PostgreSQL 9.1alpha1 Now Available

The first alpha release for PostgreSQL version 9.1, 9.1alpha1, is now
available. This alpha release contains several new major features
added since the 9.0 branch. Please download, install, and test it to
give us early feedback on the features being developed for the future
versions of PostgreSQL.

Note that the final release of PostgreSQL 9.1 is not to be expected
before mid-2011. Please also direct your attention to the imminent
release of PostgreSQL 9.0, which is currently in the release candidate
stage.

Features added in 9.1alpha1 include:

* Recognize functional dependency on primary keys, to allow omitting
non-primary key columns from the GROUP BY clause in certain
situations.

* Reduce lock levels of CREATE TRIGGER and some ALTER TABLE, CREATE
RULE actions.

* Change the default value of standard_conforming_strings to on. This
is a significant incompatibility with previous releases, because it
may break unwary applications in security-critical ways.

* Add vacuum and analyze counters to pg_stat_*_tables views.

* Several new XML-related functions: xmlexists, xpath_exists,
xml_is_well_formed

* More compact representation of the numeric type.

* Extend psql's \e and \ef commands so that a line number can be
specified, and the editor's cursor will be initially placed on that
line.

More detail is available in the release notes:
http://developer.postgresql.org/pgdocs/postgres/release-9-1-alpha.html

These new features mean that we need you to participate in testing
them. If you are able to help with organized alpha testing, please
see the Alpha/Beta testing page:
http://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/HowToBetaTest

Alpha releases are not stable and should never be used in production;
they are for testing new features only. There is no guarantee that
any features or APIs present in the alphas will be present, or the
same, in the final release.

Alpha release information page:
http://www.postgresql.org/developer/alpha

Download the alpha release here:
http://www.postgresql.org/ftp/source/v9.1alpha1/

Alpha releases are primarily made in source code form only. Binary
packages for some operating systems will be prepared in the coming
days. PostgreSQL Early Experience One-Click Installers are available
here: http://www.enterprisedb.com/products/pgdevdownload.do