Patterns and best practices for using Lakebase Provisioned (Databricks managed PostgreSQL) for OLTP workloads.
Scanned 9/6/2026
Install to Claude Code
npx -y skills add frank-luongt/faos-skills-marketplace --skill databricks-lakebase-provisioned --agent claude-codeInstalls into .claude/skills of the current project.
Are you the author of Databricks Lakebase Provisioned?
Add the live security badge to your README — it updates automatically with every re-scan.
[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/frank-luongt-databricks-lakebase-provisioned-faos-skills-marketplace)More formats (shields.io, HTML) on the badges page.
<!-- AUTO-GENERATED by export-skills.py — DO NOT EDIT -->
---
name: databricks-lakebase-provisioned
---
# Lakebase Provisioned
Patterns and best practices for using Lakebase Provisioned (Databricks managed PostgreSQL) for OLTP
workloads.
## When to Use
Use this skill when:
- Building applications that need a PostgreSQL database for transactional workloads
- Adding persistent state to Databricks Apps
- Implementing reverse ETL from Delta Lake to an operational database
- Storing chat/agent memory for LangChain applications
## Overview
Lakebase Provisioned is Databricks' managed PostgreSQL database service for OLTP (Online Transaction
Processing) workloads. It provides a fully managed PostgreSQL-compatible database that integrates
with Unity Catalog and supports OAuth token-based authentication.
| Feature | Description |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Managed PostgreSQL** | Fully managed instances with automatic provisioning |
| **OAuth Authentication** | Token-based auth via Databricks SDK (1-hour expiry) |
| **Unity Catalog** | Register databases for governance |
| **Reverse ETL** | Sync data from Delta tables to PostgreSQL |
| **Apps Integration** | First-class support in Databricks Apps |
**Available Regions (AWS):** us-east-1, us-east-2, us-west-2, eu-central-1, eu-west-1, ap-south-1,
ap-southeast-1, ap-southeast-2
## Quick Start
Create and connect to a Lakebase Provisioned instance:
```python
from databricks.sdk import WorkspaceClient
import uuid
# Initialize client
w = WorkspaceClient()
# Create a database instance
instance = w.database.create_database_instance(
name="my-lakebase-instance",
capacity="SMALL", # SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
stopped=False
)
print(f"Instance created: {instance.name}")
print(f"DNS endpoint: {instance.read_write_dns}")
```
## Common Patterns
### Generate OAuth Token
```python
from databricks.sdk import WorkspaceClient
import uuid
w = WorkspaceClient()
# Generate OAuth token for database connection
cred = w.database.generate_database_credential(
request_id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
instance_names=["my-lakebase-instance"]
)
token = cred.token # Use this as password in connection string
```
### Connect from Notebook
```python
import psycopg
from databricks.sdk import WorkspaceClient
import uuid
# Get instance details
w = WorkspaceClient()
instance = w.database.get_database_instance(name="my-lakebase-instance")
# Generate token
cred = w.database.generate_database_credential(
request_id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
instance_names=["my-lakebase-instance"]
)
# Connect using psycopg3
conn_string = f"host={instance.read_write_dns} dbname=postgres user={w.current_user.me().user_name} password={cred.token} sslmode=require"
with psycopg.connect(conn_string) as conn:
with conn.cursor() as cur:
cur.execute("SELECT version()")
print(cur.fetchone())
```
### SQLAlchemy with Token Refresh (Production)
For long-running applications, tokens must be refreshed (expire after 1 hour):
```python
import asyncio
import os
import uuid
from sqlalchemy import event
from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import create_async_engine, AsyncSession
from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker
from databricks.sdk import WorkspaceClient
# Token refresh state
_current_token = None
_token_refresh_task = None
TOKEN_REFRESH_INTERVAL = 50 * 60 # 50 minutes (before 1-hour expiry)
def _generate_token(instance_name: str) -> str:
"""Generate fresh OAuth token."""
w = WorkspaceClient()
cred = w.database.generate_database_credential(
request_id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
instance_names=[instance_name]
)
return cred.token
async def _token_refresh_loop(instance_name: str):
"""Background task to refresh token every 50 minutes."""
global _current_token
while True:
await asyncio.sleep(TOKEN_REFRESH_INTERVAL)
_current_token = await asyncio.to_thread(_generate_token, instance_name)
def init_database(instance_name: str, database_name: str, username: str) -> AsyncEngine:
"""Initialize database with OAuth token injection."""
