---
title: "temp-postgres 0.4.0"
description: "A major UX upgrade for the temporary PostgreSQL server."
published: 2026-04-30
---

[temp-postgres](https://git.skreutz.com/temp-postgres.git/) is a small utility to run the PostgreSQL server off a temporary directory.

It's been almost six years since the [initial release](/posts/temporary-postgresql-server).
The new version completes a major upgrade in terms of user experience and implementation:

* Rewritten in async Rust to improve error and signal handling
* UNIX-style command wrapper option
* Structured logging (also known as tracing)
* Graceful shutdown with configurable timeout
* Experimental Nix flake support

Some examples from the [readme](https://git.skreutz.com/temp-postgres.git/tree/README.md), also available on [crates.io](https://crates.io/crates/temp-postgres-command) and [lib.rs](https://lib.rs/crates/temp-postgres-command):

```sh
# Install temp-postgres using Cargo.
cargo install temp-postgres-command

# Run temp-postgres using Nix.
nix run git+https://git.skreutz.com/temp-postgres.git -- --help

# Optionally with a fixed PostgreSQL major version.
nix run git+https://git.skreutz.com/temp-postgres.git#temp-postgres_18 -- --help

# Wrap the psql command for an interactive terminal. No configuration necessary.
temp-postgres -- psql

# Run SQLx integration tests against a temporary database.
temp-postgres -- cargo test

# Create a symbolic link to enable static configuration.
temp-postgres --symlink db
psql --host "$(realpath db)"
```

See the [changelog](https://git.skreutz.com/temp-postgres.git/tree/CHANGELOG.md) for details.