At re:Invent 2025, Colin Lazier, the Vice President of Databases at AWS, articulated a vision of accelerating innovation by enabling developers to transition swiftly from idea to implementation. With the existing capabilities of Amazon DynamoDB and Amazon Aurora DSQL, users can now establish production-ready databases in mere seconds. Lazier showcased the rapid creation of an Amazon Aurora serverless database, responding to customer demand for speed and accessibility.
Introducing Express Configuration for Aurora PostgreSQL
In line with this vision, AWS has unveiled a new express configuration for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, designed to streamline the database creation process. This configuration features preconfigured defaults that allow users to set up an Aurora PostgreSQL serverless database in just two clicks. Users can customize specific settings both during and after the creation process, such as adjusting the capacity range for the serverless instance or adding read replicas.
The express configuration simplifies the setup by eliminating the need for an Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC) network, incorporating an internet access gateway that facilitates secure connections from various development tools without requiring a VPN or AWS Direct Connect. Additionally, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) authentication is enabled by default for the administrator user, allowing for passwordless access from the outset.
Once the database is established, users gain access to the full suite of features available for Aurora PostgreSQL serverless, including the deployment of additional read replicas for enhanced availability and automated failover capabilities. The new internet access gateway routing layer ensures that applications can connect securely from any location worldwide, utilizing the PostgreSQL wire protocol across a diverse range of developer tools. This gateway is strategically distributed across multiple Availability Zones, ensuring high availability akin to the Aurora cluster itself.
The ability to create and connect to Aurora databases in seconds fundamentally transforms the onboarding experience for developers. With the introduction of multiple capabilities designed to facilitate application deployment, Aurora is now accessible through the AWS Free Tier, allowing users to gain hands-on experience without any upfront costs. After creation, developers can directly query their Aurora database using AWS CloudShell or through various programming languages and developer tools, thanks to the new internet-accessible routing component.
To initiate the creation of an Aurora PostgreSQL serverless database, users can navigate to the Aurora and RDS console, select the Dashboard, and click on Create with the rocket icon. The pre-configured settings can be reviewed and modified as needed before finalizing the creation process.
- Access the Create with express configuration dialog box.
- Adjust the DB cluster identifier or capacity range as necessary.
- Click Create database.
For those who prefer command-line interfaces, the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) or AWS SDKs can be utilized with the --with-express-configuration parameter to create both a cluster and an instance in a single API call, enabling rapid query execution.
$ aws rds create-db-cluster --db-cluster-identifier channy-express-db
--engine aurora-postgresql
--with-express-configurationUpon successful creation, a confirmation banner will appear, and the database status will change to Available. Users can then explore the Connectivity & security tab to find three connection options, including code snippets for various programming languages such as .NET, Golang, JDBC, Node.js, PHP, PSQL, Python, and TypeScript.
For instance, the following Python code snippet illustrates how to connect to the database using the generated authentication token:
import psycopg2
import boto3
auth_token = boto3.client('rds', region_name='ap-south-1').generate_db_auth_token(DBHostname='channy-express-db-instance-1.abcdef.ap-south-1.rds.amazonaws.com', Port=5432, DBUsername='postgres', Region='ap-south-1')
conn = None
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host='channy-express-db-instance-1.abcdef.ap-south-1.rds.amazonaws.com',
port=5432,
database='postgres',
user='postgres',
password=auth_token,
sslmode='require'
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute('SELECT version();')
print(cur.fetchone()[0])
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print(f"Database error: {e}")
raise
finally:
if conn:
conn.close()For quick access to the AWS CLI, users can launch CloudShell directly from the console, where commands are pre-populated with relevant information for connecting to the specific cluster. Upon connecting, users will see the psql login and the postgres => prompt for executing SQL commands.
Additionally, users can opt for Endpoints to connect through tools that require username and password credentials, such as pgAdmin. By selecting Get token, they can generate an AWS IAM authentication token to use in the password field, valid for 15 minutes.
Accelerating Application Development with Aurora
During re:Invent 2025, AWS also announced enhancements to the AWS Free Tier program, offering up to 0 in credits applicable across various AWS services. New users will receive 0 in credits upon sign-up, with the potential to earn an additional 0 by utilizing services like Amazon RDS, AWS Lambda, and Amazon Bedrock. Furthermore, Amazon Aurora is now included in a wide array of eligible Free Tier database services.
Developers are increasingly leveraging platforms such as Vercel, where natural language can be employed to construct production-ready applications. AWS has introduced integrations with the Vercel Marketplace, allowing users to create and connect to AWS databases within seconds. The v0 by Vercel tool, powered by AI, enables users to transform their ideas into full-stack web applications rapidly, incorporating Aurora PostgreSQL, Aurora DSQL, and DynamoDB databases. Existing databases created through express configuration can also be connected with Vercel.
AWS is committed to seamlessly integrating its databases into popular frameworks, AI-assisted coding tools, and developer environments, empowering developers to build at the speed of their ideas. The integration of Aurora PostgreSQL with Kiro powers further enhances this capability, allowing developers to expedite the development of Aurora-backed applications through AI agent-assisted development.
Today, users can create an Aurora PostgreSQL serverless database in seconds across all AWS commercial regions. For details on regional availability and future roadmaps, the AWS Capabilities by Region page provides comprehensive information. Users are billed only for the capacity consumed based on Aurora Capacity Units (ACUs), which automatically scale according to application needs.
To explore these capabilities, visit the Aurora and RDS console, and share feedback through AWS re:Post for Aurora PostgreSQL or your usual AWS Support channels.
