Enforce private-file authorization for Phoenix

Summary

Private file access for a Phoenix app on Ample. Verified on Phoenix: a role-to-document access model with negative tests (401, 403) and an authorized private-bucket round-trip (private=ok). 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.)
• 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.)
• S3-compatible object storage: verified (Buckets are S3-compatible with issued credentials; PutObject and GetObject are verified by canary. Other S3 operations are not verified.)

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)
• A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime
• A bucket from ample bucket create with credentials passed as encrypted S3_* environment variables
• An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read, buckets:read

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. Create the bucket and pass its credentials. Create it once with ample bucket create, then pass endpoint, region, bucket and keys with --env; use path-style addressing.

   ample deploy . --name <app-name> --public --env S3_ENDPOINT=... --env S3_REGION=... --env S3_BUCKET=... --env S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID=... --env S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=...
   

3. Authorize before touching storage. Return 401 for unauthenticated requests and 403 for the wrong role; keep the bucket unpublished and stream objects through the app.

4. Verify. Fetch the live URL and /p/private-document-library 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 private file access on Phoenix.

Success checks

• app responds on its public URL (/ on the live URL, expect ample canary phoenix patterns)
• private-document-library check from the example (/p/private-document-library 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.
• Managed PostgreSQL 16 only; extensions, connection limits and backup or restore procedures are not verified.
• PutObject and GetObject with path-style addressing are verified; other S3 operations are not.

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 2026-09-20T23:45:31Z 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: a role-to-document access model with negative tests (401, 403) and an authorized private-bucket round-trip (private=ok). (expires 2027-03-19T23:45:31Z)

Last verified: 2026-09-20T23:45:31Z

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, buckets:read.