Writing a psql script that exits on the first error

The default mode for the psql script tool is to continue processing when it finds an error. This sounds silly, but it exists for historical compatibility only. There are some easy and permanent ways to avoid this, so let's look at them.

Getting ready

Let's start with a simple script, with a command we know will fail:

$ $EDITOR test.sql
mistake1;
mistake2;
mistake3;

Execute the following script using psql to see what the results look like:

$ psql -f test.sql
psql:test.sql:1: ERROR:  syntax error at or near "mistake1"
LINE 1: mistake1;
        ^
psql:test.sql:2: ERROR:  syntax error at or near "mistake2"
LINE 1: mistake2;
        ^
psql:test.sql:3: ERROR:  syntax error at or near "mistake3"
LINE 1: mistake3;
      ...