Error: the database must be started before it can be migrate

Error message

Error: the database must be started before it can be migrated.

What it means

Error "Error: the database must be started before it can be migrated." thrown in discourse/discourse.

Source

Thrown at lib/temporary_db.rb:162

    ENV["PATH"] = "#{pg_bin_path}:#{old_path}"

    yield
  ensure
    ENV["PGHOST"] = old_host
    ENV["PGUSER"] = old_user
    ENV["PGPORT"] = old_port
    ENV["DISCOURSE_DEV_DB"] = old_dev_db
    ENV["RAILS_DB"] = old_rails_db
    ENV["PATH"] = old_path
  end

  def remove
    raise "Error: the database must be stopped before it can be removed" if @started
    FileUtils.rm_rf @pg_temp_path
  end

  def migrate
    raise "Error: the database must be started before it can be migrated." if !@started
    ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection(connection_hash)

    puts "Running migrations on blank database!"

    old_stdout = $stdout.clone
    old_stderr = $stderr.clone
    $stdout.reopen(File.new("/dev/null", "w"))
    $stderr.reopen(File.new("/dev/null", "w"))

    SeedFu.quiet = true
    Rake::Task["db:migrate"].invoke
  ensure
    $stdout.reopen(old_stdout) if old_stdout
    $stderr.reopen(old_stderr) if old_stderr
  end

  private

View on GitHub (pinned to 1b2d7253e8)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/temporary_db.rb:162 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of discourse/discourse@1b2d7253e8 (2026-08-26). Data as JSON: /api/errors/10f9822004a08a96. Report an issue: GitHub.