Introduction:
I started programming on system nobody knows nowadays. Later on I was working with a lot of different RDBMs and became a fan of COBOL because it is easy to work with data. Because of my early adoption of PostgreSQL I was moved into DBA roles.
Currently I co-manage the PostgreSQL Telegram channel https://t.me/postgreschat. In addition I am a member of the PostgreSQL Europe Diversity Committee.
Journey in PostgreSQL:
I started using PostgreSQL in 1998 for personal projects. At that time I have been working with different RDBMs like Oracle, MS SQL Server, Sybase to name a few.
But as the license cost was horrible, I started to look for an open source one. At the time I already used Linux for some years. But PostgreSQL did not work on Linux at the time, therefore I used a BSD Unix on an old computer. And PostgreSQL did the job.
Can you share a pivotal moment or project in your PostgreSQL career that has been particularly meaningful to you?
The first project I was able to bring PostgreSQL into that company included PostGIS. Showing other people what could be done with them was fun and surprised people.
As there was only me with some PostgreSQL knowledge, that was the start of doing DBA jobs.
Contributions and Achievements:
I regularly participate in translations for the press releases into German of new PostgreSQL versions.
In addition I work on some extensions, one adds some missing functions, two others are foreign data wrappers, you may find them on https://github.com/sjstoelting.
An important thing to me was to get childcare available at PostgreSQL Conference Europe. The first one we had it was in 2022 in Berlin.
Have you faced any challenges in your work with PostgreSQL, and how did you overcome them?
I attended my first PostgreSQL conference in 2008, but it took until 2016 until I gave my first talk at a conference. The problem at the time was a lack of examples, I have been one of very few women attending and women giving talks was rare.
It is very good, that this has changed, but there is more work to do.
Community Involvement:
I give talks at conferences, have been honoured to be on several program committees, this year it has been Nordic PGDay and the coming PGDay Napoli. In addition I was part of some Code of Conduct committees.
In addition I write blog posts about PostgreSQL related subjects. Several ones are based on questions that came up often on a PostgreSQL Telegram channel, https://t.me/postgreschat, that I co-administrate.
Since last year I am a member of the Diversity Committee of PostgreSQL Europe, https://www.postgresql.eu/diversity/
Can you share your experience with mentoring or supporting other women in the PostgreSQL ecosystem?
Lætitia Avrot started a Postgres Women informal group and she asked me to join. I sponsored tickets to women for some conferences. In addition I try to motivate women to give talks and to attend PostgreSQL conferences.
Insights and Advice:
Don’t be shy, do what you like, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.
Are there any resources (books, courses, forums) you’d recommend to someone looking to deepen their PostgreSQL knowledge?
At FOSDEM PGDay I gave a lightning talk about books, you’ll find my recommendations on https://gitlab.com/sjstoelting/talks/-/tree/main/PostgreSQL-Books.FOSDEM-PGDay-2025.
Crunchy Data has a good self learning platform at https://www.crunchydata.com/developers/tutorials where you can run commands in a browser.
And there is a Telegram channel I have already mentioned above, https://t.me/postgreschat.
To get more knowledge of SQL, take a look at Markus Winands https://modern-sql.com.
A starting point for looking something PostgreSQL up, should always be the documentation https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/index.html.
Looking Forward:
There is a patch that got committed recently titled RETURNING OLD/NEW VALUES, https://commitfest.postgresql.org/patch/4723/. In fact it will bring back data time travelling to PostgreSQL, a feature that has been removed in version 6.3.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals within the PostgreSQL community that you can share?
Improving diversity in as many ways as possible.
Personal Reflection:
The PostgreSQL community is a nice place to be, I made friends with some nice people there. Without that I would have left PostgreSQL behind.
How do you balance your professional and personal life, especially in a field that is constantly evolving?
What I love about IT is, that one never stops learning. For example there hasn’t been a single PostgreSQL conference, where I did not learn something new.
Also do some tourist things in the places, that you visit to attend a conference.
Enjoy your life, meet friends, have some hobbies, mine are photographing and kayaking.
Message to the Community:
Visit conferences, get in contact with the nice PostgreSQL people. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something, you can!
Our idea explores the implementation of AI-driven query optimization in PostgreSQL, addressing the limitations of traditional optimization methods in handling modern database complexities. We present an innovative approach using reinforcement learning for automated index selection and query plan optimization. Our system leverages PostgreSQL’s pg_stat_statements for collecting query metrics and employs HypoPG for index simulation, while a neural network model learns optimal indexing strategies from historical query patterns. Through comprehensive testing on various workload scenarios, we will validate the model’s ability to adapt to dynamic query patterns and complex analytical workloads. The research also examines the scalability challenges and practical considerations of implementing AI optimization in production environments.
Our findings establish a foundation for future developments in self-tuning databases while offering immediate practical benefits for PostgreSQL deployments. This work contributes to the broader evolution of database management systems, highlighting the potential of AI in creating more efficient and adaptive query optimization solutions.
This talk provides an introductory overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), exploring key concepts and their application in building intelligent systems. It will highlight the essential AI/ML techniques, such as supervised and unsupervised learning, and discuss practical use cases in modern industries. The session also focuses on how PostgreSQL, with its powerful extensions like PostgresML, TimescaleDB, and PostGIS, supports the development of AI-powered applications. By leveraging PostgreSQL’s ability to handle complex datasets and integrate machine learning models, participants will learn how to build scalable, intelligent solutions directly within the database environment.
Success is a multiplier of Action, External Factors and Destiny.
Out of these three, the only controllable aspect is our action. Again, action is the result of our EQ, IQ, SQ, and WQ (Willingness Quotient) together.
We all want to be successful and keep trying to motivate ourselves with external factors. We read inspirational books, listen to great personalities, and whenever possible upgrade ourselves with more knowledge and the list goes on.
Indeed these are excellent motivators, but in this process, we forget the most important source of energy, YOU!
We read other stories to feel inspired, thinking “I am not enough!”
But, the day we start accepting ourselves, introspect, understand, and align our life purpose with our routine, we find the internal POWER. This is a continuous source of motivation and energy which we need at down moments. When we feel, lonely, stuck and seek help, our inner voice is the greatest companion.
But, how many times do we consciously think about our “Subconscious”?
“Journey to Self” is our structured coaching program where we take back focus from the outside and delve deep inside to find our inner strength. Focusing on self-acceptance and personal growth
I believe everyone has POWER within them!
Let’s be the POWERHOUSE!
Human, AI, and Personalized User Experience for DB Observability: A Composable Approach
Database users across various technical levels are frequently frustrated by the time-consuming and inefficient process of identifying the root causes of issues. This process often involves navigating multiple systems or dashboards, leading to delays in finding solutions and potential downstream impacts on operations.
The challenge is compounded by the varying levels of expertise among users. It is essential to strike the right balance between specialized and generalized experiences. Oversimplification can result in the loss of critical information, while an overwhelming amount of data can alienate certain users.
Developers and designers are constantly navigating these trade-offs to deliver optimal user experiences. The integration of AI introduces an additional layer of complexity. While AI can provide personalized experiences within databases, it is crucial to maintain user trust and transparency in the process.
The concept of personalized composable observability offers a potential solution. By combining the strengths of human expertise, information balance, and AI-driven personalization, we can create intuitive and user-friendly experiences. This approach allows users to tailor their observability tools and workflows to their specific needs and preferences.