Creating and Loading a Second Database in DDEV: A Guide for Developers
DDEV is a powerful tool for local development, but managing multiple databases within a single project can sometimes feel like navigating a tangled web. This article will guide you through the process of creating and loading a second database within your DDEV environment, making multi-database scenarios much easier.
Scenario: Imagine you're building a website with a primary database for user data and a separate database for storing product information. DDEV's default setup comes with a single database, which is great for basic projects. But for complex applications, you'll need a way to manage multiple databases efficiently.
Original Code:
DDEV's configuration files, typically located in the .ddev directory, provide the foundation for defining your development environment. The default configuration will include settings for a single database.
# .ddev/config.yaml
...
db_type: mysql
db_name: my_app
...
Adding a Second Database:
-
Modify the
config.yamlfile: Add a new database definition to theconfig.yamlfile. You'll need to specify a unique name and any additional settings like the database type.# .ddev/config.yaml ... db_type: mysql db_name: my_app db_2_type: mysql db_2_name: products ... -
Create the Database:
-
Run
ddev startto start the DDEV environment. This will create the first database (my_app) automatically. -
Connect to the DDEV database server using a tool like phpMyAdmin or your preferred SQL client.
-
Execute the following command to create the second database (
products):CREATE DATABASE products;
-
-
Connect to the Second Database: You can connect to the new database in your application using the appropriate configuration settings. For example, in PHP using PDO:
// Connect to the primary database (my_app) $dsn = "mysql:host=db;dbname=my_app"; $pdo = new PDO($dsn, 'db', 'db'); // Connect to the second database (products) $dsn2 = "mysql:host=db;dbname=products"; $pdo2 = new PDO($dsn2, 'db', 'db');
Insights:
- Naming Conventions: It's important to use descriptive and unique names for your databases. This will make your code easier to understand and maintain.
- Database Type: DDEV supports a wide range of database types (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.). Choose the type that best suits your project's needs.
- Data Import: If your second database already has existing data, you can import it into the DDEV environment using tools like
mysqldumpor other database migration tools.
Additional Value:
This article provides a practical guide for creating and loading a second database in DDEV. By understanding this process, developers can build complex applications with multiple data sources, increasing their flexibility and scalability.
Further Resources:
