PostgreSQL or Postgres

There's a discussion going on right now on the PostgreSQL advocacy mailing list, about whether to change the name from PostgreSQL back to Postgres, which was its original name. To summarize and oversimplify the conversation, many people seem to feel that PostgreSQL is awkward, hard to read, and/or too often mispronounced. Others feel that a name change is not worth the effort.

From my perspective, it's time for a change. Postgres's name was changed to PostgreSQL in the 90's, when its query language to modernized to SQL. It is now 2007, and everyone's query language is now SQL. In other words, it's no longer anything to brag about, and is actually distracting, in my opinion.

We've put a one-question survey onto the EnterpriseDB Postgres site, asking about this topic. If you have an opinion, please stand up and be counted. Thanks.

Closson on Open Source Databases

In a brief eWeek Q&A yesterday, Kevin Closson was asked if open source databases like Postgres and others are becoming serious alternatives for Oracle. "Yes, more and more," he said. His answer is indicative of the sea change we're living through, in which insane prices from oligopolists are no longer the only game in town. As Kevin points out, it often no longer makes sense to spend $40,000-$60,000 per CPU, when you can get much of the same thing for a small fraction of the cost. Right on, Kevin, and with compatibility, migration is a cinch!

EnterpriseDB Announcements

I want let you all know about three very exciting (at least I think so) announcements coming out of EnterpriseDB at LinuxWorld today.

First, we are releasing a fully open source, commercial grade, cross platform distribution of PostgreSQL and supporting technologies called EnterpriseDB Postgres. This distribution is drop-dead simple to install and use , and comes pre-bundled and configured with replication, administration tools, client connectors, spatial capabilities, security, encryption, and more. Until now, PostgreSQL had a reputation as a great database that was hard to install and configure. No more. Going forward, it’ll be way easier to use than MySQL, with no loss of its robust capabilities.

Second, we are launching the EnterpriseDB Postgres Resource Center (PRC). This is a community website (http://postgres.enterprisedb.com) that will be the home of EnterpriseDB Postgres. It will also house a robust community forum, and a ton of useful tools, applications, documents, articles, FAQs, etc. It is our hope and intention that the PRC will be a important destination site for people who use PostgreSQL, both commercially and in non-profits.

Both of these announcements reflect our ongoing commitment to PostgreSQL and its community, and to providing the best commercial PostgreSQL support, services, and training available in the world.

Finally, we’re announcing today the release of GridSQL, a major new product. GridSQL is a parallel database server that automatically partitions data across any number of servers, and provides nearly linear performance scalability. What’s really cool about GridSQL is that it implements this shared nothing distributed architecture in a way that is transparent to the calling applications. Just install, connect your servers, and go. Available at a fraction of the cost of any comparable solution, GridSQL is something to watch.

One caveat. All three of these new additions are in version 1.0 right now. They will be growing in depth and breadth over the coming weeks and months, so give them a try (they’re all available for free), and let me know what you think. Thanks.

Dolphins

Why in the world did I mention dolphins in yesterday's post? Well, my daughter's a bit of an animal fan, and is studying in a marine biology high school. Last year, we visited the Dolphin Academy at the Curacao Sea Aquarium. The family has done a couple of other programs before, and I've simply never experienced anything like this. There are plenty of dolphin touch-and-swim programs to choose from, but the Dolphins In-Depth course is really stupendous. Taught by head trainer George Kieffer, it's five 4-hour days of intense and intimate learning, including about 50% classroom and 50% in the water with the dolphins. I have a couple of pretty cool pictures...let me know if you want to see them.

Summer of Bourne

I tend to be a little obsessed with work, and find very little time for recreational reading. But when I went to Curacao earlier this summer (phenomenal dolphin program there), I was looking for a little escape. With the Bourne Ultimatum coming out in August, I opted for the prior book in the series, the Bourne Supremacy. What a great read! 700 pages of pure, adrenalin pumping fun, with a deep and complex character to keep it interesting.

So to complete the picture, I went to see Bourne Ultimatum last night. Realistically, I wouldn't have gotten back to the book for months. Matt Damon does a great -- and nicely understated -- job of capturing the character. With supporting stints from Albert Finney (is he ever less than great?), Joan Allen, and David Strathairn, it's a worthwhile accompaniment to high-fat popcorn.

Other's Open Thoughts - Kevin Closson

Some of you may have read Kevin Closson's blog post a couple of weeks ago, entitled EnterpriseDB: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Oracle Licenses. What Is This Oracle Partner Network Anyway?

Yikes...tough title. But the post itself is actually a thoughtful piece that asks some good questions about EnterpriseDB's capabilities, well beyond licensing. I posted a response to it right away, but Kevin went on vacation and it sat unmoderated until last night. It's now up, so you may be interested in having a look.

Gartner on Oracle

According to Gartner’s Donald Feinberg, "The average Oracle customer should wait about 12 months before evaluation and testing (11G), allowing the early adopters to "work out the kinks" associated with new releases. "

Fascinating...a year to work out the kinks...