Sometimes, it makes sense to isolate database dependencies when doing local development (e.g., you need to mimic a remote database). Docker saves the day.
Run the following:
docker run --name postgres96 -it -d -v pg96_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data -p 37000:5432 mdillon/postgis:9.6
Summation of commands:
-it – allows you to run docker from the terminal
-d – runs docker as a daemonized process
-v – pg96_data: the name of the volume (can be anything)
-p 37000 – the name of the port (whatever you desire, but should be a large number)
mdillon/postgis:9.6 – the remote docker file that installs both psql and postgis - https://hub.docker.com/r/mdillon/postgis/~/dockerfile/
Essential commands:
# Login to the dockerize version of psql as the postgres user
psql -U postgres -h 127.0.0.1 -p 37000
# Add yourself as psql user
createuser -U postgres -h 127.0.0.1 -p 37000 <your name>
# Create a database with your user name, for easy login
createdb -h 127.0.0.1 -p 37000 reginacompton
psql -h 127.0.0.1 -p 37000