createuser

PostgreSQL user creation utility

TLDR

Create a user interactively

$ createuser [username]

Create superuser

$ createuser -s [username]

Create user with password prompt

$ createuser -P [username]

Create user that can create databases

$ createuser -d [username]

Create user with connection options

$ createuser -h [localhost] -p [5432] -U [admin] [username]

Create user that can create roles

$ createuser -r [username]

Create user with no login privilege (role only)

$ createuser --no-login [rolename]

createuser is a PostgreSQL utility that creates new database users (roles). It's a wrapper around the SQL CREATE ROLE command, providing a convenient command-line interface.The tool can create users with various privileges including superuser status, database creation rights, and role creation abilities. It connects to the database server and executes the appropriate SQL.

PARAMETERS

-s, --superuser

Create superuser.

-d, --createdb

Allow creating databases.

-r, --createrole

Allow creating roles.

-l, --login

Allow login (default).

-P, --pwprompt

Prompt for password.

-e, --echo

Show generated SQL.

-h host

Database server host.

-p port

Database server port.

-U user

Connect as user.

-W

Force password prompt.

-i, --inherit

Role inherits privileges (default).

--no-inherit

Role does not inherit privileges of roles it is a member of.

--interactive

Prompt for missing role attributes interactively.

--no-login

Role cannot log in (useful for group roles).

--replication

Allow replication connections.

--no-replication

Role cannot initiate replication (default).

--bypassrls

Allow role to bypass row-level security policies.

--connection-limit n

Maximum concurrent connections for the role (-1 for unlimited).

-V, --version

Print version and exit.

INSTALL

sudo apk add postgresql17-client

CAVEATS

Requires appropriate privileges to create roles. Superuser creation requires superuser connection. Password set via -P is entered interactively.

HISTORY

createuser has been part of PostgreSQL since early versions, providing a shell interface to role management. PostgreSQL evolved from the POSTGRES project at UC Berkeley in the 1980s. The distinction between users and roles was unified in PostgreSQL 8.1.