Supporting a New PostgreSQL Version in Your Extension - A Citus Case Study
Thursday, October 24 at 14:40–15:30
In this talk, we will explore strategies for supporting a new PostgreSQL major version in PG extensions, using Citus as a case study. Citus is a distributed database extension for PostgreSQL. Generally, PG extensions allow users to add custom functionality, enhance database capabilities, and optimize performance. Because of this, extensions often have complex hooks into the PostgreSQL query planner and executor, requiring significant effort to remain updated rather than becoming a fork.
We'll cover everything from reviewing release notes and identifying compatibility issues to making code adjustments for major query planner/executor changes and minor crashes due to changes in catalog tables. This talk provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of keeping Citus up-to-date with Postgres 15 and 16 (and the progress on 17beta2). The lessons learned and strategies used will merge into practical tips for managing similar issues in other PostgreSQL extensions.
