How to install and run postgresql in conda

install-and-start-postgresql-in-conda-locally

This gist I write, because I couldn't find step by step instructions 
how to install and start postgresql locally (using conda within a conda environment - with the result
that you can run it without sudo/admin rights on your machine!)
and not globally in the operating system (which requires sudo/admin rights on that machine).

I hope, this will help especially people new to postgresql (and those who don't have sudo/admin rights on a specific machine but want
to run postgresql there)!

####################################
# create conda environment
####################################

conda create --name myenv

# enter the environment
conda activate myenv

####################################
# install postgresql via conda
####################################

conda install -y -c conda-forge postgresql

####################################
# create a base database locally
####################################

initdb -D mylocal_db

##############################
# now start the server modus/instance of postgres
##############################

pg_ctl -D mylocal_db -l logfile start

## waiting for server to start.... done
## server started

# now the server is up


####################################
# create a non-superuser (more safety!)
####################################

createuser --encrypted --pwprompt mynonsuperuser
# asks for name and password

####################################
# using this super user, create inner database inside the base database
####################################

createdb --owner=mynonsuperuser myinner_db


####################################
# in this point, if you run some program,
# you connect your program with this inner database
# e.g. Django 
####################################

# in django (Python) e.g. you open with your favorite editor:
nano <mysite>/settings.py # or instead of nano your favorite editor!

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql',
        'NAME': 'myinner_db',
        'USER': 'mynonsuperuser',
        'PASSWORD': '<mynonsuperuserpassword>',
        'HOST': 'localhost',
        'PORT': '',
    }
}




# and it is available for django
# so that you can do

##############################
# do with the connected program these further steps
##############################

# first install psycopg2
# because django requires this for handling postgresql
conda install -c anaconda psycopg2

# then now you can do:
python manage.py migrate
# to fully integreate the postgresql into your django website

# and to be able to use the database, you also need to create a superuser
python manage.py createsuperuser --username name 



################################
# stop running the postgres instance under ubuntu
################################

# monitor whether a postgres instance/server is running or not
ps aux | grep postgres
# if no instance is running, you will see only one line as the answer to your query - which is from your grep search!
# ending with: grep --color=auto postgres
# ignore this line!
# if an instance of postgresql server is running, then several
# processes are runnng
# you can kill the server by the first number of the leading line!

kill <number>

# e.g. the output of `ps aux | grep postgres` was:

# username  2673  0.0  0.0  14760   512 pts/11   S+   07:34   0:00 grep --color=auto postgres
# username 30550  0.0  0.0 179144 18996 ?        S    Jun13   0:01 /home/username/miniconda3/envs/django/bin/postgres -D mylocal_db
# username 30552  0.0  0.0 179276  4756 ?        Ss   Jun13   0:00 postgres: checkpointer process   
# username 30553  0.0  0.0 179144  5216 ?        Ss   Jun13   0:01 postgres: writer process   
# username 30554  0.0  0.0 179144  8464 ?        Ss   Jun13   0:01 postgres: wal writer process   
# username 30555  0.0  0.0 179700  5792 ?        Ss   Jun13   0:01 postgres: autovacuum launcher process   
# username 30556  0.0  0.0  34228  3416 ?        Ss   Jun13   0:03 postgres: stats collector process  

# then # 2673 is just the 'grep --color=auto postgres' so ignore
# the line ending with 'postgres -D /path/to/mylocal_db' is the leading line!
# take first number occuring in this line (PID - process ID number) which is 30550, therefore kill it by:
kill 30550


####################################
# run postgres as a non-server in the background
####################################

postgres -D db_djangogirls & # runs postgres
# press RET (return) to send it to background!

# you can stop and switch to server mode by
# following 'stop running postgres instance under ubuntu'

##############################
# stop non-server or server modus/instance of postgres
##############################

ps aux | grep postgres # see detailed instructions for finding the correct <process ID> 
# under 'stop running postgres instance under ubuntu'! And then do:
kill <process ID> # to stop postgres




Have fun with your completely locally running - more safe - postgresql!!!

thank you for sharing.
Is it correct that when I restart the machine it will reset the db?
If I run
pg_ctl -D mylocal_db -l logfile start
I get
pg_ctl: directory "mylocal_db" does not exist

thank you very much

Thank you so much for this step by step guide from virtual environment to django. Exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you for sharing this!

@junecv and @Nellyashley Thank you for your positive feedback!

thank you for sharing.
Is it correct that when I restart the machine it will reset the db?
If I run
pg_ctl -D mylocal_db -l logfile start
I get
pg_ctl: directory "mylocal_db" does not exist

thank you very much

It should not reset. Did you resolve the problem meanwhile?

Very useful!

This saved me so much time!! Thank you!

By running pg_ctl -D mylocal_db -l logfile start, is the database server running all the time? How about after restarting the machine. Is they any ways to set up a systemctl services here?

Thanks, I had to come over to these instructions yet once again...

Thanks! Finding this saved me from a lot of headache ;-)

Helped me out so much! Thanks for this

Happy that it helped you @chintani @jmmichaud @Isaamarod @yogenderPalChandra !

I get error when I run:
pg_ctl -D mylocal_db -l logfile start
the error:
pg_ctl: could not start server
Examine the log output.

@IceBear0149 Then probably you should examine the log output ;)

This saved my time! thank you

It helped a lot!

Thank you to your help :)
If you don't mind, Let me know reference or document about code?

Thank you to your help :) If you don't mind, Let me know reference or document about code?

Which reference or document you mean? Except the normal instructions for global postgresql - how to do it in the conda environment, I had to found out by trial and error and guessing.

Thank you to your help :) If you don't mind, Let me know reference or document about code?

Which reference or document you mean? Except the normal instructions for global postgresql - how to do it in the conda environment, I had to found out by trial and error and guessing.

Oh, I understood. Thanks.