Thread: Re: How Do You Pronounce "PostgreSQL"?
On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Jan Wieck wrote:
> The Hermit Hacker wrote:
> >
> > what's wrong wth "Post-Gres-QL"?
> >
> > I find it soooo simple to pronounce *shrug*
>
> Mee too. And I'm not sure if anybody pronounces PG the same
> way. Is it PeeGee or PiG (in which case we'd have the wrong
> animal in our logo).
Actually, the one that gets me is those that refer to it as Postgres
... postgres was a project out of Berkeley way back in the 80's, early
90's ... hell, it was based on a PostQuel language ... this ain't
postgres, its only based on it :(
> >
> Jan
>
> >
> > On Sun, 20 Aug 2000, David Lloyd-Jones wrote:
> >
> > > I'm putting on my suits-type suit for just a moment.
> > >
> > > In order to Conquer The Universe(tm) why don't we just call it "PG"?
> > >
> > > -dlj.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Marc G. Fournier ICQ#7615664 IRC Nick: Scrappy
> > Systems Administrator @ hub.org
> > primary: scrappy@hub.org secondary: scrappy@{freebsd|postgresql}.org
> >
>
>
> --
>
> #======================================================================#
> # It's easier to get forgiveness for being wrong than for being right. #
> # Let's break this rule - forgive me. #
> #================================================== JanWieck@Yahoo.com #
>
>
Marc G. Fournier ICQ#7615664 IRC Nick: Scrappy
Systems Administrator @ hub.org
primary: scrappy@hub.org secondary: scrappy@{freebsd|postgresql}.org
The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> wrote: > On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Jan Wieck wrote: > > > The Hermit Hacker wrote: > > > > > > what's wrong wth "Post-Gres-QL"? > > > > > > I find it soooo simple to pronounce *shrug* > > > > Mee too. And I'm not sure if anybody pronounces PG the same > > way. Is it PeeGee or PiG (in which case we'd have the wrong > > animal in our logo). > > Actually, the one that gets me is those that refer to it as Postgres > ... postgres was a project out of Berkeley way back in the 80's, early > 90's ... hell, it was based on a PostQuel language ... this ain't > postgres, its only based on it :( Personally, I say P-G-Sequel or Post-Grease-S-Q-L. And I have to say that "postgresql" has one of the worst names of any software I've ever encountered. I'm entirely in sympathy with the "suit" who suggested calling it "PG". I would go further and say that in the near future when some milestone is reached (say, the addition of outer joins?) it might be a good idea to mark the occasion with a name change of some sort. I cringe at the thought of the hassles involved with choosing a new name though. Openbase? Freebase? ACIDtrip? I think I like "Grease".
On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Joe Brenner wrote: > > The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> wrote: > > > On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Jan Wieck wrote: > > > > > The Hermit Hacker wrote: > > > > > > > > what's wrong wth "Post-Gres-QL"? > > > > > > > > I find it soooo simple to pronounce *shrug* > > > > > > Mee too. And I'm not sure if anybody pronounces PG the same > > > way. Is it PeeGee or PiG (in which case we'd have the wrong > > > animal in our logo). > > > > Actually, the one that gets me is those that refer to it as Postgres > > ... postgres was a project out of Berkeley way back in the 80's, early > > 90's ... hell, it was based on a PostQuel language ... this ain't > > postgres, its only based on it :( > > Personally, I say P-G-Sequel or Post-Grease-S-Q-L. > > And I have to say that "postgresql" has one of the worst > names of any software I've ever encountered. I'm entirely > in sympathy with the "suit" who suggested calling it "PG". > > I would go further and say that in the near future when some milestone > is reached (say, the addition of outer joins?) it might be a good idea > to mark the occasion with a name change of some sort. I don't think so ... we changed the name 4+ years ago, and, quite frankly, have worked for 4+ years at building an identity around that ... ppl know what PostgreSQL is, and what it represents ... could you imagine someone changing Apache, or Linux, or Oracle? I really don't see what is so hard about pronouncing Post-Gres-QL ... *shrug*
The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> writes:
> I don't think so ... we changed the name 4+ years ago, and, quite frankly,
> have worked for 4+ years at building an identity around that ... ppl know
> what PostgreSQL is, and what it represents ... could you imagine someone
> changing Apache, or Linux, or Oracle? I really don't see what is so hard
> about pronouncing Post-Gres-QL ... *shrug*
The name is certainly ugly, but it's got history behind it: it gives
appropriate credit to those who went before us. (Don't forget that
the roots of this project go back twenty-odd years.) There's unlikely
to be much support around here for changing the name, no matter what
alternative is offered.
