Debra Cerda Blog Posts

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As part of the countdown to Postgres Conference 2024 learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

NEXTGRES founder Jonah Harris is a developer with expertise in database internals, high-performance systems, and near-real-time machine learning optimizations. Recognized for contributions to Oracle Database and PostgreSQL, with leadership roles at MariaDB, The Meet Group, and EnterpriseDB.

Jonah Harris will present The Future of MySQL is Postgres.  Read what Jonah has to say about Postgres and why to attend their session:

Why should attendees come to your talk at Postgres Conference 2024?  What would you like for them to take away from your session?

Attendees will leave this session understanding how PostgreSQL offers superior performance, reliability, and a richer set of features for modern application development over MySQL, and how this extension simplifies and accelerates the migration process, ensuring transparent compatibility. 

What is your favorite aspect of Postgres Conference?

My favorite aspect of Postgres conferences is the collaborative spirit, where developers, administrators, and enthusiasts come together to share their knowledge and solve real-world challenges.

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres and other open source technologies?

I advise diving into hands-on projects and contributing to the OSS communities with an open mind; this offers invaluable experience and broad networking opportunities within open source communities, specifically PostgreSQL.

How do you see the use of open source technologies evolving over the next five years?

I see open source technologies becoming even more integral to innovation, driving collaboration and accessibility in emerging fields as well as traditional industries.

What considerations should be taken for the adoption and use of Postgres and related open source technologies? 

I always consider matching a technology's strengths to a project's needs. Whether it's Postgres or another OSS technology, evaluate it for its full capabilities and best fit first. Once those capabilities and fit are evaluated, assess the organization's ability to manage it.

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2024. Learn more about our conference here and buy your tickets soon!

As part of the countdown to Postgres Conference 2024, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Silas Marvin is a founding software engineer at PostgresML, writes software for fun and a better future.

Silas will present "RAG Masterclass: Simplify your data infrastructure with in-database NLP using pgml and pgvector for Retrieval Augmented Generation." Read what Silas has to say about Postgres and why to attend his session:

Why should attendees come to your talk at Postgres Conference 2024? What would you like for them to take away from your session?
Postgres developers should attend my talk to learn how to simplify their data infrastructure and build fast, powerful RAG applications using pgml and pgvector. Attendees will gain a solid understanding of RAG and its applications in Postgres, along with practical knowledge of pgml and pgvector to create efficient, scalable NLP solutions.

What is your favorite aspect of Postgres Conference?
My favorite aspect of Postgres Conference is the opportunity to connect with an incredible open-source community of like-minded developers who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of what Postgres can achieve. It's an awesome experience being surrounded by individuals who are committed to ensuring that Postgres remains the database powering the future.

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres and other open source technologies?
As a recent graduate myself, I recommend diving into the Postgres community and exploring open-source technology. Open-source projects provide an incredible opportunity for new developers to learn and grow as the development process is transparent and collaborative. In particular, I have found the Postgres community to be an exceptional group of intelligent, experienced developers who are not only building amazing projects but are also willing to guide and support newcomers on their journey.

How do you see the use of open source technologies evolving over the next five years?
Over the next 5 years, open source technologies are only going to keep growing and playing a bigger part in the software world. As software engineering grows, open source will grow right along with it. Solid, proven projects like Postgres will be the foundation that many new open source tools are built on top of.

What considerations should be taken for the adoption and use of Postgres and related open source technologies?
answered above ^

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2024. Learn more about our conference here and buy your tickets soon!

As part of the countdown to PostgresConf US 2018, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Malcolm McLean of Apace Systems is a PostgreSQL DBA, Linux admin, Java/PHP developer and according to his bio "a bit of a pedantic perfectionist", with over 12 years of experience with PostgreSQL and somewhat more than that with Linux and development.

Malcolm is presenting "PostgreSQL in a Geographically Distributed Realtime Transactional System" on Thursday, April 19, at 11:20 am. Read what he has to say about Postgres and why to attend his session: 

Why PostgreSQL?

My very first job over 13 years ago introduced me to Postgres after having only worked with MySQL at university. Since then, I've been happier with its performance compared to other DB's I've benchmarked as well as with the features that are continuously introduced to keep the database on the forefront. Across 3 companies I have never looked back and never regretted my decision to always use Postgres.

Tell us about your involvement with the greater Postgres community.

I spoke at the first PgConf South Africa last year and I'm now one of the organisers of PostgresConf South Africa 2018.

