Re: Time to scale up? - Mailing list pgsql-advocacy

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006, Paul Ramsey wrote:

> Yes, that's what I mean, only at www.postgresql.org and with integrated
> documentation as well as packaging.
>
> The "PostgreSQL is a kernel" metaphor breaks down pretty fast, given that
> PostgreSQL sans add-ons is quite useful, to the extent that (as many many
> people have previously written) the fact that add-ons even *exist* is news to
> lots of PostgreSQL users.  This is not a misconception someone trying to use
> "Linux" (just the kernel) would ever run into.
>
> I think any honest assessment of the "software evaluation experience" around
> PostgreSQL would have to admit that (a) people start at the main PostgreSQL
> web site and (b) the existence and overall utility of the various add-ons are
> pretty well hidden and (c) if they were less well hidden people might have a
> better initial impression of the available capabilities of the overall
> product.
>
> Pointing out that your site over there does a better job of it does not make
> the main site any less unhelpful.

Actually, using the 'kernel vs add ons' metaphor, it would make more sense
to make a series of smaller 'distributions', tailored to specific markets
... ie. a Java distribution that includes JDBC+PL/Java, but doesn't
include the other PLs ... or a Ruby package that includes the Ruby
interface and pl/ruby ... or a ... etc ...

Not one distribution for all tastes, but individual distributions tailored
to specific groups / programmers ...


>
> P
>
> Joshua D. Drake wrote:
>>
>>> If we want PostgreSQL to "look bigger" from the outside, it is not
>>> necessary to actually *make* it bigger, "looking" bigger is sufficient.
>>>
>>> Imagine a download page that included:
>>>
>>> postgresql-database-8.1.4
>>> postgresql-replication-1.0.2
>>> postgresql-gis-1.1.3
>>> postgresql-pooling-1.0.3
>>
>> You mean like www.mammothpostgresql.org?
>>
>> As mentioned previously. PostgreSQL is similar to a kernel. It is not a
>> distribution.
>>
>>
>>
>> Joshua D. Drake
>>
>
>
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