Symfony PostgreSQL Bundle
Symfony bundle integrating Flow PHP's PostgreSQL library with Symfony applications, providing database management, schema migrations, catalog-driven schema diffing, and optional telemetry for query tracing and metrics.
Installation
For detailed installation instructions, see the installation page.
Overview
This bundle is built on top of flow-php/postgresql and flow-php/pg-query-ext — see those pages for the underlying client, query builders, catalog, and migration engine.
For telemetry support (tracing, metrics, query logging per connection),
the Symfony Telemetry Bundle is required and must
expose a configured Telemetry service referenced via telemetry.service_id.
This bundle integrates Flow PHP's PostgreSQL library with Symfony applications. It provides:
- Multiple database connections - Configure and manage several PostgreSQL connections independently
- Database management commands - Create, drop databases and execute SQL from the console
- Migration framework - Generate, execute, and track schema migrations
- Schema diffing - Automatically generate migrations by comparing the database to catalog definitions
- Rollback support - Generate reversible migrations with automatic rollback files
- Telemetry integration - Distributed tracing, query logging, and metrics per connection
- Catalog provider system - Define target schemas via PHP attributes, service references, or inline YAML
Configuration Reference
Connections
At least one connection is required. Each connection has a DSN and optional telemetry and migrations blocks.
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
Telemetry
Enable telemetry per connection to get distributed tracing, query logging, and metrics.
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
telemetry:
service_id: "flow.telemetry" # Required: Telemetry service ID
clock_service_id: null # Optional: PSR-20 clock service (defaults to SystemClock)
trace_queries: true # Record query execution in traces
trace_transactions: true # Record transaction boundaries
collect_metrics: true # Collect query metrics (duration, row count)
log_queries: false # Log all queries
max_query_length: 1000 # Truncate queries longer than this (chars)
include_parameters: false # Include query parameters in traces
max_parameters: 10 # Max number of parameters to include
max_parameter_length: 100 # Max length of each parameter value (chars)
Migrations
Migrations are configured at the top level, not per connection. Use --connection to target a specific connection
when running migration commands.
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
migrations:
enabled: true
directory: "%kernel.project_dir%/migrations" # Where migration files are stored
namespace: "App\\Migrations" # PHP namespace for generated migrations
table_name: "flow_migrations" # Database table tracking executed migrations
table_schema: "public" # Schema for the migrations table
migration_file_name: "migration.php" # Name of the migration file in each version directory
rollback_file_name: "rollback.php" # Name of the rollback file in each version directory
all_or_nothing: false # Wrap all migrations in a single transaction
generate_rollback: true # Generate rollback files automatically
Catalog Providers
Catalog providers define the target database schema. When you run flow:migrations:diff, the bundle compares
the current database state to the catalog and generates migration SQL to reconcile the differences.
There are three ways to define catalog providers.
Attribute-Based Discovery
Annotate a class implementing CatalogProvider with #[AsCatalogProvider] for automatic discovery:
<?php
namespace App\Database;
use Flow\Bridge\Symfony\PostgreSqlBundle\Attribute\AsCatalogProvider;
use Flow\PostgreSql\Catalog\Catalog;
use Flow\PostgreSql\Catalog\CatalogProvider;
#[AsCatalogProvider]
final class UsersCatalogProvider implements CatalogProvider
{
public function get(): Catalog
{
return Catalog::create(
// Define your tables, columns, indexes...
);
}
}
Service Reference
Reference an existing service by its ID:
flow_postgresql:
catalog_providers:
- catalog_provider_id: "app.my_catalog_provider"
Inline YAML
Define the catalog directly in configuration:
flow_postgresql:
catalog_providers:
- catalog:
schemas:
- name: "public"
tables:
- name: "users"
columns:
- name: "id"
type: { name: "int4", schema: "pg_catalog" }
nullable: false
- name: "email"
type: { name: "varchar", schema: "pg_catalog" }
nullable: false
- name: "created_at"
type: { name: "timestamptz", schema: "pg_catalog" }
nullable: false
Multiple catalog providers can be combined. They are merged via ChainCatalogProvider into a single catalog.
Console Commands
Database Commands
These commands are always available, regardless of migration configuration.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
flow:database:create |
Create the configured database |
flow:database:drop |
Drop the configured database (requires --force) |
flow:sql:run |
Execute SQL directly on the database |
All commands accept --connection (-c) to target a specific connection.
