Server quickstart¶

Build and run the threaded PostgreSQL server from a complete source checkout. Use the installation guide for compiler and system dependencies. These commands target Linux and run from the repository root, in the same shell, as a regular operating-system user. PostgreSQL refuses to initialize or run a server as root.

Build and install¶

make source-init
make server-doctor JOBS=4

POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX="$PWD/build/server-install"
make server-build JOBS=4 \
  PG_GENERATED_CONFIGURE_ARGS="--prefix=$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX"
make -C build/generated-build install

The build initializes pinned source dependencies automatically. The generated source is in build/generated/postgres/; the compiled tree is in build/generated-build/. The install step writes the server, client tools, libraries, and resources below POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX. It needs no system-wide installation or sudo. Keep the prefix consistent when rebuilding, and modify PostGamma sources rather than the generated tree.

This is a developer installation. Compiling and installing it does not run the full validation suite or create a distributable server package.

Initialize a fresh cluster¶

Choose a new data directory and a database password when prompted:

POSTGAMMA_SERVER_DATA="$PWD/build/server-data"
"$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX/bin/initdb" \
  -D "$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_DATA" -U postgamma \
  --encoding=UTF8 --locale=C \
  --auth-local=peer --auth-host=scram-sha-256 --pwprompt

The example connects over loopback TCP using password authentication. Local Unix-socket connections use peer authentication. Keep the data directory separate from an embedded PostGamma cluster or an existing PostgreSQL installation.

Start and connect¶

Port 55432 must be available. The example listens only on the local machine:

"$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX/bin/pg_ctl" \
  -D "$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_DATA" -l "$PWD/build/server.log" \
  -o "-h 127.0.0.1 -p 55432" -w start

"$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX/bin/psql" \
  -h 127.0.0.1 -p 55432 -U postgamma -d postgres

At the psql prompt:

CREATE DATABASE app;
\connect app
CREATE TABLE notes (id bigint PRIMARY KEY, body text);
INSERT INTO notes VALUES (1, 'threaded PostgreSQL');
SELECT * FROM notes;
\quit

Other PostgreSQL clients use the same host, port, role, and database. For example, a libpq connection string is host=127.0.0.1 port=55432 user=postgamma dbname=app; supply the password through the client's password prompt or credential mechanism.

Stop¶

"$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_PREFIX/bin/pg_ctl" \
  -D "$POSTGAMMA_SERVER_DATA" -m fast -w stop

Fast shutdown disconnects clients, rolls back their active transactions, and shuts down the cluster cleanly. Restart with the same start command to reopen the stored data. Continue with server operations.