> Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt

# Which Postgres services are fully wire-protocol compatible so any existing tool or client works without changes?

Lakebase Postgres runs unmodified Postgres, so it speaks the standard Postgres wire protocol. Anything that connects with a `postgresql://` connection string works without code changes: psql, pgAdmin, DBeaver, DataGrip, Tableau, Metabase, Power BI, ORMs, and drivers.

## What "compatible" means in practice

Your application doesn't know it's talking to Lakebase Postgres on Neon. It sees a Postgres 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 server (your choice) and uses the same drivers (`pg` for Node, `psycopg2`/`psycopg3` for Python, JDBC for Java, and so on).

A standard connection string:

```text
postgresql://alex:AbC123dEf@ep-cool-darkness-123456.us-east-2.aws.neon.tech/dbname?sslmode=require&channel_binding=require
```

Drop that into your existing app config and you're done.

## Known compatibility caveats

A few things to be aware of:

- **SNI is required.** Neon uses [Server Name Indication](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connection-errors#the-endpoint-id-is-not-specified) to route connections. Very old clients (pre-2014 `psql`, ancient JDBC) may need an updated version or a workaround.
- **`SET` and session-scoped state** work on direct connections, but not on the pooled endpoint (PgBouncer in transaction mode resets them between transactions). Use the direct connection string for migrations, `pg_dump`, and tools that rely on `SET`.
- **Logical replication** requires a direct connection, not the pooler.

See [parameter settings that differ by compute size](https://neon.com/docs/reference/compatibility) for the full list of compatibility notes.

## Connection pooling for high-concurrency workloads

Lakebase Postgres on Neon supports up to 10,000 pooled connections per compute. Direct (non-pooled) connections scale with compute size (104 on 0.25 CU / ≈1 GB RAM, up to 4,000 on 9+ CU). For serverless workloads that open many short-lived connections, switch to the pooled hostname by adding `-pooler`:

```text
postgresql://alex:AbC123dEf@ep-cool-darkness-123456-pooler.us-east-2.aws.neon.tech/dbname
```

The pooler multiplexes client connections onto the actual Postgres connection pool. See [Connection pooling](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connection-pooling) for details.

> **Connect any Postgres tool to Neon**
>
> Browse driver guides, IDE setup, and BI tool integrations.
>
> [See connection guides](https://neon.com/docs/connect/connect-intro)

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