I might be missing something, but... You are asking for a shell command - surely
psql -d ... -c "select version();" Is a shell command? But for a non-psql option: Note that version() is built into the postgres binary itself, if you put the postgres bin folder in your system or user path you can simply run: postgres -V postgres (PostgreSQL) 16.14 (Ubuntu 16.14-0ubuntu0.24.04.1) If it is not in your path, you need to use the full path: /usr/lib/postgresql/16/bin/postgres -V postgres (PostgreSQL) 16.14 (Ubuntu 16.14-0ubuntu0.24.04.1) Easy to wrap in a script (given you want a shell command I figure you want a Linux solution): #! /bin/bash # return Postgres version from the command line CMD=`locate postgresql | grep bin | grep postgres$` $CMD -V | cut -f 3 -d " " Eg: with this text in a file called get_ver bash get_ver 16.14 You can simplify it slightly, but make the script a bit more arcane: #! /bin/bash # return Postgres version from the command line `locate postgresql | grep bin | grep postgres$` -V | cut -f 3 -d " " Hope this helps... Brent Wood ________________________________ From: Igor Korot <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, 6 July 2026 6:14 am To: Adrian Klaver <[email protected]>; pgsql-generallists.postgresql.org <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Get version info Hi, Adrian, On Sun, Jul 5, 2026 at 9:53 AM Adrian Klaver <[email protected]> wrote: > > On 7/5/26 1:18 AM, rob stone wrote: > > On Sun, 2026-07-05 at 01:32 -0500, Igor Korot wrote: > >> Hi, ALL, > >> Google recommends using pg-config. > >> > >> However, some distro prefer to use pkg-config and don't even include > >> local configuration file. > >> > >> Is this file located everywhere and if not - how do I check it inside > >> configure.ac? > >> > >> Thank you. > >> > > > > > > See chapter 9.27.11, not Mr. Google. > > > > select version(); > > > > PostgreSQL 18.4 (Debian 18.4-1+b1) on x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by > > x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc (Debian 15.3.0-1) 15.3.0, 64-bit > > (1 row) > > In addition: > > show server_version; > server_version > ------------------------------------ > 17.10 (Ubuntu 17.10-1.pgdg24.04+1) > > > show server_version_num; > server_version_num > -------------------- > 170010 Again this is inside psql not inside shell/configure.ac Thank you. > > -- > Adrian Klaver > [email protected] Brent Wood Principal Technician - GIS and Spatial Data Management +64-4-386-0529 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand Earth Sciences New Zealand [Earth Sciences New Zealand]<https://earthsciences.nz> The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited joined to become the New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited. We are known as Earth Sciences New Zealand. For more information on the Earth Sciences transition click here<https://niwa.co.nz/about-niwa/science-sector-reforms>. Notice: This email and any attachments may contain information which is confidential and/or subject to copyright or legal privilege, and may not be used, published or redistributed without the prior written consent of Earth Sciences New Zealand. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify the sender and delete the email and any attachments. Any opinion or views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender and may not represent those of Earth Sciences New Zealand. For information about how we process data and monitor communications please see our privacy policy<https://earthsciences.nz/privacy-policy>.
