PgConf.Russia 2017

Sets are apparently a useful data type for many kinds of applications. While PostgreSQL offers no built-in set data type, sets may be emulated to some degree with its built-in array and JSONB data types. Also, acceleration of respective containment (subset) queries is readily available as a built-in feature of the GIN index type.

Starting with the above, we will then explore the performance gains enabled by custom set data types, and especially by customisation code in C ("operator classes") for the GIN and GiST index types.

We will discuss some tricks and patterns while developing web-application architecture based on ORM technology with Postgresql functions implementation with Python Django as an example. Also we will consider some ways of building the business logic inside a database with keeping Django framework opportunities and implementation of it's built-in admin panel.

VIDEO

Modern state of backup tools for PostgreSQL certainly leaves some room for improvements. Standard utilities provides only basic functionality, third-party tools solve some, but not all, problems. To take backups reliably, fast, and incrementally on page level, one needs not only a backup tool, but also some support from the database server. On this tutorial we will talk about our new backup and recovery manager ProBackup, and will show it in action.

Demonstration script:

• pg_probackup_script.txt

< Query failed: ERROR: deadlock detected
< DETAIL: Process 17371 waits for ShareLock on transaction 102733872; Blocked by process.
< Process 10414 waits for ShareLock on transaction 102733874; Blocked by process 17371.

Such "unpleasant" messages from the server can seriously puzzle the developer. When working with locks, in particular, with transactions in general, it is necessary to take into account the features of the implementation of client libraries, which can cause the above exception.

In the short talk, the mechanics of the interaction of locks will be explained, main attention being paid to causes of deadlocks. References to the relevant documentation pages will be given. A technique of "bypassing" this problem of concurrent data access will be described and illustrated with some generalized examples from practice are shown. The talk will be interesting to database developers and administrators as well as the client-side application developers.