Question

Node app not picking up the DATABASE_URL env

Posted on January 31, 2023
DigitalOcean App Platform Database
Asked by kaushalyap

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?

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KFSys

Site Moderator

• 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

• 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!