---
title: "How to deploy a Symfony app"
description: "Deploy a Symfony app to Ample with your coding agent, the CLI or MCP, using build and start commands verified on September 20, 2026."
canonical_url: "https://ample.computer/guides/symfony"
last_updated: "2026-09-20"
author: "Ample Computer"
---

# How to deploy a Symfony app

Deploy a Symfony app to Ample with your coding agent, the CLI or MCP, using build and start commands verified on September 20, 2026.

## The short version

To deploy a Symfony app on Ample, run `ample deploy . --name <app-name> --public` in the project directory, or ask your coding agent to deploy it to Ample. Ample builds it on the `php-8.5` template, runs the tested start command below and returns a public HTTPS URL.

## Deploy Symfony

1. **Ask your coding agent.** Install the Ample CLI and create an account, then ask your agent: "Deploy this Symfony app to Ample".

   ```sh
   curl -fsSL https://get.ample.computer/install.sh | sh
   ample auth signup
   ```

2. **Or deploy from the CLI.** It waits until the app is live or failed and prints the URL.

   ```sh
   ample deploy . --name <app-name> --public
   ```

3. **Or use MCP.** Call `ample_deploy` on `https://api.ample.computer/mcp` (or `ample mcp` over stdio).
4. **Verify.** On failure read `ample logs <deployment_id> --kind build`, fix the cause and deploy again.

## Tested configuration

| | |
|---|---|
| Template | `php-8.5` |
| Install | `composer install --no-dev --prefer-dist --no-interaction --no-progress --optimize-autoloader` |
| Start | `frankenphp php-server --listen :$PORT --root public` |
| Tested size | `s-1vcpu-1gb` |

Verified on Symfony: the app built and started with the documented commands and answered on its public HTTPS URL. Build and start: composer install --no-dev from composer.lock with Symfony Runtime's dotenv disabled (extra.runtime.disable_dotenv; .env never ships, its values arrive as encrypted env, and compile-time parameters such as DEFAULT_URI need a default), then FrankenPHP serving public/ (php-server with the index.php fallback) reading PORT on the php-8.5 template with APP_ENV=prod.

Last verification (2026-09-20): Symfony pattern fixture deployed on Ample (composer install --no-dev from composer.lock with Symfony Runtime's dotenv disabled (extra.runtime.disable_dotenv; .env never ships, its values arrive as encrypted env, and compile-time parameters such as DEFAULT_URI need a default), then FrankenPHP serving public/ (php-server with the index.php fallback) reading PORT on the php-8.5 template with APP_ENV=prod); for this guide: the app built and started with the documented commands and answered on its public HTTPS URL.

## You need

- A Symfony project (composer install --no-dev from composer.lock with Symfony Runtime's dotenv disabled (extra.runtime.disable_dotenv; .env never ships, its values arrive as encrypted env, and compile-time parameters such as DEFAULT_URI need a default), then FrankenPHP serving public/ (php-server with the index.php fallback) reading PORT on the php-8.5 template with APP_ENV=prod)
- An Ample account token with servers:write

## Know the limits

- Verified on the php-8.5 template at s-1vcpu-1gb; other sizes and Symfony major versions are not verified.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a Dockerfile to deploy Symfony?

No. Ample detects Symfony from the repository and builds it from source on the `php-8.5` template. Dockerfile build steps are not run.

### How do I add a database to a Symfony app?

Leave DATABASE_URL unset and deploy: when the code needs Postgres, MySQL, Redis or MongoDB, Ample creates a managed database and passes its connection string to the app. See [Connect Postgres for Symfony](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/database-connection).

### What does it cost to host a Symfony app on Ample?

The Free plan runs 2 apps at once with no card and a hard monthly budget, so it never bills you. Larger needs are priced on volume; see [pricing](https://ample.computer/pricing).

### What if the deploy fails?

`ample deploy` waits until the app is live or failed. A failure returns who must act, a diagnosis and a suggested fix; read the logs with `ample logs <deployment_id> --kind build`. See [Diagnose deployment failures for Symfony](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/deployment-diagnostics).

## More for Symfony

- [How to serve Symfony public assets through a CDN on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/cdn-assets): Cdn assets for a Symfony app on Ample
- [How to set environment variables and secrets for a Symfony app on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/configuration-secrets): Configuration and secrets for a Symfony app on Ample
- [How to connect a Symfony app to Postgres on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/database-connection): Database connection for a Symfony app on Ample
- [How to fix a failed Symfony deploy on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/deployment-diagnostics): Deployment diagnostics for a Symfony app on Ample
- [How to use S3-compatible storage from a Symfony app on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/object-client): Object storage client for a Symfony app on Ample
- [How to serve private files from a Symfony app on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/private-file-access): Private file access for a Symfony app on Ample
- [How to run database migrations for a Symfony app on Ample](https://ample.computer/guides/symfony/schema-changes): Schema changes for a Symfony app on Ample