Migration Commands
These commands are available when migrations.enabled: true for at least one connection.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
flow:migrations:diff |
Generate a migration by comparing the database to the catalog |
flow:migrations:generate |
Generate a blank migration |
flow:migrations:migrate |
Execute pending migrations |
flow:migrations:execute |
Execute a single migration version |
flow:migrations:status |
View migration status |
flow:migrations:current |
Output the current migration version |
flow:migrations:latest |
Output the latest available migrations |
flow:migrations:list |
List all available migrations |
flow:migrations:up-to-date |
Check if all migrations have been executed |
Common options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--connection (-c) |
Target a specific connection |
--dry-run |
Preview changes without applying (migrate, execute) |
--all-or-nothing |
Wrap all migrations in a single transaction (migrate) |
--up / --down |
Migration direction (execute) |
--allow-empty-diff |
Don't fail when no changes detected (diff) |
--from-empty-schema |
Generate as if the database were empty (diff) |
Migration Workflow
Directory Structure
Migrations are organized as directories, one per version:
migrations/
20260401120000_create_users/
migration.php
rollback.php
20260402150000_add_orders/
migration.php
rollback.php
Each directory name follows the pattern {version} or {version}_{name}, where version is a numeric timestamp
(e.g. 20260401120000) and name is an optional description.
Generating Migrations from Schema Diff
Compare the current database to your catalog providers and generate migration SQL automatically:
php bin/console flow:migrations:diff
This creates a new versioned directory with migration.php containing the SQL to bring the database in sync
with the catalog, and rollback.php with the reverse operations (if generate_rollback is enabled).
Use --from-empty-schema to generate a migration as if the database were empty (useful for initial setup).
Generating Blank Migrations
Create an empty migration for manual SQL (data migrations, custom operations):
php bin/console flow:migrations:generate
Executing Migrations
Run all pending migrations:
php bin/console flow:migrations:migrate
Preview without applying:
php bin/console flow:migrations:migrate --dry-run
Execute a single version:
php bin/console flow:migrations:execute 20260401120000 --up
Checking Status
php bin/console flow:migrations:status
php bin/console flow:migrations:up-to-date
Multi-Connection Support
The bundle supports multiple independent PostgreSQL connections:
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
reporting:
dsn: '%env(REPORTING_DATABASE_URL)%'
analytics:
dsn: '%env(ANALYTICS_DATABASE_URL)%'
migrations:
enabled: true
directory: "%kernel.project_dir%/migrations"
Each connection gets its own set of services (flow.postgresql.{name}.*). The first connection is automatically
aliased to the base interfaces (Client, ConnectionParameters, Migrator, etc.), allowing direct type-hint
injection without specifying a connection name.
When migrations are enabled, migration services are registered for every connection. The same migration directory and configuration is shared across all connections.
Target a specific connection with any command:
php bin/console flow:migrations:migrate --connection=reporting
Symfony Messenger Integration
The bundle integrates with flow-php/symfony-postgresql-messenger-bridge to provide a Symfony Messenger transport backed by Flow's native PostgreSQL client — no Doctrine DBAL required.
Setup
- Install the messenger bridge:
composer require flow-php/symfony-postgresql-messenger-bridge:~0.37.0
- Enable messenger:
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
messenger:
enabled: true
table_name: messenger_messages # default
schema: public # default
- Configure the Symfony Messenger transport:
# config/packages/messenger.yaml
framework:
messenger:
transports:
async:
dsn: 'flow-pgsql://default'
routing:
App\Message\MyMessage: async
- Generate and run the migration to create the messenger table:
php bin/console flow:migrations:diff
php bin/console flow:migrations:migrate
The MessengerCatalogProvider is registered automatically when messenger.enabled: true, so the messenger_messages
table appears in schema diffs alongside your other catalog-managed tables.
Configuration Options
| Option | Default | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
table_name |
messenger_messages |
flow_postgresql.messenger |
Table name in the database |
schema |
public |
flow_postgresql.messenger |
Schema owning the table |
queue_name |
default |
framework.messenger.transports.*.options |
Queue name for message routing |
redeliver_timeout |
3600 |
framework.messenger.transports.*.options |
Seconds before unacknowledged messages are redelivered |
For full documentation, see the Symfony PostgreSQL Messenger Bridge.
Symfony Cache Integration
The bundle integrates
with flow-php/symfony-postgresql-cache-bridge to
provide PSR-6 / Symfony Cache pools backed by Flow's native PostgreSQL client — no Doctrine DBAL required. The adapter
implements PruneableInterface, so cache:pool:prune works out of the box.
Each pool is wired with the named connection's ConnectionParameters and opens its own pg_connect, isolated from
the Client services used by application code. This isolation is what keeps $cache->save(...) from accidentally
participating in (and being rolled back by) a transaction held by the caller.
