Learn PostgreSQL

This new edition will help you learn PostgreSQL from scratch with the latest version, providing a complete focused view on aspects like configuration, high performance, partitioning, backup, server-side programming and replication.

Key Features

• Learn the fundamentals of PostgreSQL 16, including SQL statements, replication, and security
• Enhance your learning journey with the provided Docker images for practical hands-on exercises and tests at the end of each chapter
• Get new and improved examples, use-cases, and scenarios specifically for concepts like partitioning, replication, back-up and restore, cluster configuration, monitoring and others

Book Description

The latest edition of this PostgreSQL book will help you to start using PostgreSQL from absolute scratch, helping you to quickly understand the internal workings of the database. With a structured approach and practical examples, go on a journey that covers the basics, from SQL statements and how to run server-side programs, to configuring, managing, securing, and optimizing database performance.

This new edition will not only help you get to grips with all the recent changes within the PostgreSQL ecosystem but will also dig deeper into concepts like partitioning and replication with a fresh set of examples. The book is also equipped with Docker images for each chapter which makes the learning experience faster and easier. Starting with the absolute basics of databases, the book sails through to advanced concepts like window functions, logging, auditing, extending the database, configuration, partitioning, and replication. It will also help you seamlessly migrate your existing database system to PostgreSQL and contains a dedicated chapter on disaster recovery. Each chapter ends with practice questions to test your learning at regular intervals.

By the end of this book, you will be able to install, configure, manage, and develop applications against a PostgreSQL database.

What you will learn

• Gain a deeper understanding of PostgreSQL internals like transactions, MVCC, security and replication
• Enhance data management with PostgreSQL’s latest partitioning features
• Choose the right replication strategy for your database
• See concrete examples of how to migrate data from another database, perform backups and restores, monitor your PostgreSQL installation and more
• Ensure security and compliance with schemas and user privileges
• Create customized database functions and extensions
• Get to grips with server-side programming, window functions, and triggers

Who this book is for

Learning PostgresSQL 16 book is for anyone interested in learning about the PostgreSQL database from scratch. Anyone looking to build robust data warehousing applications and scale the database for high-availability and performance using the latest features of PostgreSQL will also find this book useful. Although prior knowledge of PostgreSQL is not required, familiarity with databases is expected.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to PostgreSQL
2. Getting to Know Your Cluster
3. Managing Users and Connections
4. Basic Statements
5. Advanced Statements
6. Window Functions
7. Server-Side Programming
8. Triggers and Rules
9. Partitioning
10. Users, Roles, and Database Security
11. Transactions, MVCC, WALs, and Checkpoints
12. Extending the Database- the Extension Ecosystem
13. Query Tuning, Indexes, and Performance Optimization
14. Logging and Auditing
15. Backup and Restore
16. Configuration and Monitoring

17: Physical Replication

18: Logical Replication

19: Useful Tools and Extensions

About the Authors

Luca Ferrari has been passionate about computer science since the Commodore 64 era, and today holds a master’s degree (with honors) and a Ph.D. from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He has written several research papers, technical articles, and book chapters. In 2011, he was named an Adjunct Professor by Nipissing University. An avid Unix user, he is a strong advocate of open source, and in his free time, he collaborates with a few projects. He met PostgreSQL back in release 7.3; he was a founder and former president of the Italian PostgreSQL Community (ITPUG). He also talks regularly at technical conferences and events and delivers professional training.

Enrico Pirozzi has been passionate about computer science since he was a 13-year-old, his first computer was a Commodore 64, and today he holds a master’s degree from the University of Bologna. He has participated as a speaker at national and international conferences on PostgreSQL. He met PostgreSQL back in release 7.2, he was a co-founder of the first PostgreSQL Italian mailing list and the first Italian PostgreSQL website, and he talks regularly at technical conferences and events and delivers professional training. Right now, he is employed as a PostgreSQL database administrator at Nexteam (Zucchetti Group S.p.a.).