Set the DATABASE_URL environment variable

Question

I am trying to create my own kind of project structure by looking at two scoops of django. The project structure looks something like this

.envs

.local

  .django

  .postgres

.production

 .django

 .postgres

in postgres inside local, the following items are listed

POSTGRES_HOST=postgres
POSTGRES_PORT=5432
POSTGRES_DB=marketing
POSTGRES_USER=username
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=password
DATABASE_URL=postgres://username:password@localhost:5432/marketing

the settings file is divided into 3 parts as base.py, local.py and production.py

in base.py, I have configured the DATABASES key as following

DATABASES = {
    'default': env.db('DATABASE_URL'),
}

However I am getting an error

django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: Set the DATABASE_URL environment variable

Though, I have DATABASE_URL in .envs/.local/.postgres, I am getting above error. Why is that so?

paste the output of command echo $DATABASE_URL from your shell. — Sachin
– Sachin, Commented Aug 8, 2018 at 11:52

tushortz · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-08 11:52:53Z

3

Add export before your variables in .myfilename.

export POSTGRES_HOST=postgres
export POSTGRES_PORT=5432
export POSTGRES_DB=marketing
export POSTGRES_USER=username
export POSTGRES_PASSWORD=password
export DATABASE_URL=postgres://username:password@localhost:5432/marketing

Then do

source .myfilename

answered Aug 8, 2018 at 11:52

tushortz

5,5553 gold badges22 silver badges33 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

tafaust Over a year ago

This first part is not too helpful as export will make the variables available for all sub-processes, however the user will likely not leave the shell. Sourcing the file with the environmental variables and then running the python script from the same shell should be sufficient. source .myfilename && python myscript.py See this link.

Serenity Over a year ago

probably i missed source .postgres but in cookiecutter boilerplate they have not used export keyword.

tushortz Over a year ago

it will only be available within the current shell it is being run in @tahesse

Dishant Chavda · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-01 10:54:05Z

1

I came across same issue recently. Your DATABSE_URL env variable in file .local/.postgres needs to be : DATABASE_URL=postgres://username:password@{DB_SERVICE_NAME}:5432/marketing

As you can see here in place of localhost use "postgres" if your docker-compose.yml has service name as postgres.

answered Oct 1, 2021 at 10:54

Dishant Chavda

4564 silver badges13 bronze badges

Comments

Thiago Taranto · Accepted Answer · 2024-05-24 01:16:40Z

1

POSTGRES_HOST=postgres
POSTGRES_PORT=5432
POSTGRES_DB=database
POSTGRES_USER=postgres
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=password

and them use the variables on the DATABASE_URL, so if you change any POSTGRES_* will affect the DATABASE_URL

DATABASE_URL=postgres://$POSTGRES_USER:$POSTGRES_PASSWORD@$POSTGRES_HOST:$POSTGRES_PORT/$POSTGRES_DB

edited May 24, 2024 at 1:16

answered May 24, 2024 at 1:15

Thiago Taranto

112 bronze badges

1 Comment

AWoods Jan 29 at 8:13

Why is this not set when Cookicutter django sets up the project?

tafaust · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-08 12:02:31Z

0

For a python based solution check this link (credits to user @falsetru).

Basically, add

import os

with open('.envs/.local/.postgres') as fh:
    os.environ.update(line.strip().split('=', 1) for line in fh)

in one of your initial python scripts, e.g. local.py.

answered Aug 8, 2018 at 12:02

tafaust

1,53816 silver badges34 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Set the DATABASE_URL environment variable

4 Answers 4

3 Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

3 Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related