# Connect Postgres for Starlette

## Summary

Database connection for a Starlette app on Ample. Verified on Starlette: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). Build and start: pip install into .ample/python from requirements.txt, then uvicorn from run.py reading PORT on the python-3.12 template.

## Infrastructure requirements

- [Compute](/content/discover/primitive/compute/index.html): 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](/content/discover/primitive/postgres/index.html): 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 Starlette project (pip install into .ample/python from requirements.txt, then uvicorn from run.py reading PORT on the python-3.12 template)
- A PostgreSQL driver reading DATABASE_URL at runtime
- An Ample account token with servers:write, databases:read

## Exact tested configuration

- template: `python-3.12`
- runtime: `python`
- size: `s-1vcpu-1gb`
- install: `python3 -m pip install --target .ample/python -r requirements.txt`
- start: `PYTHONPATH=.ample/python:${PYTHONPATH:-} python3 run.py`

## Steps

1. **Build and start.** pip install into .ample/python from requirements.txt, then uvicorn from run.py reading PORT on the python-3.12 template; the server must bind 0.0.0.0 on PORT.
2. **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.
3. **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

- **Starlette pattern fixture** (tests/deploy-canaries/starlette-patterns): Verified database connection on Starlette.

## Success checks

- app responds on its public URL (`/` on the live URL, expect ample canary starlette patterns)
- relational-records check from the example (`/p/relational-records` on the live URL, expect see the pattern fixture checks)

## Limitations

- Verified on the python-3.12 template at s-1vcpu-1gb; other sizes and Starlette 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 2026-09-21T01:21:36Z at revision `50dbac567d2c5cc8e55e6c748a646be0025d9cfb-dirty (CLI 0.1.21)`: Starlette pattern fixture deployed on Ample (pip install into .ample/python from requirements.txt, then uvicorn from run.py reading PORT on the python-3.12 template); for this guide: a managed PostgreSQL database auto-provisioned and injected as DATABASE_URL, with real queries succeeding at request time (records=ok). (expires 2027-03-20T01:21:36Z)