How to use PostgreSQL with your Ruby on Rails application on Ubuntu 16.04

Learn how to use PostgreSQL with your Ruby on Rails application, instead of the default SQLite database. SQLite is an easy-to-configure, lightweight product which ships with Ruby on Rails by default. However, PostgreSQL is a more robust solution which provides more advanced features, scaling, and stability, which may make it more suitable for your Ruby on Rails project.

• A Cloud Server running Linux (Ubuntu 16.04)
• PostgreSQL installed and running.
• Ruby on Rails installed and running.
• A basic familiarity with Ruby on Rails.

Create a PostgreSQL user so that your Ruby on Rails application will be able to connect to the PostgreSQL database:

For example, to create the PostgreSQL username jdoe the command is:

To set a password for this user, log in to the PostgreSQL command line client:

At the PostgreSQL prompt, enter the following command to set the password:

For example, to set the password for jdoe the command is:

Enter and confirm the password. Then exit the PostgreSQL client:

The next step is to enable PostgreSQL support in your Ruby on Rails application.

First, create the application using the -d postgresql flag:

For example, the command to create an application named my-app is:

The -d flag tells Ruby on Rails that you will be using PostgreSQL for this application.

Next, move into the directory which Ruby on Rails created for the application:

Edit the config/database.yml file:

Scroll down to the section which reads:

Delete the # in the last line to un-comment it, and change the username to the one you created:

In the next section, delete the # to un-comment the last line, and add the password for the jdoe user:

Save and exit the file.

Use the following rake command to create the databases for your application:

To test the configuration, simply start the rails application and check it in a browser.

From the application's directory, use the command:

The server should respond with: