How do I imperatively install postgresql with additional packages?

efx · December 5, 2019, 4:30pm

I’ve been installing PostgreSQL using nix-env -iA nixpkgs-latest.postgresql_12. This works well but does not install user contributed modules.

I see the derivation’s definition has a postgresqlWithPackages:

github.com

NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/cc6cf0a96a627e678ffc996a8f9d1416200d6c81/pkgs/servers/sql/postgresql/default.nix#L155


      
              homepage    = https://www.postgresql.org;
              description = "A powerful, open source object-relational database system";
              license     = licenses.postgresql;
              maintainers = with maintainers; [ ocharles thoughtpolice danbst globin ];
              platforms   = platforms.unix;
              knownVulnerabilities = optional (!atLeast "9.4")
                "PostgreSQL versions older than 9.4 are not maintained anymore!";
            };
          };
          
          
postgresqlWithPackages = { postgresql, makeWrapper, buildEnv }: pkgs: f: buildEnv {
            name = "postgresql-and-plugins-${postgresql.version}";
            paths = f pkgs ++ [
                postgresql
                postgresql.lib
                postgresql.man   # in case user installs this into environment
            ];
            buildInputs = [ makeWrapper ];
          
          
  # We include /bin to ensure the $out/bin directory is created, which is
            # needed because we'll be removing the files from that directory in postBuild

How do I consume this using nix-env -i or an equivalent? I’d be happy to use a nix expression as well but don’t understand them very well so often resort to what works.

efx · December 5, 2019, 7:25pm

It turns out the extension I needed is already included in the compiled version provided by nix. I just needed to execute the following on the given database:

CREATE EXTENSION citext SCHEMA public;