How to Set Up ParadeDB on Mac in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I install and configure ParadeDB on macOS?

Install ParadeDB locally on macOS, enable its extensions in PostgreSQL, and run vector-search queries.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

Why install ParadeDB on mac?

ParadeDB bundles PostgreSQL, pgvector, and text-search extensions, letting you prototype semantic search locally without complex Docker stacks. A native mac setup keeps latency low for AI playgrounds and Galaxy SQL editor.

What are the prerequisites?

macOS 12+, Homebrew, and Rosetta (for Apple Silicon) are required. Ensure no other PostgreSQL instance is running on port 5432 to avoid conflicts.

How do I install ParadeDB with Homebrew?

Homebrew hosts a Tap. Run:
brew tap paradeinc/brew brew install paradedb
This downloads PostgreSQL 15 with ParadeDB extensions pre-compiled.

How do I initialize and start the server?

Create a data directory and start ParadeDB as a background service:
initdb -D ~/parade_data
pg_ctl -D ~/parade_data -l ~/parade.log start

Which extensions must I enable?

Connect via psql and run:
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS paradedb;
This loads pgvector, tsm_system_rows, and full-text helpers.

How do I load sample ecommerce data?

Copy CSVs or use INSERT statements to populate Customers, Products, Orders, and OrderItems. ParadeDB functions work on any standard schema.

How do I run a vector search query?

After adding an embedding column (vector(384)) on Products, query with
SELECT id, name FROM products ORDER BY embedding <#> '[...]' LIMIT 5;

Best practices for mac setups?

Pin ParadeDB version in Homebrew to avoid surprises, reserve at least 4 GB RAM for large embeddings, and place parade_data on an SSD for faster index builds.

How do I upgrade ParadeDB?

Stop the server, run brew upgrade paradedb, then perform pg_upgrade if the underlying major PostgreSQL version changed.

How do I remove ParadeDB?

Stop services, back up data, then execute brew uninstall paradedb and delete the data directory.

Why How to Set Up ParadeDB on Mac in PostgreSQL is important

How to Set Up ParadeDB on Mac in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Find the five products most similar to a query embedding
SELECT id, name, price
FROM products
ORDER BY embedding <#> '\n  [0.013, 0.142, ... , 0.998]\n'::vector
LIMIT 5;

How to Set Up ParadeDB on Mac in PostgreSQL Syntax


# Install
brew tap paradeinc/brew
brew install paradedb

# Initialize cluster
initdb -D ~/parade_data

# Start server
pg_ctl -D ~/parade_data -l ~/parade.log start

# Connect & enable extension
psql -d postgres
CREATE EXTENSION paradedb;

# Example ecommerce additions
ALTER TABLE products ADD COLUMN embedding vector(384);
CREATE INDEX ON products USING ivfflat (embedding vector_l2_ops) WITH (lists=100);

Common Mistakes

Skipping the 'CREATE EXTENSION paradedb' step. Without it, pgvector functions throw “operator does not exist” errors. Fix: connect as superuser and create the extension in each database.
Leaving another Postgres service active on port 5432. ParadeDB then fails to start with “address already in use.” Fix: stop other instances or edit <code>postgresql.conf</code> to a free port.