February 9, 2026
Debug dreams vs laptop screams
Pg-dev-container is a ready-to-run VS Code development container for PostgreSQL
All‑in‑one Postgres sandbox lands — devs pumped, casuals told to chill
TLDR: A new VS Code setup bundles a debug-friendly Postgres so developers can build and test extensions more easily. Fans love the convenience, while others warn it’s heavy and meant for database builders; if you just need Postgres for your app, stick with a standard container.
PostgreSQL just got its own “lab in a box” for Visual Studio Code, and the crowd reaction is peak tech drama. The project ships a special, slower build of the database that’s packed with safety checks and a pre‑configured debugger, so extension builders can poke, prod, and step through code without wrestling their setup. Think: a training ground for people who want to build new database features, not a speed machine for everyday apps.
Cheer squad first: commenter mariuz hyped it as a ready‑to‑run setup with source code, tools, a debugger, and even a sample “hello world” extension you can compile and test. Then the reality check: stackskipton swooped in with the context everyone needed — this is for folks developing Postgres itself, not for teams just using it. Translation: if you only need a database to power your app, grab a normal container and move along.
The heat came from resource fears. TurdF3rguson worried this setup will hog their machine, and the thread leaned into it with jokes about laptop fans going turbo and “compile time = coffee time.” Still, the dev‑tool fans say the trade‑off is worth it: slower, yes, but finally a push‑button lab that opens in VS Code and “just works.” Curious? Peek at Dev Containers to get the vibe.
Key Points
- •Provides a VS Code development container that builds PostgreSQL in debug mode with assertions and symbols.
- •Requires VS Code, Docker, and the VSCode Dev Containers extension as prerequisites.
- •Setup involves reopening the project in a container, downloading images, installing tools, and compiling PostgreSQL.
- •PostgreSQL server auto-starts in the container; users can create databases and run SQL via createdb and psql.
- •Includes a sample hello_world extension with steps to compile, install (sudo), and test using make and installcheck.