# Ardent

> Database branching for coding agents. Create isolated copies of any PostgreSQL database in under 6 seconds using copy-on-write technology. Zero risk to production. Backed by Y Combinator.

## What Ardent Does

Ardent lets coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Devin) and developers create instant, isolated copies of production PostgreSQL databases. Each branch has dedicated compute and storage isolation, autoscales to zero when idle, and only stores the changes made — not the entire database. Branches are created in under 6 seconds regardless of database size (even terabytes).

## Key Facts

- Clone creation: under 6 seconds for any size database
- Storage: copy-on-write, only changes are stored
- Compute: autoscales to zero, no overprovisioning
- Isolation: full compute and storage isolation per branch
- Unlimited branches per database
- Supported databases: PostgreSQL (Supabase, AWS RDS, standard Postgres)
- Founded: 2024
- Backed by: Y Combinator

## Pages

- [Home](https://tryardent.com): Product overview, features, testimonials
- [Pricing](https://tryardent.com/pricing): Developer and Enterprise plans — talk to us
- [Documentation](https://docs.tryardent.com): CLI reference, getting started guides
- [Privacy Policy](https://tryardent.com/legal/privacy-policy): Data handling practices
- [Terms of Service](https://tryardent.com/legal/terms-and-conditions): Service agreement

### Use Cases
- [Database Branching for Claude Code](https://tryardent.com/use-cases/database-branching-for-claude-code): Give Claude Code isolated database branches to test migrations and clean data safely
- [Database Branching for Cursor](https://tryardent.com/use-cases/database-branching-for-cursor): Let Cursor's AI agent test database changes on isolated branches with real data
- [Database Branching for CI/CD](https://tryardent.com/use-cases/database-branching-for-ci-cd): Run every CI/CD pipeline against a fresh, production-identical database branch
- [Database Branching for Supabase](https://tryardent.com/use-cases/database-branching-for-supabase): Branch your Supabase Postgres database with full data in under 6 seconds
- [Safe Migration Testing](https://tryardent.com/use-cases/safe-migration-testing): Test database migrations against production-identical data before deploying

### Comparisons
- [Ardent vs Neon Branching](https://tryardent.com/compare/neon-branching): Compare Ardent (any Postgres) with Neon (Neon-hosted only) branching
- [Database Branching vs Replicas](https://tryardent.com/compare/database-replicas): Branches vs traditional replicas — speed, storage, isolation, cost
- [Ardent vs Aurora Cloning](https://tryardent.com/compare/aurora-cloning): Aurora clones: 5+ min spin-up, 0.5 ACU idle floor, 15 clone cap vs Ardent's 6s, scale-to-zero, unlimited
- [Database Branching Tools (2026)](https://tryardent.com/alternatives/database-branching-tools): Compare Ardent, Neon, PlanetScale, Snaplet, and manual approaches

### Glossary
- [Database Branching](https://tryardent.com/glossary/database-branching): What database branching is and how it works
- [Copy-on-Write](https://tryardent.com/glossary/copy-on-write): How CoW enables instant branching at near-zero storage cost
- [Database Sandbox](https://tryardent.com/glossary/database-sandbox): Isolated database environments for safe testing
- [Change Data Capture](https://tryardent.com/glossary/change-data-capture): How CDC tracks and streams database changes in real time
- [Ephemeral Environments](https://tryardent.com/glossary/ephemeral-environments): Short-lived dev/test environments with real database data

## Use Cases

- **Migration Testing**: Test schema migrations on a full copy of production before deploying
- **Data Cleaning**: Let AI agents clean, deduplicate, and standardize data on an isolated branch
- **Backfills**: Run backfill operations on a branch, verify results, then apply to production
- **CI/CD Database Testing**: Spin up ephemeral database branches for every pull request
- **Agent Sandboxing**: Give coding agents a safe copy of production to test destructive queries

## CLI Examples

```bash
# Install and authenticate
npm install -g ardent-cli
ardent login

# Connect a database
ardent connector create postgresql postgres://user:pass@host:5432/mydb

# Create a branch (under 6 seconds)
ardent branch create my-feature

# See what changed
ardent branch diff

# List branches
ardent branch list

# Switch branches
ardent branch switch main
```

## How It Works

1. Connect your PostgreSQL database (Supabase, AWS RDS, or any Postgres instance)
2. Create a branch — Ardent uses copy-on-write to create an instant, isolated clone
3. Work on the branch — run migrations, let agents modify data, test queries
4. View the diff — see exactly what changed on the branch
5. Branches autoscale to zero when idle, costing nothing until reactivated

## Company

- **Company**: ArdentAI, Inc.
- **Website**: https://tryardent.com
- **Documentation**: https://docs.tryardent.com
- **Twitter/X**: https://x.com/ArdentAI
- **LinkedIn**: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardent-db
- **GitHub**: https://github.com/ArdentAILabs