> 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 on the lakebase architecture, 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, drivers, the lot.

## 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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