Connecting to a PostgreSQL database running on an Ubuntu VPS from a local machine using VS Code involves the following steps:

1. Install the "PostgreSQL" extension in VS Code:

   • it should look like the below screenshot.👇

     

     Click "Install" to install the extension

2. Configure the remote PostgreSQL server to accept connections from your local machine. To do this, you will need to edit the pg_hba.conf file, which controls which clients are allowed to connect to the server. Follow these steps:

   • Connect to your Ubuntu VPS using SSH

   • Navigate to the pg_hba.conf file, which is usually located at /etc/postgresql/10/main/pg_hba.conf (the exact path may vary depending on your PostgreSQL version)

   • Edit the file using a text editor such as vi or nano:

    sudo vi pg_hba.conf

• under IPv4 local connections, set it to your ipaddress or 0.0.0.0/0 if your IP is dynamic.

  

1. Configure the remote PostgreSQL server to listen for connections on the network. By default, PostgreSQL only listens for connections on the local loopback interface (127.0.0.1). To allow connections from other hosts, you will need to edit the postgresql.conf file.

   • Navigate to the postgresql.conf file, which is usually located at /etc/postgresql/10/main/postgresql.conf (the exact path may vary depending on your PostgreSQL version)

   • Edit the file using a text editor such as vi or nano:

    sudo vi postgresql.conf

• Find the line that reads listen_addresses = 'localhost' and change it to listen_addresses = 'your_server_ipaddress' like below.

  

1. Restart the PostgreSQL server to apply the changes. You can do this by running the following command:

    sudo systemctl restart postgresql
   

2. Connect to the remote PostgreSQL server from VS Code. To do this, follow these steps:

   • Click on the Database icon in left of sidebar. it should like like below image.

     

   • Click on create new connection and you will see the screen like below image.

     

   • fill all the parameters including ones in ssh tunnel too.

   • click connect after filling everything.

   • now you will see all the database tables in sidebar.

     

Is this method secure 🤔

The method described above for connecting to a PostgreSQL database running on an Ubuntu VPS from a local machine using vs code is generally secure, as it uses the md5 authentication method and requires a valid username and password to access the database.

However, still there can be lot of things to make it secure & I don't have much info on how to make it most secure. but there are a few additional steps you can take to further secure the connection:

• Use a strong password for the PostgreSQL user. Make sure to use a password that is difficult to guess and not shared with any other accounts.

• Enable SSL encryption for the connection. To do this, you will need to edit the postgresql.conf file on the remote server and set the ssl parameter to on. You will also need to generate SSL certificates and configure them on both the client and server sides. Checkout this tutorial for more info on this step.

• Use a firewall to limit access to the PostgreSQL server. You can use a firewall such as iptables or ufw to allow connections only from trusted IP addresses or networks.

• Regularly update and patch the PostgreSQL server to keep it secure. Make sure to keep the server up to date with the latest security updates and patches.

you can do more research on making it more secure.

In conclusion, connecting to a PostgreSQL database from a local machine using a GUI tool such as pgAdmin or a VS Code extension like PostgreSQL by weijan can be a convenient way to manage and query the database. To do this, you will need to install the appropriate tool, configure the remote PostgreSQL server to accept connections, and establish a connection to the database using the hostname, port, username, and password. By following the steps outlined in this answer, you should be able to successfully connect to a PostgreSQL database from a local machine.

It is important to keep in mind that security is an important aspect of any database connection. To ensure that your connection is secure, it is recommended to use a strong password, enable SSL encryption, use a firewall to limit access to the server, and regularly update and patch the PostgreSQL server.

I hope this tutorial helps you. if you have any questions or suggestions, pls drop them in the comments.💬

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