How to Install PostgreSQL on Debian 12: A Step-by-Step Guide

PostgreSQL, commonly known as Postgres, is a powerful, open-source relational database management system renowned for its advanced features and reliability. In this comprehensive step-by-step tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing PostgreSQL on a Debian 12 system

Step 1: Update the System

Start by ensuring your Debian 12 system is up to date.  Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This command will update the package list and upgrade existing packages on your system

Step 2: Install PostgreSQL

To install PostgreSQL on Debian 12, use the following command:

sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib

This command will install both the PostgreSQL server and additional contrib packages that provide useful extensions and utilities

Step 3: Start and Enable PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL should start automatically after installation

However, to ensure it starts at boot, use the following command:

sudo systemctl enable postgresql

To check the status of the PostgreSQL service, use:

sudo systemctl status postgresql

Step 4: Create a PostgreSQL User and Database

Let’s create a new PostgreSQL user and database

Replace your_user and your_database with your preferred values:

sudo -u postgres createuser your_user
sudo -u postgres createdb -O your_user your_database

To access the PostgreSQL command-line tool, psql, use the following command:

sudo -u postgres psql -d your_database

Once in the psql prompt, execute the following SQL commands to create a basic table:

CREATE TABLE example (
    id serial PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR (100),
    age INT
);

Step 5: Managing the PostgreSQL Service

To manage the PostgreSQL service on Debian 12, you can use the following commands

•     Start PostgreSQL service:

sudo systemctl start postgresql

• Stop PostgreSQL service:

sudo systemctl stop postgresql

• Restart PostgreSQL service:

sudo systemctl restart postgresql

• Check PostgreSQL service status:

sudo systemctl status postgresql

Congratulations! You have successfully installed PostgreSQL on your Debian 12 server, created a database, and learned how to perform basic management tasks

PostgreSQL’s extensive feature set makes it a versatile choice for various data storage needs.