MariaDB

Stackpad provides managed MariaDB databases as project services. MariaDB is a MySQL-compatible relational database that works with any MySQL client or ORM.

Creating a MariaDB service

1. Open your project in the dashboard
2. Click Add Service → Database
3. Select MariaDB
4. Click Create

Stackpad provisions a MariaDB instance with:

• Auto-generated credentials encrypted with AES-256-GCM
• Persistent storage that survives container restarts
• Private network access at mariadb:3306

Connecting from your application

Stackpad injects the MYSQL_URL environment variable into your web services:

mysql://stackpad_user:auto_generated_pass@mariadb:3306/stackpad_db

// Using mysql2
import mysql from 'mysql2/promise';

const connection = await mysql.createConnection(process.env.MYSQL_URL!);

Backups

MariaDB databases are backed up using mysqldump with the same schedule as PostgreSQL:

Plan	Frequency	Retention
Starter	Daily	7 days
Pro	Every 6 hours	30 days
Business	Hourly	90 days

When to choose MariaDB

Choose MariaDB over PostgreSQL when:

• Your application or ORM requires MySQL compatibility
• You’re migrating from an existing MySQL/MariaDB setup
• Your team has more experience with MySQL

For new projects, we generally recommend PostgreSQL for its advanced features, JSON support, and broader ecosystem.

What’s next?

• PostgreSQL — the alternative database option
• Connecting services — how private networking works
• Backups — manage and restore database backups