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fix(services): improve error message for missing locale on Linux #3071

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tlgimenes merged 2 commits into from
Apr 8, 2026
Merged

fix(services): improve error message for missing locale on Linux #3071

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fix(services): improve error message for missing locale on Linux
tlgimenes Apr 8, 2026
266eac2
fix(services): use "Linux systems" wording in locale error message
tlgimenes Apr 8, 2026
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19 changes: 19 additions & 0 deletions apps/mesh/src/services/ensure-services.ts
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -334,6 +334,25 @@ async function ensurePostgres(home: string): Promise<ServiceInfo> {
try {
await pg.initialise();
} catch (initErr) {
const errMsg =
initErr instanceof Error ? initErr.message : String(initErr);

// Detect missing locale — embedded-postgres requires en_US.UTF-8 which
// is not available on minimal Linux installations (e.g. Ubuntu minimal,
// Alpine, slim Docker images).
if (
errMsg.includes("init script exited with code 1") ||
errMsg.includes("invalid locale")
) {
console.error(
`[ensurePostgres] PostgreSQL initialisation failed. This is likely caused by a missing locale.\n` +
` embedded-postgres requires the "en_US.UTF-8" locale, which may not be installed on all Linux systems.\n` +
` To fix, run:\n` +
` sudo apt-get install -y locales && sudo locale-gen en_US.UTF-8\n` +
` Then retry.`,
);
}

// initdb may have been killed by a signal (exit code null) due to a race
// with another process initializing the same data directory. Log the
// error for debugging — do NOT remove the data dir as it may contain
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