like this maybe?

crates/pg_cli/src/execute/mod.rs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::reporter::github::{GithubReporter, GithubReporterVisitor};
 use crate::reporter::gitlab::{GitLabReporter, GitLabReporterVisitor};
 use crate::reporter::junit::{JunitReporter, JunitReporterVisitor};
 use crate::reporter::terminal::{ConsoleReporter, ConsoleReporterVisitor};
+use crate::reporter::UserHintsPayload;
 use crate::{CliDiagnostic, CliSession, DiagnosticsPayload, Reporter};
 use pg_diagnostics::{category, Category};
 use pg_fs::PgLspPath;
@@ -242,6 +243,7 @@ pub fn execute_mode(
             summary,
             evaluated_paths,
             diagnostics,
+            user_hints,
         } = traverse(&execution, &mut session, cli_options, paths)?;
         let console = session.app.console;
         let errors = summary.errors;
@@ -260,6 +262,7 @@ pub fn execute_mode(
                     },
                     execution: execution.clone(),
                     evaluated_paths,
+                    user_hints_payload: UserHintsPayload { hints: user_hints },
                 };
                 reporter.write(&mut ConsoleReporterVisitor(console))?;
             }
@@ -271,6 +274,7 @@ pub fn execute_mode(
                         diagnostics,
                     },
                     execution: execution.clone(),
+                    user_hints: UserHintsPayload { hints: user_hints },
                 };
                 reporter.write(&mut GithubReporterVisitor(console))?;
             }
@@ -282,6 +286,7 @@ pub fn execute_mode(
                         diagnostics,
                     },
                     execution: execution.clone(),
+                    user_hints: UserHintsPayload { hints: user_hints },
                 };
                 reporter.write(&mut GitLabReporterVisitor::new(
                     console,
@@ -297,6 +302,7 @@ pub fn execute_mode(
                         diagnostics,
                     },
                     execution: execution.clone(),
+                    user_hints: UserHintsPayload { hints: user_hints },
                 };
                 reporter.write(&mut JunitReporterVisitor::new(console))?;
             }

crates/pg_cli/src/execute/process_file.rs

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ pub(crate) enum Message {
         diagnostics: Vec<Error>,
         skipped_diagnostics: u32,
     },
+    Hint(String),
 }
 
 impl Message {

crates/pg_cli/src/execute/process_file/check.rs

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ pub(crate) fn check_with_guard<'ctx>(
             let (only, skip) = (Vec::new(), Vec::new());
 
             let max_diagnostics = ctx.remaining_diagnostics.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+
             let pull_diagnostics_result = workspace_file
                 .guard()
                 .pull_diagnostics(
@@ -41,6 +42,10 @@ pub(crate) fn check_with_guard<'ctx>(
                     category!("check"),
                 )?;
 
+            if pull_diagnostics_result.skipped_db_checks {
+                ctx.set_skipped_db_conn(true);
+            }
+
             let no_diagnostics = pull_diagnostics_result.diagnostics.is_empty()
                 && pull_diagnostics_result.skipped_diagnostics == 0;
 

crates/pg_cli/src/execute/traverse.rs

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use pg_workspace::workspace::IsPathIgnoredParams;
 use pg_workspace::{Workspace, WorkspaceError};
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
 use std::collections::BTreeSet;
-use std::sync::atomic::AtomicU32;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU32};
 use std::sync::RwLock;
 use std::{
     env::current_dir,
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ pub(crate) struct TraverseResult {
     pub(crate) summary: TraversalSummary,
     pub(crate) evaluated_paths: BTreeSet<PgLspPath>,
     pub(crate) diagnostics: Vec<Error>,
+    pub(crate) user_hints: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn traverse(
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ pub(crate) fn traverse(
     let unchanged = AtomicUsize::new(0);
     let matches = AtomicUsize::new(0);
     let skipped = AtomicUsize::new(0);
+    let skipped_db_conn = AtomicBool::new(false);
 
     let fs = &*session.app.fs;
     let workspace = &*session.app.workspace;
@@ -84,7 +86,7 @@ pub(crate) fn traverse(
         .with_diagnostic_level(cli_options.diagnostic_level)
         .with_max_diagnostics(max_diagnostics);
 
-    let (duration, evaluated_paths, diagnostics) = thread::scope(|s| {
+    let (duration, evaluated_paths, diagnostics, mut user_hints) = thread::scope(|s| {
         let handler = thread::Builder::new()
             .name(String::from("pglsp::console"))
             .spawn_scoped(s, || printer.run(receiver, recv_files))
@@ -104,15 +106,16 @@ pub(crate) fn traverse(
                 changed: &changed,
                 unchanged: &unchanged,
                 skipped: &skipped,
+                skipped_db_conn: &skipped_db_conn,
                 messages: sender,
                 remaining_diagnostics: &remaining_diagnostics,
                 evaluated_paths: RwLock::default(),
             },
         );
         // wait for the main thread to finish
-        let diagnostics = handler.join().unwrap();
+        let (diagnostics, user_hints) = handler.join().unwrap();
 
