🐘 Introduction

Setting up PostgreSQL on AWS using RDS (Relational Database Service) is the most efficient way to manage a production-grade, scalable, and secure database with minimal effort.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have:

• A running PostgreSQL instance
• DATABASE_URL ready to plug into your app
• All credentials (POSTGRES_USER, POSTGRES_PASSWORD, POSTGRES_DB)

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✅ Prerequisites

• AWS account with access to RDS
• Basic knowledge of AWS Console
• VPC access (use default if unsure)

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1. Go to RDS Dashboard

• Open the Amazon RDS Console
• Click "Create Database"

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2. Select Engine

• Choose Standard Create
• Select PostgreSQL
• Pick the latest version available

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3. Configure DB Details

• DB Instance Identifier: my-postgres-db
• Master Username: postgres (or your preferred username)
• Master Password: Use a strong password like P0stgr3s!Secure123

:::info Save the username and password — you'll need them to connect. :::

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4. Instance Settings

• DB Instance Class: For dev use, select db.t3.micro (Free Tier eligible)
• Storage: 20 GB (or adjust based on need)

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5. Connectivity

• VPC: Choose default or your custom VPC
• Public Access: ✅ Yes (enable for dev/test access from outside AWS)
• VPC Security Group: Add a new or existing one that allows PostgreSQL (port 5432) inbound from your IP

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6. Additional Configuration

• Initial DB Name: myappdb (this will be your POSTGRES_DB)
• Leave other defaults unless you have specific needs

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7. Create Database

• Click Create Database
• Wait 5–10 minutes for RDS to finish provisioning

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8. Get Connection Info

Once your DB is available:

• Go to Databases > my-postgres-db
• Copy the Endpoint (e.g., my-postgres-db.xxxxxxx.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com)
• Port is 5432

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9. Construct DATABASE_URL

Here’s how to build your connection string manually:

POSTGRES_USER=postgres
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=P0stgr3s!Secure123
POSTGRES_DB=myappdb
POSTGRES_HOST=my-postgres-db.xxxxxxx.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com
POSTGRES_PORT=5432
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://postgres:P0stgr3s!Secure123@my-postgres-db.xxxxxxx.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com:5432/myappdb

Copy that DATABASE_URL and drop it in your .env file for local dev or deployment.

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🧪 Test Your Connection

Using psql or a GUI like TablePlus or pgAdmin:

psql postgresql://postgres:P0stgr3s!Secure123@my-postgres-db.xxxxxxx.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com:5432/myappdb

If you connect successfully — you're done.

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🧵 Wrap-Up

You now have a live PostgreSQL instance hosted on AWS RDS, with all connection credentials:

• DATABASE_URL
• POSTGRES_USER
• POSTGRES_PASSWORD
• POSTGRES_DB

Use these to plug into tools like Supabase, Prisma, Drizzle, or your own backend logic.