FATAL: role "root" does not exist

Question

I trying to create rails application with postgresql database, but when I create database rake db:migrate bash show me an error

FATAL:  role "my" does not exist

how fix?

sorry for my bad English

UPD

my@my-P5K-SE ~/ror/timonin $ rake db:create
FATAL:  role "my" does not exist
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:898:in `rescue in connect'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:888:in `connect'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:568:in `initialize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:41:in `new'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:41:in `postgresql_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:435:in `new_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:445:in `checkout_new_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:416:in `acquire_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:351:in `block in checkout'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.3/lib/ruby/2.1.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:350:in `checkout'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:265:in `block in connection'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.3/lib/ruby/2.1.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:264:in `connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:541:in `retrieve_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:113:in `retrieve_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:87:in `connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/postgresql_database_tasks.rb:8:in `connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/postgresql_database_tasks.rb:17:in `create'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:88:in `create'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:102:in `block in create_current'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:209:in `block in each_current_configuration'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:208:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:208:in `each_current_configuration'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:101:in `create_current'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/railties/databases.rake:17:in `block (2 levels) in <top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:240:in `call'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:240:in `block in execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:235:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:235:in `execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:179:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.3/lib/ruby/2.1.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:172:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:165:in `invoke'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:150:in `invoke_task'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:106:in `block (2 levels) in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:106:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:106:in `block in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:115:in `run_with_threads'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:100:in `top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:78:in `block in run'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:176:in `standard_exception_handling'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:75:in `run'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/bin/rake:33:in `<top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/rake:23:in `load'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/rake:23:in `<main>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/ruby_executable_hooks:15:in `eval'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/ruby_executable_hooks:15:in `<main>'
Couldn't create database for {"adapter"=>"postgresql", "encoding"=>"unicode", "pool"=>5, "database"=>"timonin_development"}
FATAL:  role "my" does not exist
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:898:in `rescue in connect'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:888:in `connect'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:568:in `initialize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:41:in `new'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:41:in `postgresql_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:435:in `new_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:445:in `checkout_new_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:416:in `acquire_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:351:in `block in checkout'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.3/lib/ruby/2.1.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:350:in `checkout'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:265:in `block in connection'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.3/lib/ruby/2.1.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:264:in `connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:541:in `retrieve_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:113:in `retrieve_connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:87:in `connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/postgresql_database_tasks.rb:8:in `connection'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/postgresql_database_tasks.rb:17:in `create'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:88:in `create'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:102:in `block in create_current'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:209:in `block in each_current_configuration'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:208:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:208:in `each_current_configuration'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/tasks/database_tasks.rb:101:in `create_current'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/activerecord-4.1.4/lib/active_record/railties/databases.rake:17:in `block (2 levels) in <top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:240:in `call'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:240:in `block in execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:235:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:235:in `execute'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:179:in `block in invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.3/lib/ruby/2.1.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:172:in `invoke_with_call_chain'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/task.rb:165:in `invoke'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:150:in `invoke_task'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:106:in `block (2 levels) in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:106:in `each'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:106:in `block in top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:115:in `run_with_threads'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:100:in `top_level'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:78:in `block in run'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:176:in `standard_exception_handling'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/lib/rake/application.rb:75:in `run'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/gems/rake-10.3.2/bin/rake:33:in `<top (required)>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/rake:23:in `load'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/rake:23:in `<main>'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/ruby_executable_hooks:15:in `eval'
/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.3/bin/ruby_executable_hooks:15:in `<main>'
Couldn't create database for {"adapter"=>"postgresql", "encoding"=>"unicode", "pool"=>5, "database"=>"timonin_test"}

database.yml

# PostgreSQL. Versions 8.2 and up are supported.
#
# Install the pg driver:
#   gem install pg
# On OS X with Homebrew:
#   gem install pg -- --with-pg-config=/usr/local/bin/pg_config
# On OS X with MacPorts:
#   gem install pg -- --with-pg-config=/opt/local/lib/postgresql84/bin/pg_config
# On Windows:
#   gem install pg
#       Choose the win32 build.
#       Install PostgreSQL and put its /bin directory on your path.
#
# Configure Using Gemfile
# gem 'pg'
#
default: &default
  adapter: postgresql
  encoding: unicode
  # For details on connection pooling, see rails configuration guide
  # http://guides.rubyonrails.org/configuring.html#database-pooling
  pool: 5

development:
  <<: *default
  database: timonin_development

  # The specified database role being used to connect to postgres.
  # To create additional roles in postgres see `$ createuser --help`.
  # When left blank, postgres will use the default role. This is
  # the same name as the operating system user that initialized the database.
  #username: timonin

