# Database Variables Unified ✅

## Summary

All database configuration variables have been standardized to use the `DB_*` prefix for consistency and simplicity.

## Quick Reference

### Old Variable Names (REMOVED)
- ❌ `MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD`
- ❌ `MYSQL_PASSWORD`
- ❌ `DATABASE_URL`

### New Variable Names (CURRENT)
- ✅ `DB_ROOT_PASSWORD` - MySQL root password
- ✅ `DB_PASSWORD` - Application database password
- ✅ `DB_USER` - Database username (default: `voxblog`)
- ✅ `DB_NAME` - Database name (default: `voxblog`)
- ✅ `DB_HOST` - Database host (default: `mysql` in docker, `localhost` otherwise)
- ✅ `DB_PORT` - Database port (default: `3306`)

## Files Updated

1. **`.env.example`** - Updated with unified variable names and defaults
2. **`docker-compose.yml`** - MySQL container and API service use `DB_*` variables
3. **`scripts/migrate-db-vars.sh`** - Migration helper script
4. **`docs/DB_VARIABLE_MIGRATION.md`** - Comprehensive migration guide

## Application Code (No Changes Needed)

The following files already used `DB_*` variables:
- ✅ `apps/api/src/db.ts`
- ✅ `apps/api/drizzle.config.ts`
- ✅ `apps/api/src/db/migrate.ts`

## Migration Instructions

### For Existing Users

Run the migration script:
```bash
./scripts/migrate-db-vars.sh
```

Or manually update your `.env`:
```bash
# Replace:
MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=xxx  →  DB_ROOT_PASSWORD=xxx
MYSQL_PASSWORD=xxx       →  DB_PASSWORD=xxx
```

Then restart services:
```bash
docker-compose down && docker-compose up -d
```

### For New Users

Just copy and configure:
```bash
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your passwords
docker-compose up -d
```

## Benefits

1. **Consistency** - Single naming convention across the entire project
2. **Simplicity** - Easier to remember and use
3. **Clarity** - Clear distinction between container and application config
4. **Flexibility** - Default values for easier local development
5. **Maintainability** - Less confusion, fewer errors

## Why This Change?

Previously, the project mixed two naming conventions:
- `MYSQL_*` for some variables (from MySQL Docker image convention)
- `DB_*` for application code

This created confusion about which variables to set and where. Now everything uses `DB_*`, and docker-compose handles the mapping to MySQL container's expected `MYSQL_*` environment variables internally.

## Need Help?

See the full migration guide: `docs/DB_VARIABLE_MIGRATION.md`