2 files changed, 18 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/packages/db/src/core/integration/index.ts b/packages/db/src/core/integration/index.ts
index e48b95c09..d288475a5 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/core/integration/index.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/core/integration/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { existsSync } from 'fs';
 import { dirname } from 'path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
-import type { AstroIntegration } from 'astro';
+import type { AstroConfig, AstroIntegration } from 'astro';
+import { AstroError } from 'astro/errors';
 import { mkdir, writeFile } from 'fs/promises';
 import { blue, yellow } from 'kleur/colors';
 import parseArgs from 'yargs-parser';
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import { fileURLIntegration } from './file-url.js';
 import { typegenInternal } from './typegen.js';
 import { type LateSeedFiles, type LateTables, vitePluginDb } from './vite-plugin-db.js';
 import { vitePluginInjectEnvTs } from './vite-plugin-inject-env-ts.js';
+import { loadEnv } from 'vite';
 
 function astroDBIntegration(): AstroIntegration {
 	let connectToStudio = false;
@@ -33,12 +35,14 @@ function astroDBIntegration(): AstroIntegration {
 		},
 	};
 	let command: 'dev' | 'build' | 'preview';
+	let output: AstroConfig['output'] = 'server';
 	return {
 		name: 'astro:db',
 		hooks: {
 			'astro:config:setup': async ({ updateConfig, config, command: _command, logger }) => {
 				command = _command;
 				root = config.root;
+				output = config.output;
 
 				if (command === 'preview') return;
 
@@ -111,6 +115,12 @@ function astroDBIntegration(): AstroIntegration {
 				});
 			},
 			'astro:build:start': async ({ logger }) => {
+				if(!connectToStudio && !databaseFileEnvDefined() && (output === 'server' || output === 'hybrid')) {
+					const message = `Attempting to build without the --remote flag or the ASTRO_DATABASE_FILE environment variable defined. You probably want to pass --remote to astro build.`;
+					const hint = 'Learn more connecting to Studio: https://docs.astro.build/en/guides/astro-db/#connect-to-astro-studio';
+					throw new AstroError(message, hint);
+				}
+
 				logger.info('database: ' + (connectToStudio ? yellow('remote') : blue('local database.')));
 			},
 			'astro:build:done': async ({}) => {
@@ -120,6 +130,11 @@ function astroDBIntegration(): AstroIntegration {
 	};
 }
 
+function databaseFileEnvDefined() {
+	const env = loadEnv('', process.cwd());
+	return env.ASTRO_DATABASE_FILE != null || process.env.ASTRO_DATABASE_FILE != null;
+}
+
 export function integration(): AstroIntegration[] {
 	return [astroDBIntegration(), fileURLIntegration()];
 }
diff --git a/packages/db/src/core/integration/vite-plugin-db.ts b/packages/db/src/core/integration/vite-plugin-db.ts
index 60a9b7539..34685e958 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/core/integration/vite-plugin-db.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/core/integration/vite-plugin-db.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ import { asDrizzleTable, createLocalDatabaseClient } from ${RUNTIME_IMPORT};
 ${shouldSeed ? `import { seedLocal } from ${RUNTIME_IMPORT};` : ''}
 ${shouldSeed ? integrationSeedImportStatements.join('\n') : ''}
 
-const dbUrl = ${JSON.stringify(dbUrl)};
+const dbUrl = import.meta.env.ASTRO_DATABASE_FILE ?? ${JSON.stringify(dbUrl)};
+
 export const db = createLocalDatabaseClient({ dbUrl });
 
 ${