Re: Major features for 9.1

On Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 01:18:35PM -0500, Josh Berkus wrote:
>
>
> > I assume you mean by "innovation" that these are things where
> > PostgreSQL
> > was the first DBMS to implement them. The risk with that is, unless
> > you
> > do very careful research, someone might debunk each of these within 24
> > hours after the release, making the whole thing look foolish.
>
> Well, we can hedge a bit. But, better, can someone (preferably several someones) on this list volunteer to do research? Anyone?
>
> >
> > Moreover, the fact that something might have been innovated doesn't
> > explain how it helps the user.
>
> Truthfully, for a press release, it doesn't matter. Many reporters/bloggers will happily quote that we're the first database with SSI without having a clue what it means. In general, most reporters who cover databases don't really know know (or care) much about databases regardless (or "NoSQL" wouldn't have the press it does).
>
> >From a PR perspective, the important thing to get across is that the PostgreSQL project is innovating, implementing new database tech before anyone else. This is critically important during a period where SQL-RDBMSes are being portrayed as "old grandfathers" in a press more enchanted with "the new hotness" of recently invented DBMSes.
>
> Now, for our users and for serious database geeks, we *do* need an elevator-pitch explanation of several features which tells them why they should care. Several features in particular are not immediately obvious:
>
> * SSI
> * wCTE
> * KNN-GiST
> * SE-Postgres
> * Transaction-controlled Synch Rep
>
> I would like to have volunteers from the advocacy list commit to taking on one of each of these features. For each one we need:
>
> a) a two-line explanation of what the feature is and why it's valuable (for the release notes, etc.)
> b) a wiki page with a more detailed explaination and examples oriented towards the beginning-to-intermediate PostgreSQL user.

I'll take a whack at wCTE :)

Cheers,
David.
--
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