What new features of PostgreSQL 10 are you most excited about?

Definitely the integrated logical replication without the need of an extension.

What features should be developed/improved and released in the next major upgrade?

It perhaps won't make Postgres 11, but at least by Postgres 12 we should have BDR integrated with the current logical replication capabilities rounded off.

Why should attendees come to your talk at PostgresConf US 2018? What would you like for them to take away from your session?

We had an interesting replication problem to solve. Multi-master replication where data needed to be replicated betweens servers in multiple countries, some with data restrictions, but without replicating data where it didn't need to go. So a sort of conditional sharding with redundancy in each data center.

What sessions are you most excited about attending at PostgresConf US 2018?

 The talks on replication (anything to make our lives easier) and security. 

What is your favorite aspect of PostgresConf US?

Meeting like-minded people from different backgrounds. And of course, the trip itself. I've done quite a bit of travelling over the years, but I haven't yet been to the US.

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres?

Push yourself to learn. Sitting back doesn't get you very far. 

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2018, and buy your tickets soon!

In support of our theme of "People, Postgres, Data", the Postgres Conference 2019 hosts its 3rd Annual Talent Exchange & Career Fair on Friday, March 22, from 11am - 2pm, in the Metropolitan Ballroom at the Sheraton New York Times Square. Featuring hiring managers and recruiters from several of our Postgres Conference sponsor companies, this event is free for job seekers and open to the public.

Companies represented include:

• 2nd Quadrant
• Amazon
• Credativ
• Cybertec
• DataDog
• DBeaver
• Google
• HighGo
• Microsoft
• Percona
• Pivotal
• TimeScaleDB (440 Labs)

With PostgreSQL winning the title of DBMS of the Year for the second year in a row from DB-Engines, talent with PostgreSQL related skills is in high demand. The Career Fair brings together employers and candidates in one of the hottest career options available today -- Postgres developers and DBAs -- as well as Solution Engineers, Customer Success Managers, Developer Advocates, Global Migration Practice Consultant, and many more!

We will also have Postgres professionals of varied backgrounds volunteering as career mentors from 11 am - 1:30 pm. Be sure to bring copies of your resume to share with employers and for feedback from our mentors.

New for this year -- Stop by the Postgres Conference 2019 Photo Booth on Friday between 11 am – 1pm for a free professional headshot! A professional image can often be a first impression for a hiring manager or recruiter and help you stand out amongst other job applicants.

Looking to increase your Postgres related knowledge and skills? Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2019, and buy your tickets soon!

As part of the countdown to Postgres Conference 2024, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Peter Celentano is a Senior Specialist Solutions Architect, specializing in RDS PostgreSQL and Aurora PostgreSQL. Collaborating with AWS clients, he crafts scalable, secure, performant, and resilient cloud-based database architectures.

Peter will present "PostgreSQL Architecture Considerations for Application Developers". Read what Peter has to say about Postgres and why to attend their session:

Why should attendees come to your talk at Postgres Conference 2024? What would you like for them to take away from your session?
So much content in the PostgreSQL sphere focuses on the DBA best practices and how-to's, but not much exists by comparison for the database developer. In my talk, we'll discuss key PostgreSQL concepts and database architecture (and why app developers should care). I hope folks that attend my talk take away lessons learned from the field and some best practices which they may not be aware of yet.

What is your favorite aspect of Postgres Conference?
Meeting community experts and customers whom I've met virtually (but not yet in person).

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry-level developer who is interested in learning and engaging with Postgres and other open source technologies?
The documentation for PostgreSQL is excellent (by comparison to many other open source projects). Spin up an ec2 instance, install PostgreSQL, and start figuring out how it works! You'll always learn more by breaking something and figuring out how to fix it then by reading about it in a book! Don't forget to vacuum!!

How do you see the use of open source technologies evolving over the next five years?
I see the development of better open source LLMs and hardware to back them. And eventually, deeper integration with GenAI in the Postgres core.

What considerations should be taken for the adoption and use of Postgres and related open source technologies?
Streamlining the patch review/approval process, allowing for faster innovation in Postgres core (without compromising on security and stability)

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2024. Learn more about our conference here!

We are excited and humbled that Malika Boukhelifa will be the Keynote Speaker for Postgres Conference 2025 in Orlando. Her keynote “Code Your Way Out of Burnout” will explore how burnout happens and how we can recover without compromising our health.

