Rails 3.0: PostgreSQL

If you're starting fresh, getting a Rails application running on PostgreSQL can be rather involved.

Install PostgreSQL on Ubuntu.

sudo apt-get install postgresql libpq-dev pgadmin3 -y

Create a new Rails application with PostgreSQL.

rails new <project name> -d postgresql

If this is an old project, install the gem in Gemfile.

gem 'pg'

Create the PostgreSQL user. The username will be the same name as your project which can be found in config/database.yml.

sudo su postgres -c psql
# Enters the psql console.
create user "<username>" with [superuser] password "<password>";
# Outputs CREATE ROLE.
\q

The superuser keyword is optional but makes things easier in development.

If you get the error "FATAL: ident authentication failed", edit /etc/postgresql/8.4/main/pg_hba.conf.

local all all ident

to

local all all md5

Restart PostgreSQL.

sudo service postgresql restart

Create the development and test databases through the terminal.

createdb <project name>_development -U <username> -W
createdb <project name>_test -U <username> -W

References

http://olmonrails.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/switching-rails-to-postgresql/