a CSV staged as an object, row-level validation with per-row errors recorded, and a restart-safe import keyed by import id (imported=2 rejected=1 restart=ok). Not separately tested: your import format, mapping and conflict rules; treat the form collection-specific behavior as your application code.

Workflow Steps

1. Build and start
   next build then next start -H 0.0.0.0 -p $PORT on the node-22 template. The server must bind 0.0.0.0 on PORT.

2. Implement the pattern on PostgreSQL
   The fixture's module implements bulk import staging: a CSV staged as an object, row-level validation with per-row errors recorded, and a restart-safe import keyed by import id (imported=2 rejected=1 restart=ok). 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 Keep private data in an unpublished bucket.

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 --env S3_ENDPOINT=... --env S3_REGION=... --env S3_BUCKET=... --env S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID=... --env S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=...
   

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

   ample logs  --kind build
   

Success Checks

• app responds on its public URL: http_get path: /, expect: ample canary next js patterns
• bulk-import-staging self-test: http_get path: /p/bulk-import-staging, expect: imported=2 rejected=1 restart=ok

Prerequisites

• A Next.js project that builds and starts with the documented commands (next build then next start -H 0.0.0.0 -p $PORT on the node-22 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
• An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read, buckets:read

Limitations

• Verified on the node-22 template at s-1vcpu-1gb with the example fixture; other sizes, templates and Next.js major versions are not verified.
• The form collection itself (your import format, mapping and conflict rules) 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.

Cost Estimate

• Monthly Amount: $10.00 (USD)
• Components:
  • app server: size s-1vcpu-1gb, quantity 1.0, monthly Amount $5.00
  • managed PostgreSQL database: size s-1vcpu-1gb, quantity 1.0, monthly Amount $5.00

Note: Always-on monthly price of the tested sizes; apps and databases auto-pause when idle. Buckets are allocation-priced per quota and not included.