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install-and-run-postgres.md

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10/04/2019

To install PostgreSQL:

  1. Open your WSL terminal (ie. Ubuntu 18.04).
  2. Update your Ubuntu packages: sudo apt update
  3. Once the packages have updated, install PostgreSQL (and the -contrib package which has some helpful utilities) with: sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib
  4. Confirm installation and get the version number: psql --version

There are 3 commands you need to know once PostgreSQL is installed:

  1. sudo service postgresql status for checking the status of your database.
  2. sudo service postgresql start to start running your database.
  3. sudo service postgresql stop to stop running your database.

PostgreSQL User Setup

The default admin user, postgres, needs a password assigned in order to connect to a database. To set a password:

  1. Enter the command: sudo passwd postgres
  2. You will get a prompt to enter your new password.
  3. Close and reopen your terminal.

Run PostgreSQL with psql shell

psql is a terminal-based front-end to PostgreSQL. It enables you to type in queries interactively, issue them to PostgreSQL, and see the query results. Alternatively, input can be from a file. In addition, it provides a number of meta-commands and various shell-like features to facilitate writing scripts and automating a wide variety of tasks.

To start the psql shell:

  1. Start your postgres service: sudo service postgresql start
  2. Connect to the postgres service and open the psql shell: sudo -u postgres psql

Once you have successfully entered the psql shell, you will see your command line change to look like this: postgres=#

Note

Alternatively, you can open the psql shell by switching to the postgres user with: su - postgres and then entering the command: psql.

To exit postgres=# enter: \q or use the shortcut key: Ctrl+D

To see what user accounts have been created on your PostgreSQL installation, use from your WSL terminal: psql -c "\du" ...or just \du if you have the psql shell open. This command will display columns: Account User Name, List of Roles Attributes, and Member of role group(s). To exit back to the command line, enter: q.