How to Install ParadeDB CLI in PostgreSQL

How do I install ParadeDB CLI on macOS, Linux, or Windows?

ParadeDB CLI is a command-line client that lets you manage and query ParadeDB, a PostgreSQL-compatible vector database, from your terminal.

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Description

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What is ParadeDB CLI?

ParadeDB CLI is a standalone command-line tool that connects to a ParadeDB (or standard PostgreSQL) instance, runs SQL, manages extensions, and streams results directly to your terminal or scripts.

Which installation method fits my OS?

Homebrew works best for macOS. Ubuntu/Debian users should use apt. Windows can download a pre-built binary or use Chocolatey. Docker is OS-agnostic and perfect for CI pipelines.

How to install ParadeDB CLI with Homebrew on macOS?

brew tap paradedb/tap brew install paradedb-cli

Homebrew installs the latest stable version and places paradedb in /usr/local/bin or /opt/homebrew/bin.

How to install ParadeDB CLI with apt on Ubuntu?

curl -s https://packages.paradedb.com/key.gpg | sudo apt-key add - sudo add-apt-repository "deb https://packages.paradedb.com/apt/ stable main" sudo apt update && sudo apt install paradedb-cli

Apt keeps the client up-to-date with sudo apt upgrade.

How to install ParadeDB CLI via binary download on Windows?

powershell -Command "Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://releases.paradedb.com/windows/paradedb.exe -OutFile paradedb.exe" move paradedb.exe C:\Tools\ParadeDB\paradedb.exe setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Tools\ParadeDB"

Restart your terminal so the new PATH takes effect.

How to run ParadeDB CLI inside Docker?

docker run --rm -it paradedb/cli:latest paradedb -h host.docker.internal -d ecommerce

Docker isolates dependencies and ensures version parity with ParadeDB server images.

How to verify the installation?

paradedb --version paradedb --help

Both commands should output without errors, confirming that the binary is reachable.

How to connect ParadeDB CLI to your PostgreSQL database?

paradedb -h localhost -p 5432 -U dev -d ecommerce -c "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM orders;"

The -c flag executes inline SQL, perfect for scripts and CI checks.

Best practices for ParadeDB CLI usage

Create a .paradedbrc file to store default host, port, and user. Use environment variables like PGPASSWORD for secrets instead of command-line flags.

Common mistakes and quick fixes

Misconfigured PATH or incompatible SSL libraries cause most issues. See fixes below.

Why How to Install ParadeDB CLI in PostgreSQL is important

How to Install ParadeDB CLI in PostgreSQL Example Usage


# List five most expensive products over $100
paradedb -h localhost -d ecommerce -U dev -c "SELECT id, name, price FROM products WHERE price > 100 ORDER BY price DESC LIMIT 5;"

How to Install ParadeDB CLI in PostgreSQL Syntax


# Homebrew (macOS)
brew tap paradedb/tap
brew install paradedb-cli

# apt (Ubuntu/Debian)
curl -s https://packages.paradedb.com/key.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository "deb https://packages.paradedb.com/apt/ stable main"
sudo apt update && sudo apt install paradedb-cli

# Windows binary
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://releases.paradedb.com/windows/paradedb.exe -OutFile paradedb.exe
move paradedb.exe C:\Tools\ParadeDB\paradedb.exe
setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Tools\ParadeDB"

# Docker
docker run --rm -it paradedb/cli:latest paradedb [connection flags]

# Basic flags (all platforms)
paradedb \
  -h <host>            # Server host
  -p <port>            # Port (default 5432)
  -U <user>            # Database user
  -d <database>        # Database name
  -c "<SQL>"           # Inline SQL command
  -f <file.sql>        # Execute SQL file
  --csv                # Output in CSV format
  --no-ssl             # Disable SSL if server is local

Common Mistakes

Adding the Windows binary to a folder but forgetting to append that folder to the PATH. Fix: run `setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Tools\ParadeDB"` and restart the terminal.
Installing via apt on Ubuntu 20.04 where the default `libssl1.1` is outdated, causing SSL errors. Fix: upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 or install `libssl1.1` backports before using ParadeDB CLI.