Synopsis: PostgreSQL is a powerful, enterprise-grade open source database system that is production-proven to multiple terabytes with OLTP workloads.
PostgreSQL - The Open Source Database
It is freely available for easy on-premise installation on all major server operating systems. Additionally, it is offered as a scalable database cloud service (DBaaS) from trusted providers like Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL, which offers self-serve control with cost-effective high availability, security, & scalability. Amazon also provides a robust Data Migration Service and Schema Conversion Tool to facilitate migration and synchronization of data from other databases.
Oracle shops looking to migrate their applications – unchanged – to a more cost-effective database find that the commercially-supported PostgreSQL Plus from Enterprise DB provides virtually seamless Oracle runtime compatibility with dramatically lower DB license fees.
PostgreSQL is the open source database of choice for open source projects that require OLTP scalability, concurrency and data integrity–including the Openbravo ERP Platform (which also natively supports the Oracle database). While PostgreSQL includes its own powerful tools for administration such as pgAdmin, it also includes robust ODBC and JDBC drivers, enabling access from popular cross-database administration tools like DB Visualizer.
At Agility ERP we have deep experience over the years with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL. We recently completed a major project to covert a client from Oracle DB to PostgreSQL for a large supply chain / logistics project supporting the United States Department of Defense. This resulted in the elimination of Oracle license fees and a noticeable improvement to performance / user experience.
The Extensible Database
PostgreSQL was designed to be more extensible than traditional relational databases. One of its distinguishing features is an extension system that allows the installation of 3rd-party/community modules that provide new functionality such as data types and functions. The strength of this extension ecosystem has made PostgreSQL indispensable in solving tough data and business problems.
As an example, one of the the most popular extensions is PostGIS, which brings a best-in-class (amongst SQL databases) geospatial toolkit. We leveraged this extension in our Tank Wash Directory to deliver powerful geographic search capabilities that make it quicker for users to find what they need to.
PGVector is another exciting extension that allows storage of vectors (such as those from openAI embedding models) and similarity search. This can power all sorts of ai-flavored applications from semantic search to retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) without the cost and lock-in of using a separate vector database.
At Agility ERP, we love this because it opens options for composing advanced data and AI capabilities in your ERP/IT environment while retaining an uncompromising stance on data safety.
For cloud architects and CTOs, PostgreSQL's extensibility offers both immediate and long-term benefits. In the short term, it enables building scalable applications that handle complex workloads at the database level. Long-term, it gives businesses confidence that their database is adaptable enough to handle novel needs that may eventually arise (like genAI support) without sacrificing stability or robustness of the core database.