A Step-by-Step Guide - How to Connect to PostgreSQL using DBeaver


Hello, everyone, and welcome to “Continuous Improvement,” the podcast where we explore tips, tricks, and strategies to enhance your productivity and skills. I’m your host, Victor, and in today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how to connect DBeaver, a versatile open-source database management tool, to a PostgreSQL database. So let’s dive in!

Before we begin, make sure you have DBeaver installed on your computer. If you haven’t already, you can download it from DBeaver’s official website. Additionally, ensure you have access to a PostgreSQL database along with the necessary credentials. Alright, let’s get started!

Step one is to open DBeaver. Launch the application on your computer, and once it’s up and running, we can proceed to the next step.

Step two involves creating a new connection in DBeaver. To do this, click on the “New Database Connection” button represented by a plus symbol in the toolbar at the top-left side of the window. Alternatively, you can click on the “Database” menu in the top menu bar and select “New Database Connection.”

Moving on to step three, a dialog titled “Connect to a database” will appear. Here, you’ll need to select “PostgreSQL” from the list of available databases. Once you’ve made the selection, click “Next.”

Step four is all about configuring the connection. You’ll need to enter your database credentials, including the hostname, port number, database name, username, and password. Don’t worry if you’re unsure about some of the fields. We’ll cover those too!

For the Host, enter the hostname where your PostgreSQL database resides. The Port number is usually 5432, but if you’re connecting through PgBouncer, it might be 6432. In the Database field, enter the name of the PostgreSQL database you want to connect to. If you’re unsure, you can use the default “postgres” database.

Now, let’s move on to the Username and Password fields. Enter your username and the admin password, respectively. If you don’t want to re-enter the password every time you connect, you can leave the “Save password locally” checkbox checked.

In step five, you have the option to configure additional connection settings. Click on the “PostgreSQL” tab in the “Connection settings” window. Here, you can check the “Show all databases” box to make all the databases on your PostgreSQL server visible in the “Database Navigator” panel.

Step six is crucial. We recommend testing the connection before finalizing it. Click on the “Test Connection” button. If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see a “Connected” message. However, if the test fails, you should revisit your connection settings. During this step, you might also be prompted to download the PostgreSQL driver if it’s not installed. If so, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.

Now that you’ve successfully tested the connection, it’s time to move on to step seven. Click “Finish” to establish a connection to the PostgreSQL database. You’ll notice that the new connection is now listed in the “Database Navigator” panel on the left side of the DBeaver window.

Congratulations! You’re now connected to your PostgreSQL database through DBeaver. In step eight, you can begin accessing and interacting with your database. Expand the server in the browser tree to view databases, schemas, and tables. DBeaver also offers a built-in SQL query tool, which allows you to run queries, manage database objects, and perform a host of other database-related tasks.

And there you have it! Connecting DBeaver to a PostgreSQL database is a straightforward process, and DBeaver’s user-friendly interface makes it even simpler. By following these steps, you’ll be able to interact with your PostgreSQL database effectively, whether you’re a database administrator, developer, or someone learning about databases.

I hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions for future episodes, feel free to reach out to me. Thank you for tuning in to “Continuous Improvement.” Remember, the journey to mastery is an ongoing process, so let’s keep improving together!