🔗 Enhancing your Docker workflow with local PostgreSQL integration

I’m a proponent of using Docker containers locally when running 3rd party software except when it’s PostgreSQL. Here are a couple of reasons why would you prefer local PostgreSQL over containerized PostgreSQL:

• Multiple projects. Run personal, work-related, or any other container that needs DB access.
• Persistence. Managing persistent storage for databases in Docker containers can be cumbersome. Ensuring data is safely stored and backed up requires additional configuration for volumes and bind mounts. Running PostgreSQL locally simplifies persistence management since the data resides directly on the host filesystem.
• Ease of Access. Accessing PostgreSQL directly on the host is generally more straightforward. Tools and applications can connect to the database using the local hostname without needing to manage Docker’s networking setup.
• Configuration and Customization. Configuring PostgreSQL natively allows for more flexibility and easier customization. While you can pass configuration files to a Docker container, making changes to a local installation can be more intuitive, immediate, and support your learning for PostgreSQL internals.
• Learning and Troubleshooting. For those learning PostgreSQL or troubleshooting issues, running the database locally can be more beneficial. It allows for direct interaction with PostgreSQL’s logs, configurations, and utilities without the added layer of Docker, making debugging and learning processes more transparent.

By preferring a local installation of PostgreSQL, you leverage the benefits of direct integration with the host system, improved performance, and simplified management, all of which can enhance development and operational workflows.

So, how do you share your local PostgreSQL server running on @localhost:5432 with any Docker container? Let’s see two different methods by using networking: Docker Host and Bridge network.