`:postgres_dba_interactive_mode` in `sql/t1_tuning.sql` expected to be set by user?

[cstork]

When I run the t1, psql complains about the unrecognized value ":postgres_dba_interactive_mode" but there's no mention of it anywhere else... (It appears in the test code in .github/workflows/test.yml though.)

[tembo]

This is a known issue - see the recently closed #47 which describes the same problem.

The postgres_dba_interactive_mode variable is used in sql/t1_tuning.sql to control whether to show interactive prompts (asking about instance type, location, CPU/memory, etc.), but the variable is never initialized in warmup.psql or start.psql.

The CI workflow sets it via ~/.psqlrc for non-interactive testing, but regular users don't have this set.

Workaround: Add this to your ~/.psqlrc:

\set postgres_dba_interactive_mode false

Potential fix: The variable should be initialized in warmup.psql with a default value (likely true for interactive use), similar to how other variables like postgres_dba_wide are handled. Something like:

\if :{?postgres_dba_interactive_mode}
\else
  \set postgres_dba_interactive_mode true
\endif

This would set the variable to true by default if not already defined, enabling the interactive prompts for regular users while still allowing CI to override it.

[cstork]

I agree with the "potential fix".

At a minimum this should be mentioned in the README file.