From: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
To: "David G. Johnston" <david.g.johnston@gmail.com>
cc: "raf.meeusen@gmail.com" <raf.meeusen@gmail.com>,
        "pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org" <pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org>
Subject: Re: creating a database
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Comments: In-reply-to "David G. Johnston" <david.g.johnston@gmail.com>
	message dated "Sun, 02 Feb 2025 08:35:44 -0700"
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2025 10:53:14 -0500
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"David G. Johnston" <david.g.johnston@gmail.com> writes:
> On Sunday, February 2, 2025, PG Doc comments form <noreply@postgresql.org>
> wrote:
>> And what also could be clarified: can a database only be created on the
>> server side?
>> Or is there also a client (SQL) command to create a new database on the
>> server?

> The description of createdb explains it is a wrapper for the “create
> database” sql command.

Yeah.  What this page is really meant to do is help you get past
typical problems in accessing an installation you've just set up.
We mustn't load it down with answers to every question a novice
could have, especially not questions that are answered on
adjacent or linked pages.

If we were to extend it at all, I'd think about expanding its charter
to include "help you get past typical problems in accessing an
installation on another machine".  This'd involve mentioning
the -h and -p switches, probably.  But I'm not sure if that would
be a net benefit or just confuse some users more than it helps
others.

Another thought is that the first para on the next page, which
mentions alternatives such as pgAdmin, maybe should be moved
here with some suitable alterations (or added to the end of
Architectural Fundamentals, perhaps).  Both of these pages are
oriented towards "access Postgres from a terminal command line",
which I concede is probably a minority thing anymore.

			regards, tom lane