The Advantages of PostgreSQL

BRUCE MOMJIAN

January, 2012 POSTGRESQL offers companies many advantages that can help their businesses thrive.
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Introduction

Why use databases? Why use open-source? PostgreSQL history PostgreSQL in the real world

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Why use databases?

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Non-SQL Database Applications

Application

Customer Customer Customer Customer

Order Order Order Order

Part Part Part Part

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SQL Database Applications

Application

SQL Server

Customer Customer Customer Customer

Order Order Order Order

Part Part Part Part

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Database Transaction Protection (ACID)

Multiple changes either all take place, or none of them Data always in a consistent state In-process changes invisible to outside users Data reliably stored High level of concurrency and reliability

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Why use Open Source Software?

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Closed-Source Software

Black Box

Func(...) Data ...

987234 VWOJVC

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Open-Source Software

Clear Box

Func(...) Data ...

987234 VWOJVC

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Support of Close-Source Software

Support

Database Company

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Support of Open-Source Software

Support Source Code

Support

EnterpriseDB

Support Mailing Lists

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The Future of Open Source

Open Source Features Performance Reliability Close Source

Time

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PostgreSQL License

Use for any purpose, including sale of customized versions with your closed-source modications. PostgreSQL supports custom:

Functions Operators Data Types

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PostgreSQL History

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The University of California at Berkeley

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Postgres

Postgres95

Michael Stonebraker

Jolly Chen and Andrew Yu

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PostgreSQL Code Base History

Ingres research prototype, spawned Relational Technologies,

purchased by Computer Associates Postgres research prototype, spawned Illustra, purchased by Informix

Postgres95 added SQL, spawned PostgreSQL

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PostgreSQL Through the Years

1977-1985 Ingres 1986-1994 Postgres 1994-1995 Postgres95 1996PostgreSQL

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Developers Globe

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PostgreSQL Core Team

Top row: Thomas Lockhart, Jan Wieck, Tom Lane, Marc Fournier Bottom row: Vadim Mikheev, Bruce Momjian
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Release Dates and Sizes

Date 1994 1996-08-01 1996-10-27 1997-01-29 1997-06-08 1997-10-02 1998-03-01 1998-10-30 1999-06-09 2000-05-08 2001-04-13 2002-02-04 2002-??-?? Release 1.02.1 1.09 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lines of code 244,581 178,976 200,709 225,848 260,809 297,918 331,278 383,270 410,500 394274 453282
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PostgreSQL Releases

Release 1.02 Date: 1996-08-01

Initial release by PostgreSQL Global Development Team Apply all outstanding email patches.

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 1.09 Date: 1996-11-04

Fixes for server and command failures.

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 6.0 Date: 1997-01-29

Unique indexes GIST added Improved authentication IN/BETWEEN added

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 6.1 Date: 1997-06-08

New data types: GEQO

DATETIME, TIMESPAN, CIRCLE

Improved optimizer statistics Libpq++ overhauled Multi-column btree indexes new New
SET/SHOW/RESET SEQUENCE

commands

feature

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 6.2 Date: 1997-10-02

New Java JDBC driver Triggers added Server Programming Interface (SPI) added NOT NULL constraint DEFAULT and CONSTRAINT added ANSI functions added for DATE/TIME and PRECISION

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued) Release 6.3 Date: 1998-03-01

Subselcts Unix domain socket support for performance Improved user password conguration Much improved documentation Separate permissions for VIEWs PRIMARY
KEY

support

PL/TCL procedural language added UNION added Python added ECPG added New
ODBC

driver
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Pgaccess added

PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 6.4 Date: 1998-10-30

Improved RULEs and VIEWs PL/PgSQL added Multi-byte character support Internet address data types HAVING added

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued) Release 6.5 Date: 1999-06-09

MVCC Live backups NUMERIC data type Temporary tables CASE INTERSECT EXCEPT LIMIT/OFFSET SELECTFOR UPDATE Optimizer overhaul
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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 7.0 Date: 2000-05-08

Foreign keys More optimizer improvements ANSI JOIN syntax PL/Perl Oracle compatibility functions

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 7.1 Date: 2001-04-13

Write-ahead Log (WAL) TOAST Outer Joins Overhauled function manager

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PostgreSQL Releases (Continued)

Release 7.2 Date: 2001-12-??

Non-locking VACUUM Fix for Transaction id / OID wraparound Security xes Optimizer improvements Error message internationalization

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Internals Flowchart
Main Libpq Postmaster

Postgres

Postgres

Parse Statement utility

Traffic Cop Query

Utility Command
e.g. CREATE TABLE, COPY

SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE

Rewrite Query

Generate Paths Optimal Path Generate Plan Plan Execute Plan

Utilities

Catalog

Storage Managers

Access Methods

Nodes / Lists

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Performance - AS3AP

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Performance - TPC-C

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PostgreSQL in the Real World

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Database Migration

Oracle IBMs DB2 Microsoft-SQL Microsoft Access Informix Interbase Dbase/FoxPro MySQL

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Database Languages

C C++ Embedded C Java Perl Python Tcl/Tk Php Odbc

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PostgreSQL Platforms

AIX BeOS BSD/OS FreeBSD HP-UX IRIX Linux MacOS

NetBSD OpenBSD SCO UnixWare Solaris SunOS Tru64 Windows NT/2000

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PostgreSQL Usage

Order Entry, Inventory, Billing Customer Relations Management (CRM) Data warehouse, data analysis Medical/Hospital Records Storage Genetics Financial Accounting, Banking, Payroll Military Government, Social services, Elections Education Publishing Geography (GIS) Hotel Reservations, Restaurants Telephone billing, call tracking Helpdesk problem report tracking Sales Tracking Business to business commerce
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PostgreSQL Web Site Usage

Product purchase User preferences Job listings Auctions Real Estate listings Community building Dynamic content Text indexing

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Future Directions

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Conclusion

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