PostgreSQL Versions

PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database management system that has been in development since the 1980s.

There have been many versions of PostgreSQL released over the years, each with its own set of improvements, bug fixes, and new features.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the most significant releases of PostgreSQL, starting with the latest version and working our way back to the original release.

PostgreSQL 14

PostgreSQL 14 is the latest version of the database management system, released in September 2021. It includes improvements to performance, security, and administration, making it an excellent choice for high-volume, mission-critical applications.

Some of the key features of PostgreSQL 14 include:

• Improved performance for queries that use aggregates, JOINs, and partitioning.
• Enhanced security features, including stronger password hashing algorithms and the ability to disable user-defined functions.
• New administration tools, such as pg_stat_monitor, which provides real-time monitoring of database performance.

PostgreSQL 13

PostgreSQL 13 was released in September 2020 and introduced several new features, including support for incremental backups and improved performance for indexing and partitioning.

Some of the other notable features of PostgreSQL 13 include:

• Improved performance for queries with aggregation and partitioning.
• Improved parallelism for CREATE INDEX and B-tree index scans.
• Support for generated columns and updateable views.

PostgreSQL 12

PostgreSQL 12 was released in October 2019 and brought with it significant performance improvements, including better parallelism support, and improved indexing.

Other notable features of PostgreSQL 12 include:

• Support for SQL/JSON path expressions.
• Improved partitioning functionality.
• Better handling of stored procedures and triggers.

PostgreSQL 11

PostgreSQL 11 was released in October 2018 and introduced several new features, including support for just-in-time (JIT) compilation, which can improve the performance of certain queries.

Other notable features of PostgreSQL 11 include:

• Better partitioning support, with added features such as partition pruning.
• Improved support for parallelism.
• Better transaction management and concurrency control.

PostgreSQL 10

PostgreSQL 10 was released in October 2017 and introduced several new features, including logical replication, which provides a way to replicate databases without using physical replication.

Other notable features of PostgreSQL 10 include:

• Improved support for parallel queries.
• Better performance for sort and partitioning operations.
• Improved support for JSON and other NoSQL data types.

PostgreSQL 9

PostgreSQL 9 was released in September 2010 and represented a significant upgrade over previous versions, with new features such as support for window functions and common table expressions.

Other notable features of PostgreSQL 9 include:

• Improved support for foreign data wrappers, allowing data from other databases to be accessed seamlessly within PostgreSQL.
• Better support for concurrency control and transaction management.
• Improved performance for large-scale databases.

PostgreSQL 8

PostgreSQL 8 was released in January 2005 and was a major upgrade over earlier versions, with new features such as support for tablespaces and point-in-time recovery.

Other notable features of PostgreSQL 8 include:

• Improved support for indexing and query optimization.
• Better performance for large-scale databases.
• Improved support for stored procedures and triggers.

PostgreSQL 7

PostgreSQL 7 was released in May 2000 and brought with it significant improvements, including better support for Unicode and an improved query optimizer.

Other notable features of PostgreSQL 7 include:

• Improved support for network communication and transaction management.
• Better performance for large-scale databases.
• Improved support for stored procedures and triggers.

Conclusion

PostgreSQL has come a long way since its initial release, with each new version bringing significant improvements and new features. Whether you are working with large-scale databases or small-scale applications, PostgreSQL is an excellent choice that offers robust performance, stability, and security.