December 05
Few things are more confusing to new PostgreSQL users than creating an index, running a query, and seeing PostgreSQL completely ignore it. We’ll walk through the most common reasons why PostgreSQL chooses a sequential scan, even when an index exists all while using clear examples.
December 04
PostgreSQL’s EXPLAIN and EXPLAIN ANALYZE commands are the gateway to understanding how a query actually executes. If you’ve ever looked at a query plan and felt like you were staring into the Matrix, this guide will help you make sense of it!
December 02
If you're new to PostgreSQL, the psql shell can feel intimidating — but it shouldn’t. You only need a handful of commands to navigate, inspect objects, run queries, and troubleshoot. These are the 12 psql commands you will actually use all the time!
December 01
It sounds mysterious, but VACUUM is actually one of the most important maintenance operations in PostgreSQL. This guide explains what VACUUM does, why autovacuum sometimes fails, what bloat really is, and how to check your database for problems — in simple, plain-English terms.
November 30
PostgreSQL offers multiple index types, each optimized for different query patterns and data shapes. Understanding which one to use is one of the highest-ROI skills in database engineering.
November 29
SQL is powerful — but even experienced developers run into subtle mistakes that affect correctness, performance, or readability. In this article, we walk through the most common SQL pitfalls using PostgreSQL and the Pagila sample database, along with practical ways to avoid them.
I’ve spent over 20 years optimizing databases and designing rock-solid data systems. Now I’m sharing what I’ve learned to help others build faster, smarter, and more reliable platforms.
