Question: Where is the postgresql.conf file located when PostgreSQL is installed via Homebrew?

Answer

When PostgreSQL is installed on a macOS system using Homebrew, the postgresql.conf file, which contains various configuration settings for the PostgreSQL server, isn't located in the standard directory you might expect if you're familiar with other installation methods.

Instead, it's placed under the Homebrew-specific database directory. You can find the exact location of this configuration file by running the following command in the terminal:

brew info postgresql

This command will output several pieces of information about the PostgreSQL installation, including where the database files are stored. Look for the lines that mention "Database Configuration File".

Typically, for PostgreSQL installed via Homebrew, the configuration files will be located in a path similar to:

/usr/local/var/postgres/postgresql.conf

or, depending on your specific setup and Homebrew version, it may vary slightly (like /opt/homebrew/var/postgres/postgresql.conf on Apple Silicon Macs).

To edit this file, you can use any text editor you prefer, such as nano or vim. For example:

nano /usr/local/var/postgres/postgresql.conf

Replace /usr/local/var/postgres/postgresql.conf with the actual path if it's different in your case. After making your changes, remember to restart the PostgreSQL server for the changes to take effect. This can usually be done with:

brew services restart postgresql

This ensures that all your new configurations are loaded and used by the PostgreSQL server.