Setup
- Install the cache bridge:
composer require flow-php/symfony-postgresql-cache-bridge:~0.37.0
- Define one or more pools under
flow_postgresql.cache.pools:
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
cache:
pools:
app:
connection: default # optional; defaults to the first connection
table_name: cache_app # default: cache_items
default_lifetime: 3600 # default: 0 (no expiry)
sessions:
table_name: cache_sessions
namespace: 'sess.'
default_lifetime: 86400
Each pool registers two services:
flow.postgresql.cache.pool.<name>— the cache adapter (public).flow.postgresql.cache.pool.<name>.catalog_provider— taggedflow.postgresql.catalog_provider, so the table is included inflow:migrations:diff.
- Wire the pools into Symfony's cache framework via
cache.adapter.psr6:
# config/packages/framework.yaml
framework:
cache:
pools:
cache.app:
adapter: cache.adapter.psr6
provider: flow.postgresql.cache.pool.app
cache.sessions:
adapter: cache.adapter.psr6
provider: flow.postgresql.cache.pool.sessions
The cache.adapter.psr6 wrapper is required because Symfony's CachePoolPass overwrites the first constructor argument
of any service used directly as adapter:, which conflicts with this bridge's strict Client typing on argument 0.
- Generate and run the migration to create the cache tables:
php bin/console flow:migrations:diff
php bin/console flow:migrations:migrate
Configuration Options (per pool)
| Option | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
connection |
first connection | flow_postgresql.connections key the pool uses |
table_name |
cache_items |
Table storing pool entries |
schema |
public |
Schema owning the table |
id_col / data_col / lifetime_col / time_col |
item_id / item_data / item_lifetime / item_time |
Column overrides |
namespace |
'' |
Cache pool namespace; chars in [-+.A-Za-z0-9] only |
default_lifetime |
0 |
Default TTL in seconds; 0 means no expiry |
marshaller_service_id |
null |
Service ID of a custom MarshallerInterface |
share_connection |
false |
Reuse the named connection's Client instead of opening a dedicated pg_connect. See "Sharing the Connection" below |
Sharing the Connection
By default each pool opens its own pg_connect derived from the named connection's parameters. That isolation is what keeps $cache->save(...) from being rolled back if the caller's transaction fails.
Set share_connection: true to reuse the existing flow.postgresql.<connection>.client service instead. Trade-offs:
- Pro: one fewer
pg_connectper worker per pool. Useful when connection budget is tight. - Con: cache writes participate in whatever transaction the calling code happens to be inside. A rollback on the caller's transaction also rolls back the cache write.
Use share_connection: true only when you have an explicit reason to share state (e.g. transactional outbox, cache writes that should logically belong to the caller's unit of work).
Pruning
Schedule the standard Symfony command on a cron to remove expired rows:
php bin/console cache:pool:prune
Without pruning, expired rows accumulate in the table. They are filtered out on read but are not deleted until either
the same key is fetched again or cache:pool:prune runs.
For full documentation, see the Symfony PostgreSQL Cache Bridge.
Symfony Session Integration
The bundle integrates
with flow-php/symfony-postgresql-session-bridge
to provide a Symfony session handler backed by Flow's native PostgreSQL client — no PDO or Doctrine DBAL required. The
table layout is byte-compatible with PdoSessionHandler, so existing session rows can be reused as-is.
The handler is wired with the named connection's ConnectionParameters and opens its own pg_connect, isolated
from the Client services used by application code. This is what makes LOCK_TRANSACTIONAL safe by default — the
session's transaction lives on a dedicated connection and never wraps unrelated request work.
Setup
- Install the session bridge:
composer require flow-php/symfony-postgresql-session-bridge:~0.37.0
- Enable the session handler:
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
session:
enabled: true
connection: default # optional; defaults to the first connection
table_name: sessions # default
schema: public # default
lock_mode: transactional # one of: none | advisory | transactional
ttl: 86400 # optional; falls back to session.gc_maxlifetime
Enabling the section registers three services:
flow.postgresql.session.handler— theFlowPostgreSqlSessionHandler(public, also aliased to\SessionHandlerInterface).flow.postgresql.session.catalog_provider— taggedflow.postgresql.catalog_provider, so thesessionstable is included inflow:migrations:diff.flow.postgresql.session.purge_command— see Purging Sessions.