global _current_token
w = WorkspaceClient()
instance = w.database.get_database_instance(name=instance_name)
# Generate initial token
_current_token = _generate_token(instance_name)
# Build URL (password injected via do_connect)
url = f"postgresql+psycopg://{username}@{instance.read_write_dns}:5432/{database_name}"
engine = create_async_engine(
url,
pool_size=5,
max_overflow=10,
pool_recycle=3600,
connect_args={"sslmode": "require"}
)
# Inject token on each connection
@event.listens_for(engine.sync_engine, "do_connect")
def provide_token(dialect, conn_rec, cargs, cparams):
cparams["password"] = _current_token
return engine
```
### Databricks Apps Integration
For Databricks Apps, use environment variables for configuration:
```python
# Environment variables set by Databricks Apps:
# - LAKEBASE_INSTANCE_NAME: Instance name
# - LAKEBASE_DATABASE_NAME: Database name
# - LAKEBASE_USERNAME: Username (optional, defaults to service principal)
import os
def is_lakebase_configured() -> bool:
"""Check if Lakebase is configured for this app."""
return bool(
os.environ.get("LAKEBASE_PG_URL") or
(os.environ.get("LAKEBASE_INSTANCE_NAME") and
os.environ.get("LAKEBASE_DATABASE_NAME"))
)
```
Add Lakebase as an app resource via CLI:
```bash
databricks apps add-resource $APP_NAME \
--resource-type database \
--resource-name lakebase \
--database-instance my-lakebase-instance
```
### Register with Unity Catalog
```python
from databricks.sdk import WorkspaceClient
w = WorkspaceClient()
# Register database in Unity Catalog
w.database.register_database_instance(
name="my-lakebase-instance",
catalog="my_catalog",
schema="my_schema"
)
```
### MLflow Model Resources
Declare Lakebase as a model resource for automatic credential provisioning:
```python
from mlflow.models.resources import DatabricksLakebase
resources = [
DatabricksLakebase(database_instance_name="my-lakebase-instance"),
]
# When logging model
mlflow.langchain.log_model(
model,
artifact_path="model",
resources=resources,
pip_requirements=["databricks-langchain[memory]"]
)
```
## Reference Files
- [connection-patterns.md](connection-patterns.md) - Detailed connection patterns for different use
cases
- [reverse-etl.md](reverse-etl.md) - Syncing data from Delta Lake to Lakebase
## CLI Quick Reference
```bash
# Create instance
databricks database create-database-instance \
--name my-lakebase-instance \
--capacity SMALL
# Get instance details
databricks database get-database-instance --name my-lakebase-instance
# Generate credentials
databricks database generate-database-credential \
--request-id $(uuidgen) \
--json '{"instance_names": ["my-lakebase-instance"]}'
# List instances
databricks database list-database-instances
# Stop instance (saves cost)
databricks database stop-database-instance --name my-lakebase-instance
# Start instance
databricks database start-database-instance --name my-lakebase-instance
```
## Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Token expired during long query** | Implement token refresh loop (see Pattern 3); tokens expire after 1 hour |
| **DNS resolution fails on macOS** | Use `dig` command to resolve hostname, pass `hostaddr` to psycopg |
| **Connection refused** | Ensure instance is not stopped; check `instance.state` |
| **Permission denied** | User must be granted access to the Lakebase instance |
| **SSL required error** | Always use `sslmode=require` in connection string |
## SDK Version Requirements
- **Databricks SDK for Python**: >= 0.61.0 (0.81.0+ recommended for full API support)
- **psycopg**: 3.x (supports `hostaddr` parameter for DNS workaround)
- **SQLAlchemy**: 2.x with `postgresql+psycopg` driver
```python
%pip install -U "databricks-sdk>=0.81.0" "psycopg[binary]>=3.0" sqlalchemy
```
## Notes
- **Lakebase Autoscaling** is a newer offering with automatic scaling but limited regional
availability. This skill focuses on **Lakebase Provisioned** which is more widely available.
- For memory/state in LangChain agents, use `databricks-langchain[memory]` which includes Lakebase
support.
- Tokens are short-lived (1 hour) - production apps MUST implement token refresh.
<!-- Source: .faos/custom/skills/cloud/databricks/databricks-lakebase-provisioned/SKILL.md -->
Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!