diff --git a/.github/workflows/export-seed.yml b/.github/workflows/export-seed.yml
index 8cd3071..5c7d02c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/export-seed.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/export-seed.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ingest into Neo4j
         uses: ./.github/actions/ingest
         with:
-          java-options: -DNEO4J_URI=bolt://localhost:7687 -DNEO4J_USERNAME=neo4j -DNEO4J_PASSWORD=testpassword
+          java-options: -Dspring.profiles.active=neo4j -DNEO4J_URI=bolt://localhost:7687 -DNEO4J_USERNAME=neo4j -DNEO4J_PASSWORD=testpassword
           artifactory-servers: ${{ secrets.EMBABEL_ARTIFACTORY }}
           openai-api-key: ${{ secrets.OPENAI_API_KEY }}
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c469916..0063e3e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,24 +107,34 @@ Guide's content is kept in step by the Export Seed Database workflow here, which
 
 ## Switching the Graph Database
 
-`GraphObjectManagerStore` (from `embabel-agent-rag-graph`) supports five backends: **Neo4j** (default), **FalkorDB**, **Memgraph**, **Oracle 23ai** and **Postgres**. The active backend is selected by Spring profile in `src/main/resources/application.yml` — each profile sets `database.dataSources.neo.type`, and Drivine speaks to whichever engine that names.
+`GraphObjectManagerStore` (from `embabel-agent-rag-graph`) supports five backends: **Neo4j**, **FalkorDB**, **Memgraph**, **Oracle 23ai** and **Postgres** (the default, and what production runs on). The active backend is selected by Spring profile in `src/main/resources/application.yml` — each profile sets `database.dataSources.neo.type`, and Drivine speaks to whichever engine that names.
 
 | Backend  | Profile    | Default port | Compose profile |
 |----------|------------|--------------|-----------------|
+| Postgres (default) | `postgres` | `5432`       | `postgres`      |
 | Neo4j    | `neo4j`    | `7687` (bolt)| `neo4j`         |
 | FalkorDB | `falkordb` | `6379`       | `falkordb`      |
 | Memgraph | `memgraph` | `7688` (bolt)| `memgraph`      |
 | Oracle 23ai ![New](https://img.shields.io/badge/NEW-ff3e00?style=flat-square) | `oracle` | `1521`       | `oracle`        |
-| Postgres ![New](https://img.shields.io/badge/NEW-ff3e00?style=flat-square) | `postgres` | `5432`       | `postgres`      |
 
 [embabel-chat-store](https://github.com/embabel/embabel-chat-store) and [embabel-agent-rag-graph](https://github.com/embabel/embabel-agent-rag-graph) (see [`GraphObjectManagerStore`](https://github.com/embabel/embabel-agent-rag-graph/blob/main/src/main/kotlin/com/embabel/agent/rag/graph/GraphObjectManagerStore.kt)) use Drivine's `StatelessGraphObjectManager`, which generates openCypher in each engine's dialect, SQL/PGQ for Oracle, or plain SQL for Postgres.
 
+### Running locally on Postgres
+
+```bash
+docker compose --profile postgres up -d   # Postgres 17 with pgvector, on 5432
+./mvnw clean spring-boot:run              # the postgres profile, the default
+```
+
+Guide makes its tables, indexes and extensions in the `guide` database on first start. The database starts empty:
+fill it with an ingest (see [Loading data](#loading-data)).
+
 ### Switching at startup
 
 Change `spring.profiles.active` in `application.yml`, or override at launch:
 
 ```bash
-# Neo4j (default)
+# Neo4j
 ./mvnw spring-boot:run -Dspring-boot.run.profiles=neo4j
 
 # FalkorDB
@@ -136,8 +146,11 @@ Change `spring.profiles.active` in `application.yml`, or override at launch:
 # Oracle
 ./mvnw spring-boot:run -Dspring-boot.run.profiles=oracle
 
-# Postgres
-./mvnw spring-boot:run -Dspring-boot.run.profiles=postgres
+# Postgres (the default)
+./mvnw spring-boot:run
+
+# The jar, on another backend
+java -Dspring.profiles.active=neo4j -jar target/guide-*.jar
 ```
 
 ### Starting the matching container
@@ -538,7 +551,7 @@ For a fully-fledged client, see [hub.embabel.com](https://hub.embabel.com).
 
 ### Start (Docker Compose)
 
-Start `neo4j` + `guide` (the Java application):
+Start `neo4j` + `guide` (the Java application, on the `neo4j` profile):
 
 ```bash
 docker compose --profile java up --build -d
@@ -560,7 +573,7 @@ This approach ensures consistency across environments and simplifies onboarding
 
 #### Running Neo4j only (for local Java development)
 
-If you're running the Java application locally (e.g., from your IDE), you can start only Neo4j:
+If you're running the Java application locally on Neo4j (e.g., from your IDE, with the `neo4j` profile), you can start only Neo4j:
 
 ```bash
 COMPOSE_PROFILES= docker compose up -d
diff --git a/compose.yaml b/compose.yaml
index 5833b6e..5c4e51a 100644
--- a/compose.yaml
+++ b/compose.yaml
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ services:
     ports:
       - "${GUIDE_PORT:-1337}:1337"
     environment:
+      - SPRING_PROFILES_ACTIVE=neo4j  # this service runs beside the neo4j container; Guide's default is postgres
       - NEO4J_URI=bolt://neo4j:7687
       - NEO4J_HOST=neo4j
       - NEO4J_USERNAME=${NEO4J_USERNAME:-neo4j}
diff --git a/src/main/resources/application.yml b/src/main/resources/application.yml
index 219f5b8..3c904dd 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/application.yml
+++ b/src/main/resources/application.yml
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ spring:
     ansi:
       enabled: always
   profiles:
-    active: neo4j  # Change to 'neo4j', 'falkordb', 'memgraph', 'oracle', 'postgres', or 'default' for TestContainers
+    active: postgres  # Change to 'neo4j', 'falkordb', 'memgraph', 'oracle', 'postgres', or 'default' for TestContainers
     config:
       activate:
         on-profile: neo4j