Re: BUG #5807: psql fails to launch with "Cannot read termcap database; using dumb terminal settings. Aborted"

On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 7:09 PM, Gabe Nell <gabe(at)kikini(dot)com> wrote:
>
> Launching psql fails:
>
> ubuntu(at)host:~$ /opt/PostgreSQL/9.0/bin/psql -Upostgres
> Password for user postgres:
> psql (9.0.2)
> Type "help" for help.
>
> Cannot read termcap database;
> using dumb terminal settings.
> Aborted
> ubuntu(at)host:~$
>
> The above works fine with 9.0.1, suggesting this is a new issue in 9.0.2. I
> tried both 32bit and 64bit, same problem. Interestingly, the problem doesn't
> repro under byobu (Ubuntu's enhanced 'screen' utility).

There was a change in 9.0.2 to use libedit instead of readline for
this (readline is GPL, which is not acceptable to some people who wish
to use Postgres in other products). One of my colleagues has tested
the issue reported and confirmed that installing the OS's termcap
package should solve the problem.

--
Dave Page
Blog: http://pgsnake.blogspot.com
Twitter: @pgsnake

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