page:recipes:help desk:phoenix:relational workspace

Host help desk with Phoenix: relational workspace data

Deploy a help desk built with Phoenix on Ample using the relational records 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. Verified on Phoenix: a workspace-scoped table, an explicit state machine (draft to review to published) that rejects invalid transitions, and a cross-workspace read that returns nothing (transitions=true isolation=true). Not separately tested: your record schema, states and access rules; treat the help desk-specific behavior as your application code.

Representative Queries

• Host help desk with Phoenix: relational workspace data
• Where can I host Help desk built with Phoenix?
• I need a workspace-specific schema, state transitions and access rules.

Resource Requirements

• Compute
• 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.

Prerequisites

• A Phoenix project that builds and starts with the documented commands (mix deps.get, MIX_ENV=prod mix compile and mix release in the builder, then the release bin script with PHX_SERVER=true on the elixir-1.18 template; PORT, DATABASE_URL and SECRET_KEY_BASE read in config/runtime.exs)
• A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime (auto-provisioned when omitted, or supplied with --env)
• An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read

Tested Configuration

• Template: elixir-1.18
• Runtime: elixir
• Size: s-1vcpu-1gb
• Install: mix local.hex --force && mix local.rebar --force && MIX_ENV=prod mix deps.get --only prod
• Build: MIX_ENV=prod mix compile && MIX_ENV=prod mix release --overwrite
• Start: PHX_SERVER=true _build/prod/rel/$(ls _build/prod/rel | head -n 1)/bin/$(ls _build/prod/rel | head -n 1) start

Workflow Steps

1. Build and start
   mix deps.get, MIX_ENV=prod mix compile and mix release in the builder, then the release bin script with PHX_SERVER=true on the elixir-1.18 template; PORT, DATABASE_URL and SECRET_KEY_BASE read in config/runtime.exs. The server must bind 0.0.0.0 on PORT.

2. Implement the pattern on PostgreSQL
   The fixture's module implements relational records: a workspace-scoped table, an explicit state machine (draft to review to published) that rejects invalid transitions, and a cross-workspace read that returns nothing (transitions=true isolation=true). Copy the approach into your schema; keep migrations idempotent and run them with --release-command.

3. 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.

   Command: ample deploy . --name --public

4. Verify
   Fetch the live URL and the pattern self-test route(s) (/p/relational-records) from the example; then run your own checks. On failure read ample logs --kind build then --kind runtime.
   Command: ample logs --kind build

Limitations

• Verified on the elixir-1.18 template at s-1vcpu-1gb with the example fixture; other sizes, templates and Phoenix major versions are not verified.
• The help desk itself (your record schema, states and access 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.
• Apps auto-pause when idle and wake on the next request; always-on is an operator setting, not a plan feature.
• Managed PostgreSQL 16 only; extensions, connection limits and backup or restore procedures are not verified; apps and their databases are placed together.

Cost Estimate

• Currency: USD
• Monthly Amount: 10.0
• Basis: size prices from pricing.toml (loaded by the API) at build revision 1ac5595375130d45290090e82ed0f554ccd45405-dirty
• Components:
  • app server: size s-1vcpu-1gb, quantity 1.0, monthly amount 5.0
  • managed PostgreSQL database: size s-1vcpu-1gb, quantity 1.0, monthly amount 5.0
• 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.

Evidence Summary

• Canary Run: Phoenix pattern fixture deployed on Ample; checks passed for relational-records and configuration-secrets.
  • Observed At: 2026-09-20T23:45:31Z
• Canary Run: The same Phoenix app deployed with a --release-command migration.
  • Observed At: 2026-09-20T23:45:31Z

Next Actions

• Browse the catalog index
• Search published recipes by intent, stack and constraints
• Prepare a side-effect-free deployment plan for an authorized project
• Read the existing agent authentication setup
• Browse Help desk
• Browse Phoenix
• Browse Relational records
• Browse Deploy web app