Open Source

Yesterday, David Steele announced the end of life of pgBackRest — a PostgreSQL backup tool he maintained for thirteen years. The reasons are structural, not personal, and they are a reminder of a pattern we see too often in open-source infrastructure. This article reflects on what that means, on the architectural rivalry between pgBackRest and Barman, and on why CloudNativePG users can take confidence from both the project’s CNCF governance and the virtuous cycle of commercial support that sustains it.

This article examines how managed database services deliberately suppress access to the physical replication stream, turning operational convenience into permanent lock-in. It makes the case for a cloud-neutral stack — PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, and CloudNativePG — as the only architecture that returns full operational sovereignty to the organisation that owns the data.

Welcome CNPG Playground, a local learning environment for exploring CloudNativePG and PostgreSQL in Kubernetes. Using Docker and Kind, it simulates real-world scenarios, enabling developers and DBAs to experiment with PostgreSQL replication across two clusters. Designed for hands-on learning, CNPG Playground provides an accessible entry point for testing configurations and features, with plans for future enhancements and community collaboration.

Join the PostgreSQL 17 testing program using Kubernetes and CloudNativePG! With the recent release of PostgreSQL 17 Beta, our community has made operand container images available for testing. This article guides you through deploying a PostgreSQL 17 cluster, selecting specific Debian versions, and verifying installations. Perfect for developers in early stages, your participation will help identify and fix bugs before the final release. Get involved and ensure PostgreSQL 17 is robust and ready for production, even in Kubernetes!

… or thanks to Kubernetes! ;)

Sixteen years ago, on May 21, 2008, we proudly announced the opening of the Italian branch of 2ndQuadrant, marking a milestone in PostgreSQL consulting and training in Europe. Simon Riggs, the visionary founder of 2ndQuadrant, placed immense trust in our small team from Prato, Tuscany. Tragically, Simon passed away on March 26, 2024, leaving a profound void. This article is my small tribute to Simon, his extraordinary leadership, and his invaluable contributions to the PostgreSQL community. It reflects on our journey, the challenges we faced, and the innovative spirit Simon instilled in us. Despite his passing, Simon’s legacy lives on through the values, principles, and examples he set, continuing to inspire and guide us.

Explore the synergy between PostgreSQL and Kubernetes through CloudNativePG — a transformative operator discussed in this article. Discover how this powerful open source stack empowers organizations to free themselves from vendor lock-in and to create a seamless microservice database environment, enhancing innovation, operational efficiency and velocity. This article provides a refreshed perspective on “Why Run Postgres in Kubernetes?” from 2022.