Converting your current relational database into a graph database can be done easily by incorporating an extension. Apache AGE serves as a PostgreSQL extension that grants graph database capabilities, allowing users to utilize a graph database alongside their existing relational databases.

We will explore the following:

1. The process of installing Postgres from its source.
2. Installing and configuring Apache AGE in conjunction with Postgres.

Creating Folders

mkdir age_installation
cd age_installation
mkdir pg
cd pg

Dependencies

sudo apt-get install build-essential libreadline-dev zlib1g-dev flex bison

PostgreSQL

Currently AGE is officially supported for PG 11 and 12 but suuport for PG 15 & 16 are in progress. So right now we will install postgresql 16beta1

wget https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v16beta1/postgresql-16beta1.tar.gz && tar -xvf postgresql-16beta1.tar.gz && rm -f postgresql-16beta1.tar.gz

Installation

Next, we will proceed with the installation of "pg". The "--prefix" option specifies the directory path where we want to install "psql". In this instance, we will be installing it in the current directory using "pwd".

cd postgresql-16beta1

# configure by setting flags
./configure --enable-debug --enable-cassert --prefix=$(pwd) CFLAGS="-ggdb -Og -fno-omit-frame-pointer"

# now install
make install

# go back
cd ../../

AGE

We will be using ths repo as it has the latest most compatbile verion of AGE

git clone https://github.com/panosfol/age

cd age
git checkout PG16

Installing

# install
make PG_CONFIG=/home/yourusername/age_installation/pg/postgresql-16beta1/bin/pg_config install

# install check
make PG_CONFIG=/home/yourusername/age_installation/pg/postgresql-16beta1/bin/pg_config installcheck

Currently 19 out of 24 test cases fail for AGE in postgresql 16beta1. You can contribute to this open source project and help in its development.