Re: 8.0 Press Release: the PRODUCTIVE thread. - Mailing list pgsql-advocacy

Josh Berkus wrote:

>Folks,
>
>(Reposting this because the Advocacy list seems to have eaten all of my e-mail
>from this morning)
>
>I'd like to start a new thread for those who are actually interested in
>helping get a press release done instead of arguing about minutia.
>
>I'm copying what I posted earlier since many people will have stopped reading
>the original thread.
>
>Maybe we could discuss
>more pertinent stuff, like the general theme of the release?
>
>
>
Here is my perspective.  This would make a lousy press release but maybe
it will provide someone some inspiration.

I have been using PostgreSQL since the 6.5 days.  It seems to me that
PostgreSQL has always been the most reliable and powerful open source
database manager, but was very difficult to use in the 6.5 days.  It
seems to me that the PostgreSQL has generally been removing those
aspects of it which have caused me headaches in the past.  These have
included such things as allowing columns to be renamed or dropped, etc.

8.0 seems to be different.  While it does remove a few things that make
admin's lives easier, this seems to be a release pushing a wide variety
of new features aiming at new markets.  This includes among other
things, a Windows port, Point in Time Recovery, etc.

If I could choose a theme, it would be reaching out to new markets.

Best Wishes,
Chris Travers
Metatron Technology Consulting

>Every press release, if you want it to be read and quoted, needs to tell a
>story.   Last release, it was that PostgreSQL was now equivalent to the Big
>Boys and it was time for migration.   I think we did a good job getting that
>message across.
>
>This release, I think our theme should be corporate involvement.  Aside from
>the specific features (which speak for themselves) what's news over the last
>year is the amount of interest and sponsorship we've received from various
>commercial entities, including feature sponsors SRA, FJ and Afilias and code
>contributor Command Prompt, as well as our existing sponsors like RH and
>PGInc and probably others I'm forgetting.
>
>The reason to use this theme -- aside from attracting reporters -- is that
>"partnerships" is currently widely perceived to be a weakness of our project.
>MySQL, in contrast, has done a job of broadcasting whenever they so much as
>have lunch with an exec from a major corporation -- as do many other
>commercialized OSS projects and start-ups.   This has resulted in an
>impression (based on my conversations at LWE and elsewhere) that PostgreSQL
>does not have "business momentum".   I think we can turn that around.
>
>I find this idea more appealing that our other thematic options for the
>release:
>1) PostgreSQL on Windows: while a major step forward, I think this will sell
>itself;
>2) Faster Development than anyone else:  also true, but harder to convince
>reporters.
>
>
>
>>I think Slony deserves its own Press Release ... its big enough of an
>>add-on that including it as part of the 8.0.0 release will shift focus
>>from what 8.0.0 has accomplished ...
>>
>>
>
>Not an option.  Afilias, the sponsor, does not want to do a Slony release yet,
>and it's their call.
>
>
>