-        (elapsed, evaluated_paths, diagnostics)
+        (elapsed, evaluated_paths, diagnostics, user_hints)
     });
 
     let errors = printer.errors();
@@ -123,6 +126,20 @@ pub(crate) fn traverse(
     let skipped = skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
     let suggested_fixes_skipped = printer.skipped_fixes();
     let diagnostics_not_printed = printer.not_printed_diagnostics();
+
+    if duration.as_secs() >= 2 {
+        user_hints.push(format!(
+            "The traversal took longer than expected ({}s). Consider using the `--skip-db` option if your Postgres connection is slow.",
+            duration.as_secs()
+        ));
+    }
+
+    if skipped_db_conn.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+        user_hints.push(format!(
+            "Skipped all checks requiring database connections.",
+        ));
+    }
+
     Ok(TraverseResult {
         summary: TraversalSummary {
             changed,
@@ -137,6 +154,7 @@ pub(crate) fn traverse(
         },
         evaluated_paths,
         diagnostics,
+        user_hints,
     })
 }
 
@@ -288,10 +306,15 @@ impl<'ctx> DiagnosticsPrinter<'ctx> {
         should_print
     }
 
-    fn run(&self, receiver: Receiver<Message>, interner: Receiver<PathBuf>) -> Vec<Error> {
+    fn run(
+        &self,
+        receiver: Receiver<Message>,
+        interner: Receiver<PathBuf>,
+    ) -> (Vec<Error>, Vec<String>) {
         let mut paths: FxHashSet<String> = FxHashSet::default();
 
         let mut diagnostics_to_print = vec![];
+        let mut hints_to_print = vec![];
 
         while let Ok(msg) = receiver.recv() {
             match msg {
@@ -306,6 +329,10 @@ impl<'ctx> DiagnosticsPrinter<'ctx> {
                     self.errors.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
                 }
 
+                Message::Hint(hint) => {
+                    hints_to_print.push(hint);
+                }
+
                 Message::Error(mut err) => {
                     let location = err.location();
                     if self.should_skip_diagnostic(err.severity(), err.tags()) {
@@ -381,7 +408,8 @@ impl<'ctx> DiagnosticsPrinter<'ctx> {
                 }
             }
         }
-        diagnostics_to_print
+
+        (diagnostics_to_print, hints_to_print)
     }
 }
 
@@ -403,6 +431,8 @@ pub(crate) struct TraversalOptions<'ctx, 'app> {
     matches: &'ctx AtomicUsize,
     /// Shared atomic counter storing the number of skipped files
     skipped: &'ctx AtomicUsize,
+    /// Shared atomic bool tracking whether we used a DB connection
+    skipped_db_conn: &'ctx AtomicBool,
     /// Channel sending messages to the display thread
     pub(crate) messages: Sender<Message>,
     /// The approximate number of diagnostics the console will print before
@@ -434,6 +464,10 @@ impl TraversalOptions<'_, '_> {
         self.messages.send(msg.into()).ok();
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn set_skipped_db_conn(&self, has_skipped: bool) {
+        self.skipped_db_conn.store(has_skipped, Ordering::Relaxed);
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn protected_file(&self, pglsp_path: &PgLspPath) {
         self.push_diagnostic(
             WorkspaceError::protected_file(pglsp_path.display().to_string()).into(),

crates/pg_cli/src/reporter/github.rs

@@ -3,14 +3,18 @@ use pg_console::{markup, Console, ConsoleExt};
 use pg_diagnostics::PrintGitHubDiagnostic;
 use std::io;
 
+use super::UserHintsPayload;
+
 pub(crate) struct GithubReporter {
     pub(crate) diagnostics_payload: DiagnosticsPayload,
     pub(crate) execution: Execution,
+    pub(crate) user_hints: UserHintsPayload,
 }
 
 impl Reporter for GithubReporter {
     fn write(self, visitor: &mut dyn ReporterVisitor) -> io::Result<()> {
         visitor.report_diagnostics(&self.execution, self.diagnostics_payload)?;
+        visitor.report_user_hints(&self.execution, self.user_hints)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -42,4 +46,15 @@ impl ReporterVisitor for GithubReporterVisitor<'_> {
 