About Malika Boukhelifa:

• PhD in Cell Biology (University René Descartes Paris, France)
• Integrative Health Coach and founder of Founding Momentum, LLC
• Extensive Experience in Research & Development across academia, biotech companies, and startups in the US, France, and Germany.

This session is part of our Professional Development track, designed to help attendees grow not just as technologists, but as well-rounded professionals. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies for sustainable success.

Register now and book your hotel to join us for an unforgettable conference experience!

* Book by March 4th to receive our preferred discounted rate at the conference hotel

The month of January is just about over and we are coming up on the end of our Early Bird registration window for PostgresConf US 2018, which takes place in Jersey City, New Jersey from April 16th to April 20st at The Westin Jersey City Newport.

You have until tomorrow to purchase your tickets for $200 off for the largest PostgreSQL conference in the world. Early Bird tickets are on sale here through January 31.

We are excited to announce that we received over 170 proposals for PostgresConf US 2018, with an impressive range of high quality content and speakers. On April 16th and 17th, we are pleased to offer a choice of 15 different training sessions so you are sure to have the chance to dig deep into a topic that interests you. Some of our training classes are:

• Mastering PostgreSQL Administration
• Tutorial on Modern PostgreSQL High Availability
• Deep Dive into PostgreSQL Authentication Methods
• Digging into Advanced SQL
• The postgresql.conf from A-Z: Includes Postgres Performance and Maintenance

For a complete list, check out the events page for all of our training classes. 

Also during PostgresConf, you will also have an opportunity to meet our great sponsors, including:

• Diamond: Amazon Web Services, Pivotal
• Platinum: Compose, OpenSCG, 2ndQuadrant, Microsoft
• Gold: Cybertec, JetBrains, Citus Data, EnterpriseDB, Linode, Timescale, Cockroach Labs

At the Westin Jersey City Newport, we have negotiated a discounted conference room rate of $260/night + applicable taxes for attendees. Be sure to book prior to March 26, 2018 - the conference rate is not guaranteed after this date. Rooms may be booked via our dedicated Westin booking page, or via telephone (888) 627-7148. If booking via telephone please mention "PostgresConf US 2018" to receive the group rate.

For more information, please visit the PostgresConf US 2018 website. 

Stay tuned for our presentation and breakout sessions announcement. We look forward to seeing you in April!

P.S. Looking for a discount code? Check your local Postgres User Group mailing list.

As part of the countdown to PostgresConf US 2018, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Jignesh Shah is Product Manager for Amazon RDS with Amazon Web Services. At AWS he works on PostgreSQL engines at AWS including Amazon RDS PostgreSQL and Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL compatibility. He has worked with PostgreSQL since 2005 and has released application and database lifecycle products using PostgreSQL at appOrbit and VMware.

Jignesh will be co-presenting the full day "Amazon Relational Database Service for PostgreSQL and AWS Database Migration Service Training" on April 17 at 9 am, as well as the "Deep Dive into the RDS PostgreSQL Universe" session on Friday, April 20 at 9:50 am. 

Read what he has to say about Postgres and why to attend his session:

Why PostgreSQL?

Features, Open Source, License!

Tell us about your involvement with the greater Postgres community.

Involved since 2004ish. Early part focussed more on performance on high end servers. (Performance bottlenecks, working to resolve them in standard PostgreSQL) Lately more as an advocate.

What new features of PostgreSQL 10 are you most excited about?

Pub/Sub Logical Replication

What features should be developed/improved and released in the next major upgrade?

CALL Procedure (multi-transaction), SQL Packages

Why should attendees come to your talk at PostgresConf US 2018? What would you like for them to take away from your session?

Learn about the features in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and how best to leverage them!

What sessions are you most excited about attending at PostgresConf US 2018?

Keynotes!, Tutorials (Aurora, DMS), Customer sessions!

What is your favorite aspect of PostgresConf US?

Meeting the user community of PostgreSQL

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres?

Start with the use cases. Learn how PostgreSQL supports these use cases. Dive deeper on why PostgreSQL solves them in that particular way!

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2018, and buy your tickets soon!

As part of the countdown to PostgresConf US 2018, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Les McMonagle is the VP of Security Strategy, at BlueTalon Inc. He will be presenting "Achieving Data Privacy Compliance in Postgres or Greenplum" on Friday, April 20, at 10:50 am. Attend his session to learn  the difference between Data Protection versus Data Access Control – and why you should care, and read what he has to say about PostgreSQL and Greenplum:

Why PostgreSQL?

