PostgreSQL in Action

PostgreSQL (pronounced Post-Gres-Q-L), or postgres for short, is an open source object-relational-database management system. It emphasizes extensibility and creativity as well as compatibility. It competes with the major relational database vendors, such as Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL). It's used by different sectors, including government agencies and the public and private sectors. It's a cross-platform DBMS, and it runs on most modern operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux flavors. It conforms to SQL and is ACID-compliant.

By the end of this chapter, the user should be able to install PostgreSQL, establish a connection to the server, and run very basic queries. Also, the user will know general information about PostgreSQL's history and capabilities. In this chapter, we will explore the following topics:

• PostgreSQL history
• Selected PostgreSQL forks 
• Companies utilizing PostgreSQL and success stories
• PostgreSQL usage patterns and application
• PostgreSQL architecture, capabilities, and features
• PostgreSQL installation on Linux as well as Windows
• PostgreSQL client tools with emphases on psql because it's often used on a daily basis