Starting the PostgreSQL Server on macOS

How to Start PostgreSQL Server on macOS Easily

To start the PostgreSQL server on macOS, you can use several methods, including Homebrew commands, the pg_ctl command, or configuring PostgreSQL to start automatically at boot. Here’s a step-by-step guide on each method.

1. Using Homebrew Services to Start PostgreSQL

If PostgreSQL was installed using Homebrew, you can start the server with a simple command that utilizes Homebrew’s service manager.

Syntax:

brew services start postgresql

Example Code:

# Start PostgreSQL server using Homebrew
brew services start postgresql  # Starts the PostgreSQL server and configures it to run as a background service

Explanation:

• brew services start postgresql: This command starts the PostgreSQL server and configures it to automatically restart with the system. This method is convenient for users who want PostgreSQL to be always running in the background.

2. Starting PostgreSQL Manually with pg_ctl

If PostgreSQL was not installed via Homebrew, or if you prefer to control the server manually, you can use the pg_ctl command.

Syntax:

pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres start

Example Code:

# Start PostgreSQL manually using pg_ctl
pg_ctl -D /usr/local/var/postgres start  # -D specifies the data directory, start initializes the server

Explanation:

• pg_ctl: The command-line utility to control PostgreSQL services.
• -D /usr/local/var/postgres: Specifies the path to the PostgreSQL data directory. Adjust this path if your data directory is located elsewhere.
• start: Starts the PostgreSQL server.

3. Configuring PostgreSQL to Start Automatically on Boot

To start PostgreSQL automatically when macOS boots up, use the Homebrew services approach (if installed via Homebrew) or create a launch daemon if installed manually.

Homebrew Method:

brew services start postgresql

Manual Method Using launchctl: If you installed PostgreSQL manually, you can create a launchd service by creating a .plist file.

Example Code:

• Create a new file at ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist.
• Add this content to the file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>homebrew.mxcl.postgresql</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/local/bin/pg_ctl</string>
        <string>-D</string>
        <string>/usr/local/var/postgres</string>
        <string>start</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Explanation:

• This .plist file will tell launchd to start PostgreSQL at boot. Adjust the paths as necessary for your setup.
• Load the file using:
• launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist

Important Notes

• Stopping PostgreSQL: To stop the server, use brew services stop postgresql or pg_ctl -D /path/to/data stop depending on the start method.
• Data Directory Path: The data directory path (/usr/local/var/postgres) may vary, so ensure the correct path for your PostgreSQL installation.
• Superuser Access: Starting PostgreSQL might require superuser access depending on how PostgreSQL was installed.