BlueTalon's Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) technology has been developed to fully support PostgreSQL and Greenplum because these are broadly implemented data analytics platforms used for storing and processing of sensitive or regulated data across industries.    

Tell us about your involvement with the greater Postgres community.

PostgreSQL was one of the first platforms BlueTalon developed an Enforcement Point (EP) for to provide centrally managed, consistently applied fine-grained data access controls, audit trail and accountability for all access to sensitive or regulated data stored in PostgreSQL database platforms. 

What new features of PostgreSQL 10 are you most excited about?

BlueTalon ensures full compatibility with each new release and corresponding new features or functionality for PostgreSQL as part of our standard certification process. 

Why should attendees come to your talk at PostgresConf US 2018? What would you like for them to take away from your session?

To learn about next generation data access controls for relational databases and  other data repository platforms and how this ABAC technology integrates seamlessly with PostgresSQL and other database technologies.

What sessions are you most excited about attending at PostgresConf US 2018?

Any data security related sessions.

What is your favorite aspect of PostgresConf US?

Firsthand contact and interaction with technology thought leaders at global corporations. 

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres?

Consider all aspects of designing and implementing any data analytics platform including data protection and access control.  "Privacy by Design" should be a core component of any requirements gathering and system design process.  Data security is an order of magnitude easier and less expensive to build in than it is to try and bolt on later.   

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2018, and buy your tickets soon!

As part of the countdown to Postgres Conference 2024, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Shayon Sanyal is a Principal PostgreSQL Specialist at Amazon Aurora, with over 15 years experience, and crafts resilient applications, leveraging PostgreSQL's advanced features.

Shayon will present Enhancing OLTP Systems with pgvector: Best Practices in Database Design. Read what Shayon has to say about Postgres and why to attend their session:

Why should attendees come to your talk at Postgres Conference 2024? What would you like for them to take away from your session?
The integration of pgvector into existing Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems represents a significant advancement in leveraging vector search capabilities within traditional database environments. This presentation is designed to educate database professionals on the thoughtful integration of pgvector into OLTP applications powered by PostgreSQL, ensuring enhanced functionalities without compromising the core transactional integrity and performance. Attendees will learn how to adopt pgvector to unlock new application features while maintaining reliability, performance and scalability of their PostgreSQL databases. The presentation provides a roadmap for practical pgvector integration regardless of the hosting environment.

What is your favorite aspect of Postgres Conference?
For me, the most amazing aspect of the Postgres Conference is the opportunity to learn from and engage with some of the most brilliant minds in the PostgreSQL ecosystem. The lineup of speakers and contributors is always exceptional, offering invaluable insights and perspectives that can shape the future of this powerful database management system. The depth and breadth of technical discussions from advanced database internals and performance optimizations to cutting-edge features and real-world use cases, the conference provides a platform for exploring the full potential of PostgreSQL. It's a true feast for those who crave technical excellence.

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres and other open source technologies?
My advice would be to dive in headfirst and immerse yourself in the open source community. Start by exploring the official documentation and resources provided by the PostgreSQL project. Don't be afraid to ask questions on forums, mailing lists, or community channels – you'll be amazed at how welcoming and supportive the community is, especially towards those eager to learn. Attend local meetups or online events focused on PostgreSQL and open source technologies. These are excellent platforms for networking, learning from experienced professionals, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

How do you see the use of open source technologies evolving over the next five years?
Increased adoption across industries: Open source technologies have already gained widespread acceptance in the tech industry, but I expect their adoption to accelerate across various other sectors, such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. As organizations recognize the benefits of open source, including cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and community-driven innovation, they will be more inclined to embrace these technologies in their mission-critical systems.
What considerations should be taken for the adoption and use of Postgres and related open source technologies?
If I had to pick 2 then - 1/ Community Support and Documentation: Evaluate the size and activity level of the community surrounding the open source project. A vibrant and engaged community is often a good indicator of the project's long-term sustainability and the availability of support resources, such as documentation, forums, and mailing lists. and 2/ Scalability and Performance: Thoroughly assess the scalability and performance capabilities of the open source technologies you intend to use, especially if you anticipate handling large volumes of data or high-traffic workloads. Conduct performance testing and benchmarking to ensure that the technologies meet your specific requirements. Then there are other considerations such as security and compliance, integration and interoperability etc.

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2024. Learn more about our conference here and buy your tickets soon!