database connection.md
Connect Postgres for Axum
Summary
Database connection for a Axum app on Ample. Verified on Axum: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). Build and start: cargo build --release in the rust builder image (stable toolchain, Cargo.lock committed, pure-Rust dependencies), then the release binary on the ubuntu-24.04 template reading PORT and DATABASE_URL.
Infrastructure requirements
- Compute: verified (Apps run in isolated x86_64 Firecracker microVMs that auto-pause when idle and wake on request; sizes are the priced VM sizes.)
- Postgres: verified (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 Axum project (cargo build --release in the rust builder image (stable toolchain, Cargo.lock committed, pure-Rust dependencies), then the release binary on the ubuntu-24.04 template reading PORT and DATABASE_URL)
- A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime
- An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read
Exact tested configuration
- template:
ubuntu-24.04 - runtime:
rust - size:
s-1vcpu-2gb - build:
cargo build --release - start:
./$(ls target/release/*.d | grep -v '/lib' | head -n 1 | sed 's/\.d$//')
Steps
Build and start. cargo build --release in the rust builder image (stable toolchain, Cargo.lock committed, pure-Rust dependencies), then the release binary on the ubuntu-24.04 template reading PORT and DATABASE_URL; 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.
ample logs <deployment_id> --kind build
Tested examples
- Axum pattern fixture (tests/deploy-canaries/axum-patterns): Verified database connection on Axum.
Success checks
- app responds on its public URL (
/on the live URL, expect ample canary axum patterns) - relational-records check from the example (
/p/relational-recordson the live URL, expect see the pattern fixture checks)
Limitations
- Verified on the ubuntu-24.04 template at s-1vcpu-2gb; other sizes and Axum 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
Estimated 10.00 USD per month (size prices from pricing.toml at build revision a1b8c38919e59cd035ebabaced73cf84ece24371).
- app server x1
s-1vcpu-1gb: 5.00 USD - managed PostgreSQL database x1
s-1vcpu-1gb: 5.00 USD
Always-on monthly price of the tested sizes; apps auto-pause when idle. Buckets are allocation-priced per quota and not included.
Verification evidence
- canary_run on 2026-09-21T02:46:37Z at revision
1d28ae0-dirty (CLI 0.1.21): Axum pattern fixture deployed on Ample (cargo build --release in the rust builder image (stable toolchain, Cargo.lock committed, pure-Rust dependencies), then the release binary on the ubuntu-24.04 template reading PORT and DATABASE_URL); for this guide: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). (expires 2027-03-20T02:46:37Z)
Last verified: 2026-09-21T02:46:37Z
Execution binding
MCP tool ample_deploy (registry mcp:ample_deploy), schema hash 876465fce906da0c observed 2026-09-21T03:19:59.461917+00:00 at revision 49962bcade4f, binding state current, required scopes: servers:write, databases:read.