PostgreSQL connection error when DB_SSL_MODE is omitted in AdonisJS production

When developing an AdonisJS application locally with SQLite, the server starts and migrations run without any additional configuration.

In production, switching the database driver to PostgreSQL by setting DB_CONNECTION=pg causes the Lucid ORM to throw a connection error during the first query or migration if DB_SSL_MODE is not explicitly defined.

The goal is to determine the correct SSL mode setting that allows the application to connect to a managed PostgreSQL service that enforces TLS, while preserving the ability to run locally with SQLite.

What DB_SSL_MODE value should be used for a hosted PostgreSQL that requires TLS? Should this variable be defined globally in .env or overridden per connection? How can the framework provide a clearer early‑warning message when SSL mode is missing?