# ArgumentError database.yml

**URL:** <https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/argumenterror-database-yml/56377>\
**Category:** rubyonrails-talk\
**Created:** [December 21, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/argumenterror-database-yml/56377 "2010-12-21T20:17:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Barb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barb](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Barb)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/argumenterror-database-yml/56377/1 "2010-12-21T20:17:32Z")

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Hi,

I have a new install of rails 3.0.3 on Snow Leopard. When I first power up the rails server and hit a page I get the following error. A subsequent hit to the same page results in a rendered page with no error. I've tried various adapters with the same result.

Thanks

ArgumentError

syntax error on line 3, col 9: ` adapter: postgresql'

Rails.root: /Users/steve/Dropbox/Prototypes/Rails/first

database.yml:

# SQLite version 3.x # gem install sqlite3-ruby (not necessary on OS X Leopard) development: &nbsp;&nbsp;adapter: postgresql &nbsp;&nbsp;encoding: utf8 &nbsp;&nbsp;host: localhost &nbsp;&nbsp;username: postgres &nbsp;&nbsp;password: &nbsp;&nbsp;template: template0 &nbsp;&nbsp;database: mydb

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**Author:** ![Frederick\_Cheung](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/rubyonrails/user_avatar/discuss.rubyonrails.org/frederick_cheung/32/3901_2.png) [@Frederick\_Cheung](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Frederick_Cheung)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/argumenterror-database-yml/56377/2 "2010-12-21T20:31:27Z")

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> Hi,
> 
> I have a new install of rails 3.0.3 on Snow Leopard. When I first power up the rails server and hit a page I get the following error. A subsequent hit to the same page results in a rendered page with no error. I've tried various adapters with the same result.

There's a syntax error in your yaml file. Make sure you are using spaces rather than tabs and that there aren't any nasty invisible characters hanging around

Fred

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Barb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Barb](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/u/Barb)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/argumenterror-database-yml/56377/3 "2010-12-21T20:46:41Z")

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Ah, that was it. There were some hidden tabs in there. Very picky.

Thanks.