Please Don’t Use the postgres Database for Your Application – A DBA’s Perspective

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Let me guess.

You installed PostgreSQL, and there it was — the postgres database.
Already there. Easy to connect. No setup hassle.

So, why not just create a few tables there and get started?

As a DBA, I’ve seen this too many times. It’s a common shortcut — but also a dangerous one.
And if you're planning to hand this off to operations later… well, we need to talk.

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❌ Why using postgres for application data is a bad idea

1. It’s a system database

The postgres DB is meant for administrative tasks, default login, and internal operations.
Putting app tables here is like setting up your dev workstation in the server room.

2. It causes backup and recovery headaches

• Full backups (e.g., via pg_dumpall) will include everything — even your test tables

• Disaster recovery gets messy — system metadata and dev data all mixed together

• No one remembers why this random table is even in there

3. It can break your CI/CD flow later

When pipelines rely on postgres, they become harder to isolate, harder to secure, and harder to migrate.

4. It becomes your problem — not the developer’s

As the ops team, you inherit this mess. When something goes wrong, you’re responsible for fixing what was never structured properly to begin with.

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✅ What should you do instead?

Create a dedicated application database

Name it after your app or environment: myapp_dev, ci_db, orders_db, etc.
Make that the default in your configs and pipelines.

Move your tables there

Use pg_dump to export and psql to import. Minimal downtime, massive clarity.

Update your pipeline

Your .env files, docker-compose.yml, Flyway configs — point them to the new DB.

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🛠️ And yes — I can help

As a DBA, I’m not just raising problems.
I’ll help set up the new database, migrate the data, and simplify your backup/recovery process in the long run.

This isn’t about being strict — it’s about avoiding chaos before it’s too late.

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👇 Final Thought

The question isn’t “Will it work?”
It’s “What happens when it breaks?”

And if I’m the one responsible for fixing it,
I have every right to say: Let’s fix the structure now — not after it collapses.