# fergusstrange/embedded-postgres

Run a real Postgres database locally on Linux, OSX or Windows as part of another Go application or test

Repository: https://github.com/fergusstrange/embedded-postgres
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/embedded-postgres
Language: Go
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Last push: 2026-03-18T00:07:09+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 70/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 72, release rhythm 51, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2482, "days_push": 169, "days_rel": 169, "gap_med": 112.0, "n_releases_24m": 5}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1223, forks 104 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:02.565645+00:00)

## What it is
A Go library that runs a real PostgreSQL database locally on Linux, macOS, or Windows as part of another Go application or test. It downloads precompiled Postgres binaries and requires no external dependencies beyond the Go build ecosystem.

## Use cases
- run a real postgres database in go integration tests
- spin up an ephemeral postgres instance for testing
- replace in-memory database fakes with real postgres in tests
- embed postgres in a go application without external dependencies
- test database migrations against real postgres locally

## When to choose
- you need higher test confidence than in-memory database alternatives
- you want a real Postgres with zero external dependencies in Go tests
- you need cross-platform local Postgres for Linux, macOS, or Windows

## When to avoid
- you only need lightweight in-memory behavior and can tolerate a fake
- your tests run in environments where downloading binaries is not allowed
- you need a production database server rather than an embedded test instance

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: database, database-driver, testing
- domain: databases, testing, developer-tools
- platform: windows, go, cross-platform
- tags: embedded-postgres, integration-testing, go-library, test-databases, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- fergusstrange/embedded-postgres (main) score 70

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:02.565645+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:15:32.106092+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/fergusstrange/embedded-postgres (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:02.565645+00:00, sha 4b907704ace2)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.