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    fn report_user_hints(
+        &mut self,
+        _execution: &Execution,
+        payload: super::UserHintsPayload,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        for hint in payload.hints {
+            self.0.log(markup! {{hint}});
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }

crates/pg_cli/src/reporter/gitlab.rs

@@ -12,14 +12,18 @@ use std::{
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
 };
 
+use super::UserHintsPayload;
+
 pub struct GitLabReporter {
-    pub execution: Execution,
-    pub diagnostics: DiagnosticsPayload,
+    pub(crate) execution: Execution,
+    pub(crate) diagnostics: DiagnosticsPayload,
+    pub(crate) user_hints: UserHintsPayload,
 }
 
 impl Reporter for GitLabReporter {
     fn write(self, visitor: &mut dyn ReporterVisitor) -> std::io::Result<()> {
         visitor.report_diagnostics(&self.execution, self.diagnostics)?;
+        visitor.report_user_hints(&self.execution, self.user_hints)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -72,6 +76,17 @@ impl ReporterVisitor for GitLabReporterVisitor<'_> {
         self.console.log(markup!({ diagnostics }));
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    fn report_user_hints(
+        &mut self,
+        _execution: &Execution,
+        payload: super::UserHintsPayload,
+    ) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+        for hint in payload.hints {
+            self.console.log(markup! {{hint}});
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 struct GitLabDiagnostics<'a>(

crates/pg_cli/src/reporter/junit.rs

@@ -6,16 +6,20 @@ use quick_junit::{NonSuccessKind, Report, TestCase, TestCaseStatus, TestSuite};
 use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
 use std::io;
 
+use super::UserHintsPayload;
+
 pub(crate) struct JunitReporter {
     pub(crate) diagnostics_payload: DiagnosticsPayload,
     pub(crate) execution: Execution,
     pub(crate) summary: TraversalSummary,
+    pub(crate) user_hints: UserHintsPayload,
 }
 
 impl Reporter for JunitReporter {
     fn write(self, visitor: &mut dyn ReporterVisitor) -> io::Result<()> {
         visitor.report_summary(&self.execution, self.summary)?;
         visitor.report_diagnostics(&self.execution, self.diagnostics_payload)?;
+        visitor.report_user_hints(&self.execution, self.user_hints)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -118,4 +122,17 @@ impl ReporterVisitor for JunitReporterVisitor<'_> {
 
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    fn report_user_hints(
+        &mut self,
+        _execution: &Execution,
+        payload: super::UserHintsPayload,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        for hint in payload.hints {
+            self.1.log(markup! {
+                {hint}
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }

crates/pg_cli/src/reporter/mod.rs

@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ pub struct DiagnosticsPayload {
     pub diagnostic_level: Severity,
 }
 
+pub struct UserHintsPayload {
+    pub hints: Vec<String>,
+}
+
 /// A type that holds the result of the traversal
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Serialize, Copy, Clone)]
 pub struct TraversalSummary {
@@ -60,4 +64,11 @@ pub trait ReporterVisitor {
         execution: &Execution,
         payload: DiagnosticsPayload,
     ) -> io::Result<()>;
+
+    /// Writes a diagnostics
+    fn report_user_hints(
+        &mut self,
+        execution: &Execution,
+        payload: UserHintsPayload,
+    ) -> io::Result<()>;
 }

crates/pg_cli/src/reporter/terminal.rs

@@ -10,18 +10,22 @@ use std::collections::BTreeSet;
 use std::io;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
+use super::UserHintsPayload;
+
 pub(crate) struct ConsoleReporter {
     pub(crate) summary: TraversalSummary,
     pub(crate) diagnostics_payload: DiagnosticsPayload,
     pub(crate) execution: Execution,
     pub(crate) evaluated_paths: BTreeSet<PgLspPath>,
+    pub(crate) user_hints_payload: UserHintsPayload,
 }
 
 impl Reporter for ConsoleReporter {
     fn write(self, visitor: &mut dyn ReporterVisitor) -> io::Result<()> {
         let verbose = self.diagnostics_payload.verbose;
         visitor.report_diagnostics(&self.execution, self.diagnostics_payload)?;
         visitor.report_summary(&self.execution, self.summary)?;
+        visitor.report_user_hints(&self.execution, self.user_hints_payload)?;
         if verbose {
             visitor.report_handled_paths(self.evaluated_paths)?;
         }
@@ -115,6 +119,18 @@ impl ReporterVisitor for ConsoleReporterVisitor<'_> {
 
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    fn report_user_hints(
+        &mut self,
+        _execution: &Execution,
+        payload: UserHintsPayload,
+    ) -> io::Result<()> {
+        for hint in payload.hints {
+            self.0.log(markup! {{hint}});
+        }
+        self.0.log(markup! {{"\n"}});
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 struct Files(usize);