Postgres: upgrade a user to be a superuser?

Role customization: Unleash the powers!

Not every situation calls for the nuclear option of granting superuser status. Sometimes, you only want to tweak a few permissions. Here are some "surgical strike" commands:

• Revoke a superhero cape: ALTER USER username WITH NOSUPERUSER;
• Grant permission to build databases:

ALTER USER username CREATEDB; -- This is more of a construction permit


• Updating user password:

ALTER USER my_user WITH ENCRYPTED PASSWORD 'newpassword'; -- Make it look gibberish, but remember it


• Building time machines: ALTER USER username VALID UNTIL 'timestamp';
• Access control:

ALTER USER username CONNECTION LIMIT limit_number; -- Because traffic is everywhere!


• Prevent bypassing row level security: ALTER USER username NOBYPASSRLS;

Refer to PostgreSQL's official documentation for all the magic spells of ALTER USER.

Console cruise: Getting the keys!

To float around the Postgres console, follow these two steps:

1. Act like a postgres superuser:

sudo su - postgres


2. Enter the world of psql:

psql -- And off we go!


Pro tip: Use \du; within psql to pull out a list of users and their superpowers.

Your secret security protocol

Having all-powerful superusers lurking around can be dangerous. Here's your guide to Postgres superpower distribution:

• Less is more: As few superusers as possible, please.
• Keep an eye on 'em: Regular audits. Are the privileges still necessary?
• Roleplay could be fun: Use CREATEROLE or CREATEUSER for specific privileges.

The troubleshooting toolkit

Here's what to keep in mind if things go south while altering roles:

• Who are you? Does your current user have the required permissions?
• Case sensitivity alert! Correctly typed usernames and commands?
• Version compatibility check: Your PostgreSQL version supports these commands, right?

Balance the superpowers!

Sure, granting superuser status brings power and flexibility. But too much power can lead to DB chaos (and potential world domination 🌎💥). With great power comes great responsibility, after all...

Permission Automation: "Hey database, manage yourself."

Large scale systems or simple laziness calls for automated privilege management. Consider scripting role changes or using DevOps tools to let machines do what they do best.