- Wire the handler into Symfony's session framework:
# config/packages/framework.yaml
framework:
session:
handler_id: flow.postgresql.session.handler
cookie_secure: auto
cookie_samesite: lax
- Generate and run the migration to create the sessions table:
php bin/console flow:migrations:diff
php bin/console flow:migrations:migrate
Configuration Options
| Option | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
enabled |
false |
Master switch for the session integration |
connection |
first connection | flow_postgresql.connections key the handler uses |
table_name |
sessions |
Table storing sessions |
schema |
public |
Schema owning the table |
id_col |
sess_id |
Column override |
data_col |
sess_data |
Column override |
lifetime_col |
sess_lifetime |
Column override |
time_col |
sess_time |
Column override |
lock_mode |
transactional |
One of none, advisory, transactional. See bridge docs for the trade-offs |
ttl |
null |
Session lifetime in seconds; null falls back to ini session.gc_maxlifetime |
share_connection |
false |
Reuse the named connection's Client instead of opening a dedicated pg_connect. See "Sharing the Connection" below |
Sharing the Connection
By default the handler opens its own pg_connect derived from the named connection's parameters. That isolation is what keeps the session handler's transactions / locks from leaking into the connection used by application code.
Set share_connection: true to reuse the existing flow.postgresql.<connection>.client service instead. Use only when you have an explicit reason — tight connection budget or a deliberate need to keep session state on the same connection as application code.
Purging Sessions
PHP's normal probabilistic GC (session.gc_probability) already triggers expired-row cleanup at request close, so most
applications don't need extra wiring. For deterministic cleanup on a cron, the bundle exposes:
# Delete only sessions whose sess_lifetime is in the past (default behavior)
php bin/console flow:postgresql:session:purge
# Or explicitly:
php bin/console flow:postgresql:session:purge --expired
# Wipe every session (logs everyone out — destructive)
php bin/console flow:postgresql:session:purge --all
--expired and --all are mutually exclusive; passing both returns a non-zero exit code.
For full documentation, see the Symfony PostgreSQL Session Bridge.
Test Transaction Rollback
The bundle integrates with flow-php/phpunit-postgresql-bridge to automatically wrap each PHPUnit test in a database transaction and roll it back after the test finishes — keeping your test database clean without manual teardown.
Setup
- Install the PHPUnit bridge:
composer require --dev flow-php/phpunit-postgresql-bridge:~0.37.0
- Register the PHPUnit extension in
phpunit.xml.dist:
<extensions>
<bootstrap class="Flow\Bridge\PHPUnit\PostgreSQL\PostgreSQLExtension"/>
</extensions>
- Enable transaction rollback per connection in a test-environment config:
# config/packages/test/flow_postgresql.yaml
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
test_transaction_rollback: true
readonly:
test_transaction_rollback: false # default, no wrapping
When test_transaction_rollback is true, the bundle replaces PgSqlClient::connect with StaticClient::connect for
that connection. This ensures the exact same Client instance is reused across kernel reboots within the same test, so
the transaction started by the PHPUnit extension covers all database operations performed by your services.
How It Works
- PHPUnit starts → extension enables
StaticClientcaching - Before each test → extension rolls back the previous transaction and begins a new one
- Symfony kernel boots → bundle creates the client via
StaticClient::connect()→ returns the cached instance with an active transaction - Test runs → all queries go through the same cached client, inside the transaction
- Next test starts → extension rolls back all changes from the previous test
PostgreSQL supports transactional DDL, so even CREATE TABLE and ALTER TABLE statements are rolled back.
Skipping Rollback
Use the #[SkipTransactionRollback] attribute to opt out for specific tests, classes, or abstract parent classes. See
the PHPUnit PostgreSQL Bridge documentation for
details.
Complete Example
# config/packages/flow_postgresql.yaml
flow_postgresql:
connections:
default:
dsn: '%env(DATABASE_URL)%'
telemetry:
service_id: "flow.telemetry"
trace_queries: true
trace_transactions: true
collect_metrics: true
log_queries: false
max_query_length: 1000
messenger:
enabled: true
cache:
pools:
app:
table_name: cache_app
default_lifetime: 3600
migrations:
enabled: true
directory: "%kernel.project_dir%/migrations"
namespace: "App\\Migrations"
table_name: "flow_migrations"
table_schema: "public"
all_or_nothing: false
generate_rollback: true
catalog_providers:
- catalog:
schemas:
- name: "public"
tables:
- name: "users"
columns:
- name: "id"
type: { name: "int4", schema: "pg_catalog" }
nullable: false
- name: "email"
type: { name: "varchar", schema: "pg_catalog" }
nullable: false
- name: "created_at"
type: { name: "timestamptz", schema: "pg_catalog" }
nullable: false
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