Configure environment and secrets for Phoenix

Summary

Configuration and secrets for a Phoenix app on Ample. Verified on Phoenix: an --env value delivered encrypted and reported as present without being echoed (secret=set). 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.

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.)

Prerequisites

• A Phoenix project (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)
• An Ample account token with servers:write

Exact 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

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. Pass values on deploy. Use --env KEY=value (repeatable) or --env-file; values are encrypted at rest and reused on redeploys. Declare names only in ample.toml.

    ample deploy . --name <app-name> --public --env MY_SECRET=...
    ```
3. **Verify.** Fetch the live URL and /p/configuration-secrets on the example; on failure read the build and runtime logs.

ample logs <deployment_id> --kind build
```

Tested examples

• Phoenix pattern fixture (tests/deploy-canaries/phoenix-patterns): Verified configuration and secrets on Phoenix.

Success checks

• app responds on its public URL (/ on the live URL, expect ample canary phoenix patterns)
• configuration-secrets check from the example (/p/configuration-secrets on the live URL, expect see the pattern fixture checks)

Limitations

• Verified on the elixir-1.18 template at s-1vcpu-1gb; other sizes and Phoenix major versions are not verified.
• Region, compliance attestations and request-duration limits are unknown and not claimed.

Cost estimate

Estimated 5.00 USD per month (size prices from pricing.toml at build revision a1b8c38919e59cd035ebabaced73cf84ece24371).

• app server 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 2026-09-20T23:45:31Z at revision 4d1511e574302f3904b75088bd4048a0975218b3-dirty (CLI 0.1.21): Phoenix pattern fixture deployed on Ample (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); for this guide: an --env value delivered encrypted and reported as present without being echoed (secret=set). (expires 2027-03-19T23:45:31Z)