Question

Node app not picking up the DATABASE_URL env

I am trying to Node app that use Postgraphile which connect to a development database($7), but I am getting following error from Node app which is caused due to DATABASE_URL.

Error: Errors occurred during settings validation:
Setting 'connectionString': Expected a string, or for DATABASE_URL envvar to be set

But in env vars of node app component there is indeed the DATABASE_URL which is set to ${db.DATABASE_URL} which was automatically added when attaching the development database to the app.

I am confused what is going on here?

Submit an answer
Answer a question...

This textbox defaults to using Markdown to format your answer.

You can type !ref in this text area to quickly search our full set of tutorials, documentation & marketplace offerings and insert the link!

Sign In or Sign Up to Answer

These answers are provided by our Community. If you find them useful, show some love by clicking the heart. If you run into issues leave a comment, or add your own answer to help others.

KFSys
Site Moderator
Site Moderator badge
• January 31, 2023
Accepted Answer

Hi @kaushalyap,

I’ll recommend giving the following a read:

https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform/how-to/use-environment-variables/

Have you configured the Database URL in the APP-Level Enviroment variables?

Once you enter the bindable variable, click Save. The app redeploys.

You can check that the environment variable works by opening the app’s Console tab and running:

echo $<name-of-environment-variable>
alexdo
Site Moderator
Site Moderator badge
• January 31, 2023

Hello @kaushalyap

You can setup environment variables to set the DATABASE_URL

When creating an app, specify environment variables on the Environment screen. Click the Encrypt checkbox to obscure the variable’s values from all build, deployment, and application logs.

https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform/how-to/connect-pg-pools/#configure-bindable-environment-variables

https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/app-platform/how-to/use-environment-variables/

Hope that this helps!

Want to learn more? Join the DigitalOcean Community!

Join our DigitalOcean community of over a million developers for free! Get help and share knowledge in Q&A, subscribe to topics of interest, and get courses and tools that will help you grow as a developer and scale your project or business.

Sign up now