  # The password associated with the postgres role (username).
  #password:

  # Connect on a TCP socket. Omitted by default since the client uses a
  # domain socket that doesn't need configuration. Windows does not have
  # domain sockets, so uncomment these lines.
  #host: localhost

  # The TCP port the server listens on. Defaults to 5432.
  # If your server runs on a different port number, change accordingly.
  #port: 5432

  # Schema search path. The server defaults to $user,public
  #schema_search_path: myapp,sharedapp,public

  # Minimum log levels, in increasing order:
  #   debug5, debug4, debug3, debug2, debug1,
  #   log, notice, warning, error, fatal, and panic
  # Defaults to warning.
  #min_messages: notice

# Warning: The database defined as "test" will be erased and
# re-generated from your development database when you run "rake".
# Do not set this db to the same as development or production.
test:
  <<: *default
  database: timonin_test

# As with config/secrets.yml, you never want to store sensitive information,
# like your database password, in your source code. If your source code is
# ever seen by anyone, they now have access to your database.
#
# Instead, provide the password as a unix environment variable when you boot
# the app. Read http://guides.rubyonrails.org/configuring.html#configuring-a-database
# for a full rundown on how to provide these environment variables in a
# production deployment.
#
# On Heroku and other platform providers, you may have a full connection URL
# available as an environment variable. For example:
#
#   DATABASE_URL="postgres://myuser:mypass@localhost/somedatabase"
#
# You can use this database configuration with:
#
#   production:
#     url: <%= ENV['DATABASE_URL'] %>
#
production:
  <<: *default
  database: timonin_production
  username: timonin
  password: <%= ENV['TIMONIN_DATABASE_PASSWORD'] %>

Answer 1

You can connect to Postgres server with explicit (my i.e. OS username) or implicit (timonin i.e. role in database.yml) login.

As I see your database.yml has username statement, but only for production environment. Running rake tests without specifying Rails environment will run them against development environment by default. That is why you have error like FATAL: role "my" does not exist.

So depending on your needs you have to add these statements to all databases' defenitions (test and development as well):

  username: timonin
  password: <%= ENV['TIMONIN_DATABASE_PASSWORD'] %>

After that you Rails application will connect as timonin user.

Full checklist is the following:

• Create role

Here is SQL for PostgreSQL:

CREATE ROLE timonin LOGIN PASSWORD 'Pas$_sword'
  NOINHERIT CREATEDB
   VALID UNTIL 'infinity';
COMMENT ON ROLE timonin
  IS 'Timonin database role for Rails app';

• Uncomment or add statements username: timonin and password: <%= ENV['TIMONIN_DATABASE_PASSWORD'] %> to your database.yml file
• Run all operations with TIMONIN_DATABASE_PASSWORD variable:

Here is changed rake command:

rake db:create TIMONIN_DATABASE_PASSWORD='Pas$_sword'

or:

rake db:create TIMONIN_DATABASE_PASSWORD='Pas$_sword' RAILS_ENV=test

for test environment.

Answer 2

I had the same problem while using Ubuntu 14.04 LTS for my Ruby on Rails installation. The problem was that I had not created a user for my postgres database so I did the following and it worked.

#1 logged in as default user
$sudo su postgres

#2 login into the postgres interactive terminal
psql

Alternatively, you can combine step #1 and #2 as follows:
$sudo su postgres psql

#3 View a list of roles while in the postgres interative terminal
postgres=# \du

#4 create role in the postgres database
postgres=# CREATE user with password '';

#5 Make the user your have just created a superuser
postgres=# alter user with superuser;

#6 Quit from the postgres console
postgres=# \q