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+---
+title: "Temporary PostgreSQL server"
+description: "A shell script to run the PostgreSQL server off a temporary directory."
+published: 2020-10-14
+---
+
+Today I want to share a simple shell script to spin up a temporary PostgreSQL database.
+I've been using this script for two years and found it useful enough to publish it now.
+The script is inspired by a [blog post](https://www.johbo.com/2017/on-demand-postgresql-for-your-development-environment.html) by Johannes Bornhold that reminded me of Unix' simplicity.
+You can download it [here](/files/temp-postgres.sh).
+
+The script essentially performs seven steps:
+
+* Create a temporary directory using `mktemp`
+* Initialize the directory using `initdb`
+* Serve the directory using `postgres`
+* Ensure the server is up using `pg_isready`
+* Create a database using `createdb`
+* Wait for a `SIGINT`
+* Remove the temporary directory
+
+Obviously, you still need to install PostgreSQL to use the script.
+However, you may use your favorite functional package manager to install PostgreSQL on-the-fly if you like.
+In case of [Nix](https://nixos.org/), simply replace the shebang on the first line of the script with the following two lines.
+
+```sh
+#! /usr/bin/env nix-shell
+#! nix-shell --pure --packages postgresql -i bash
+```
+
+In case of [GNU Guix](https://guix.gnu.org/), use the following shebang.
+Please note, however, that the `env` command on your OS might not support the used `-S` argument.
+
+```sh
+#! /usr/bin/env -S guix environment --pure --ad-hoc postgresql bash coreutils -- bash
+```
+
+You can find the full shell script [here](/files/temp-postgres.sh).