Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PostgreSQL

Last updated:Sat Jan29 23:44:48 EST 2005

Last updated:Sun Jan30 20:25:19 EST 2005

Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (pgman@candle.pha.pa.us)

1.1) What is PostgreSQL? How is it pronounced?

PostgreSQL is pronounced Post-Gres-Q-L.

PostgreSQL is pronounced Post-Gres-Q-L, also called just Postgres.

PostgreSQL is an enhancement of the POSTGRES database management

system (and is still sometimes reffered to as simply "Postgres"), a

next-generation DBMS research prototype. While PostgreSQL retains the

powerful data model and rich data types of POSTGRES, it replaces the

PostQuel query language with an extended subset of SQL. PostgreSQL is

free and the complete source is available.

PostgreSQL is an object-relational database system that has the

features of traditional commercial database systems with enhancements

to be found in next-generation DBMS systems. PostgreSQL is free and

the complete source code is available.

PostgreSQL development is performed by a team of developers who all

subscribe to the PostgreSQL development mailing list. The current

coordinator is Marc G. Fournier (scrappy@PostgreSQL.org). (See section

1.6 on how to join). This team is now responsible for all development

of PostgreSQL. It is a community project and is not controlled by any

PostgreSQL development is performed by a team of mostly volunteer

developers spread throughout the world and communicating via the

Internet. It is a community project and is not controlled by any

company. To get involved, see the developer's FAQ at

http://www.postgresql.org/files/documentation/faqs/FAQ_DEV.html

The authors of PostgreSQL 1.01 were Andrew Yu and Jolly Chen. Many

others have contributed to the porting, testing, debugging, and

enhancement of the code. The original Postgres code, from which

PostgreSQL is derived, was the effort of many graduate students,

undergraduate students, and staff programmers working under the

direction of Professor Michael Stonebraker at the University of

California, Berkeley.

The original name of the software at Berkeley was Postgres. When SQL

functionality was added in 1995, its name was changed to Postgres95.

The name was changed at the end of 1996 to PostgreSQL.

1.2) What is the copyright on PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL is subject to the following COPYRIGHT:

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<H1>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for PostgreSQL</H1>

<P>Last updated:Sat Jan29 23:44:48 EST 2005</P>

<P>Last updated:Sun Jan30 20:25:19 EST 2005</P>

<P>Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (<Ahref=

"mailto:pgman@candle.pha.pa.us">pgman@candle.pha.pa.us</A>)

<H4><Aname="1.1">1.1</A>) What is PostgreSQL? How is it pronounced?</H4>

<P>PostgreSQL is pronounced<I>Post-Gres-Q-L</I>.</P>

<P>PostgreSQL is an enhancement of the POSTGRES database management

system (and is still sometimes reffered to as simply "Postgres"),

a next-generation<SMALL>DBMS</SMALL> research prototype.

While PostgreSQL retains the powerful data model and rich data

types of POSTGRES, it replaces the PostQuel query language with an

extended subset of<SMALL>SQL</SMALL>. PostgreSQL is free and the

complete source is available.</P>

<P>PostgreSQL development is performed by a team of

developers who all subscribe to the PostgreSQL development mailing

list. The current coordinator is Marc G. Fournier (<Ahref=

"mailto:scrappy@PostgreSQL.org">scrappy@PostgreSQL.org</A>). (See

section<ahref="#1.6">1.6</a> on how to join). This team is now

responsible for all development of PostgreSQL. It is a community

project and is not controlled by any company. To get involved, see

the developer's FAQ at<Ahref=

<P>PostgreSQL is pronounced<I>Post-Gres-Q-L</I>, also called just

<I>Postgres</I>.</P>

<P>PostgreSQL is an object-relational database system that has the

features of traditional commercial database systems with

enhancements to be found in next-generation<SMALL>DBMS</SMALL>

systems. PostgreSQL is free and the complete source code is

available.</P>

<P>PostgreSQL development is performed by a team of mostly volunteer

developers spread throughout the world and communicating via the

Internet. It is a community project and is not controlled by any

company. To get involved, see the developer's FAQ at<Ahref=

"http://www.postgresql.org/files/documentation/faqs/FAQ_DEV.html">

http://www.postgresql.org/files/documentation/faqs/FAQ_DEV.html</A>

<P>The authors of PostgreSQL 1.01 were Andrew Yu and Jolly Chen.

Many others have contributed to the porting, testing, debugging,

and enhancement of the code. The original Postgres code, from which

PostgreSQL is derived, was the effort of many graduate students,

undergraduate students, and staff programmers working under the

direction of Professor Michael Stonebraker at the University of

California, Berkeley.</P>

<P>The original name of the software at Berkeley was Postgres. When

<SMALL>SQL</SMALL> functionality was added in 1995, its name was

changed to Postgres95. The name was changed at the end of 1996 to

PostgreSQL.</P>

<H4><Aname="1.2">1.2</A>) What is the copyright on

PostgreSQL?</H4>