Generate PostgreSQL Test Data Without Code (Step-by-Step)

Source: Dev.to

Step 1: Go to the Dashboard

Visit ddltodata.com and scroll to the interactive demo.
You’ll see a code editor pre‑filled with an example schema. Use it to test, or paste your own.

Step 2: Paste Your PostgreSQL Schema

Replace the example with your CREATE TABLE statement:

CREATE TABLE products (
  id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
  description TEXT,
  price DECIMAL(10,2),
  category VARCHAR(50),
  sku VARCHAR(20) UNIQUE,
  in_stock BOOLEAN DEFAULT true,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

The dashboard accepts standard PostgreSQL DDL syntax, including:

• Multiple CREATE TABLE statements
• Foreign‑key relationships
• Constraints (NOT NULL, UNIQUE, DEFAULT)
• All common PostgreSQL data types

Step 3: Click “Generate Test Data”

Hit the generate button. In milliseconds you’ll see realistic data:

[
  {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "Wireless Bluetooth Headphones",
    "description": "Premium noise-canceling headphones with 30-hour battery life",
    "price": 149.99,
    "category": "Electronics",
    "sku": "WBH-2024-001",
    "in_stock": true,
    "created_at": "2024-03-15T09:23:41"
  },
  {
    "id": 2,
    "name": "Ergonomic Office Chair",
    "description": "Adjustable lumbar support with breathable mesh back",
    "price": 299.00,
    "category": "Furniture",
    "sku": "EOC-2024-042",
    "in_stock": true,
    "created_at": "2024-03-14T14:56:12"
  }
]

Notice how:

• name contains realistic product names
• description has plausible product descriptions
• price is a reasonable decimal value
• sku follows a realistic SKU format
• category contains appropriate category names

All inferred automatically from column names.

Step 4: Choose Your Format

Use the format toggle to switch between:

• JSON – for APIs, JavaScript, most modern apps
• CSV – for spreadsheets, data imports, Excel
• SQL – ready‑to‑run INSERT statements for PostgreSQL

SQL Output Example

INSERT INTO products (id, name, description, price, category, sku, in_stock, created_at) VALUES
(1, 'Wireless Bluetooth Headphones', 'Premium noise-canceling headphones with 30-hour battery life', 149.99, 'Electronics', 'WBH-2024-001', true, '2024-03-15T09:23:41'),
(2, 'Ergonomic Office Chair', 'Adjustable lumbar support with breathable mesh back', 299.00, 'Furniture', 'EOC-2024-042', true, '2024-03-14T14:56:12');

Copy and paste directly into psql or your PostgreSQL client.

Step 5: Download or Copy

• Copy – click to copy to clipboard
• Download – save as a file

That’s it—realistic test data in under 60 seconds.

Working with Multiple Tables

The dashboard handles multi‑table schemas with foreign keys:

CREATE TABLE categories (
  id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL
);

CREATE TABLE products (
  id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
  category_id INTEGER REFERENCES categories(id),
  name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
  price DECIMAL(10,2)
);

The generated data maintains referential integrity—every category_id in products references a valid id from categories.

Save Your Schemas (Optional)

Create a free account to:

• Store schemas – access them anytime without re‑pasting
• Generate more data – 50 000 rows/month free
• Get an API key – for automation (see the API guide)

Common Use Cases

Demo Preparation

Need to show a client realistic data? Generate it in seconds instead of sanitizing production data or hand‑crafting fake records.

QA Testing

Fill your test database with varied, realistic data. Catch edge cases that test@test.com and John Doe would never reveal.

Developer Onboarding

New team members can seed their local database immediately without production access or waiting for data dumps.

Staging Environment Refresh

Repopulate staging with fresh data for each release cycle. No DevOps tickets, no data masking, no security review.

Tips for Better Results

Use Descriptive Column Names

Include Data Types

-- Better
price DECIMAL(10,2)

-- Works but less precise
price VARCHAR(20)

Add Foreign Keys

-- Explicit relationship
user_id INTEGER REFERENCES users(id)

-- Also works (inferred from naming)
user_id INTEGER

What’s Next?

• Need automation? Check out the API integration guide for CI/CD pipelines.
• Want more rows? Create a free account for 50 000 rows/month.
• Have questions? Reach out at .

Generate your PostgreSQL test data in seconds—no coding required!

first dataset now at ddltodata.com — no signup required.