Backup and Restore

Postgram supports PostgreSQL logical backups via CLI with optional GPG encryption.

What this page covers

How to create reliable backups and restore into a fresh database for migration or recovery.

Core workflow

1. Create an encrypted backup:

export DATABASE_URL=postgres://postgram:postgram@postgres:5432/postgram
export PGM_BACKUP_PASSPHRASE=testpass
pgm backup --encrypt --output /tmp/postgram-backups/ --json

2. Decrypt locally:

gpg --batch --yes --pinentry-mode loopback \
  --passphrase "$PGM_BACKUP_PASSPHRASE" \
  -o /tmp/postgram-backups/restore.dump \
  -d /tmp/postgram-backups/<backup-file>.dump.gpg

3. Restore with pg_restore into a fresh DB:

docker compose exec -T postgres sh -lc "cat - > /tmp/restore.dump" \
  < /tmp/postgram-backups/restore.dump

docker compose exec -T postgres sh -lc \
  "createdb -U postgram postgram_restore; \
   pg_restore -U postgram -d postgram_restore /tmp/restore.dump;"

Notes

• Encrypted backups use PGM_BACKUP_PASSPHRASE.
• pgm backup --encrypt is the recommended safety path.
• On low-privilege hosts, use the validated docker compose fallback for pg_dump availability.