PGConf.Russia 2025

Currently, WAL files can be compressed with a ratio of up to 6x, but the existing compression system is inefficient.

In this talk, I’ll share my work on improving WAL compression.

t’s well known that pg_upgrade is the go-to tool for fast PostgreSQL upgrades. However, even with this tool, there are cases where the upgrade process takes far longer than expected.

In our case, upgrading a PostgreSQL database with 350,000 tables meant either waiting 3.5 hours or finding a better approach. By digging into the pg_upgrade source code, we discovered a way to speed up the process significantly. In this talk, we’ll share how we did it.

As part of the import substitution process, we encountered the need to find a reliable alternative to Oracle. PostgreSQL was considered the primary candidate for replacement, but during the research, the "vanilla" version revealed a number of critical limitations that hindered a successful transition.

These issues included support for autonomous transactions, batch variables, and several other specifics. What is special about pg_settings? Why do we need autonomous transactions, and how do HOLD cursors relate to this? These and other topics will be discussed in our presentation, where we will also share our experience of implementing Postgres Pro Enterprise.

Although we often don't like to talk about it, database administration carries with it a large amount of stress. This is particularly true when we have to take on late night support duties. In this talk you will learn: 1. The basics of the physiology of stress. This is not a physiology lecture, but as engineers we need enough to build a mental model. 2. What kinds of mistakes we make when under stress. 3. How to measure stress in your own life and recognize it in others. 4. What tools are helpful to manage short- and long-term stressors. Managing short-term stress is important in avoiding becoming overwhelmed when problems occur, but managing longer-term stressors is just as important in avoiding problems in the first place.