Configure Idle Connection Timeouts

Why This Matters

Idle connections waste resources. Connections that sit "idle in transaction" are particularly problematic - they hold locks and prevent VACUUM from reclaiming space.

The Problem

-- No timeout configured
SHOW idle_in_transaction_session_timeout;  -- 0 (disabled)

-- Connections stay open forever, even when idle
SELECT pid, state, state_change, query
FROM pg_stat_activity
WHERE state = 'idle in transaction';
-- Shows transactions idle for hours, holding locks

The Solution

-- Terminate connections idle in transaction after 30 seconds
ALTER SYSTEM SET idle_in_transaction_session_timeout = '30s';

-- Terminate completely idle connections after 10 minutes
ALTER SYSTEM SET idle_session_timeout = '10min';

-- Reload configuration
SELECT pg_reload_conf();