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, SQL servers, and others. It is used by different sectors including government agencies and the public and private sectors. It is a cross-platform DBMS, and runs on most modern operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux flavors. It conforms to SQL and is ACID-compliant.

In this chapter, we will explore several topics including:

• PostgreSQL history.
• Selected PostgreSQL forks. 
• Companies utilizing PostgreSQL and success stories
• PostgreSQL usage pattern.
• PostgreSQL architecture, capabilities and features.
• PostgreSQL installation on Linux as well as windows.
• PostgreSQL client tools with emphases on psql because it is often used on a daily basis.