Auto-Generated Variables
When you create an app, Potions auto-generates environment variables so your Phoenix app can boot and connect to its database without any manual configuration. These variables are marked with an auto badge to distinguish them from variables you add yourself.
The Variables
| Variable | Default Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
SECRET_KEY_BASE |
Random 64-byte base64 string | Phoenix uses this to sign and encrypt sessions, cookies, and tokens |
DATABASE_URL |
ecto://<user>:<pass>@localhost:5432/<db> |
PostgreSQL connection string for your app's dedicated database |
PHX_HOST |
Your server's IP address | The hostname Phoenix uses for URL generation, websocket endpoints, and email links |
PHX_SERVER |
true |
Tells Phoenix to start the HTTP server when the release boots |
PORT |
App's assigned port (e.g., 4000) |
The port your app listens on. Caddy reverse-proxies traffic from ports 80/443 to this port |
MIX_ENV |
prod |
The Mix environment used during build and at runtime |
Editing and Deleting Auto-Generated Variables
Auto-generated variables are fully editable. You can change the value of any variable from the Environment tab, or delete it if your app doesn't need it.
Changes to environment variables take effect on the next deploy. They don't affect your currently running instance.
Things to Know
-
PHX_HOSTupdates automatically with domains. When you add your first custom domain, Potions updatesPHX_HOSTto match. If you delete the primary domain, Potions revertsPHX_HOSTto the server IP. You can also change it manually at any time. See Adding a Custom Domain for details. - All values are encrypted at rest. Potions uses AES-256-GCM encryption for every variable, not only auto-generated ones.
-
Deleting
DATABASE_URLwon't delete your database. The PostgreSQL database and user continue to exist on the server. The variable is only the connection string. - Your variables are excluded from build logs. Potions redacts sensitive values from build output so credentials never appear in deployment logs.