NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra · error · IOException

PostgreSQL pg_ctl command not found: {}

Error message

PostgreSQL pg_ctl command not found: {}

What it means

Thrown by discoverPostgresInstall when Application.getOSFile(POSTGRES) located a postgres root directory but bin/pg_ctl is not a regular file there. The install bundle is present but incomplete or corrupt, so the control binary cannot be invoked.

Source

Thrown at Ghidra/Features/BSim/src/main/java/ghidra/features/bsim/query/BSimControlLaunchable.java:784

		}
		else {
			loadLibraryVar = "LD_LIBRARY_PATH";
		}
		File postgresLibrary = new File(postgresRoot, "lib");
		loadLibraryValue = postgresLibrary.getAbsolutePath();
	}

	/**
	 * Locate the "pg_ctl" executable within the PostgreSQL installation. Unpack the installation
	 * if it is not already.
	 * @throws IOException if postgres folder cannot be determined
	 */
	private void discoverPostgresInstall() throws IOException {
		try {
			postgresRoot = Application.getOSFile(POSTGRES);	// find PostgreSQL build for os
			postgresControl = new File(postgresRoot, "bin/pg_ctl");
			if (!postgresControl.isFile()) {
				throw new IOException("PostgreSQL pg_ctl command not found: " + postgresControl);
			}
			setupPostgresSharedLibrary();
		}
		catch (OSFileNotFoundException e) {
			throw new IOException("PostgreSQL not found and must be built (see " +
				POSTGRES_BUILD_SCRIPT + ", view script for details)");
		}
	}

	/**
	 * Recover the parameter settings from a previously initialized server
	 * @param configFile is main configuration file: port, adminPassword, hostAuthentication
	 * @param hbaFile is the connection file
	 * @throws IOException if the server port is invalid
	 */
	private void recoverConfigurationParameters(File configFile, File hbaFile) throws IOException {
		ServerConfig serverConfig = new ServerConfig();
		serverConfig.addKey("port", "");

View on GitHub (pinned to d5f144c24d)

Solutions

1. Re-extract or rebuild the postgres bundle so bin/pg_ctl is present.
2. Verify bin/pg_ctl exists and is executable for the current OS/arch.
3. Confirm the bundle matches the host platform (Application.getOSFile selects per-OS).

// Verify pg_ctl exists in the postgres bundle before invoking the tool.
File pgCtl = new File(postgresRoot, "bin/pg_ctl");
if (!pgCtl.isFile()) {
    System.err.println("bin/pg_ctl missing under " + postgresRoot + "; re-extract the bundle.");
    return;
}

try {
    launchable.discoverPostgresInstall();
} catch (IOException e) {
    if (e.getMessage().startsWith("PostgreSQL pg_ctl command not found:")) {
        System.err.println("Postgres bundle incomplete; rebuild/re-extract it.");
    }
    throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: The OS-specific postgres bundle exists under the application layout, yet `new File(postgresRoot, "bin/pg_ctl").isFile()` is false, firing at line 784.

Common situations: Partial/corrupted extraction of the postgres bundle, wrong platform bundle for the host OS/arch, or files removed after extraction.

Related errors

• PostgreSQL not found and must be built (see {}, view script
• Error initializing postgres database
• Could not start postgres server process
• Could not create database:
• Cannot find Python source for {name}. If this is a remote s

AI-assisted analysis of NationalSecurityAgency/ghidra@d5f144c24d (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/38658a114c6972de. Report an issue: GitHub.