FWIW, I say "post-gres-cue-ell", same as Marc.
regards, tom lane
On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Tom Lane wrote: > The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> writes: > > I don't think so ... we changed the name 4+ years ago, and, quite frankly, > > have worked for 4+ years at building an identity around that ... ppl know > > what PostgreSQL is, and what it represents ... could you imagine someone > > changing Apache, or Linux, or Oracle? I really don't see what is so hard > > about pronouncing Post-Gres-QL ... *shrug* > > The name is certainly ugly, but it's got history behind it: it gives > appropriate credit to those who went before us. (Don't forget that > the roots of this project go back twenty-odd years.) There's unlikely > to be much support around here for changing the name, no matter what > alternative is offered. > > FWIW, I say "post-gres-cue-ell", same as Marc. I think we need to get this put up on the main page in big bold letters as one of those "dictionary pronounciation" sort of things so that it the first thing that ppl learn when they hit our site :)
On Tue, 22 Aug 2000, The Hermit Hacker wrote: > On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Tom Lane wrote: > > > The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> writes: > > > I don't think so ... we changed the name 4+ years ago, and, quite frankly, > > > have worked for 4+ years at building an identity around that ... ppl know > > > what PostgreSQL is, and what it represents ... could you imagine someone > > > changing Apache, or Linux, or Oracle? I really don't see what is so hard > > > about pronouncing Post-Gres-QL ... *shrug* > > > > The name is certainly ugly, but it's got history behind it: it gives > > appropriate credit to those who went before us. (Don't forget that > > the roots of this project go back twenty-odd years.) There's unlikely > > to be much support around here for changing the name, no matter what > > alternative is offered. > > > > FWIW, I say "post-gres-cue-ell", same as Marc. > > I think we need to get this put up on the main page in big bold letters as > one of those "dictionary pronounciation" sort of things so that it the > first thing that ppl learn when they hit our site :) Or an embedded audio file? :) Vince. -- ========================================================================== Vince Vielhaber -- KA8CSH email: vev@michvhf.com http://www.pop4.net128K ISDN from $22.00/mo - 56K Dialup from $16.00/moat Pop4 Networking Online Campground Directory http://www.camping-usa.com Online Giftshop Superstore http://www.cloudninegifts.com ==========================================================================
The Hermit Hacker wrote: > > On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Tom Lane wrote: > > > The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> writes: > > > I don't think so ... we changed the name 4+ years ago, and, quite frankly, > > > have worked for 4+ years at building an identity around that ... ppl know > > > what PostgreSQL is, and what it represents ... could you imagine someone > > > changing Apache, or Linux, or Oracle? I really don't see what is so hard > > > about pronouncing Post-Gres-QL ... *shrug* > > > > The name is certainly ugly, but it's got history behind it: it gives > > appropriate credit to those who went before us. (Don't forget that > > the roots of this project go back twenty-odd years.) There's unlikely > > to be much support around here for changing the name, no matter what > > alternative is offered. > > > > FWIW, I say "post-gres-cue-ell", same as Marc. > > I think we need to get this put up on the main page in big bold letters as > one of those "dictionary pronounciation" sort of things so that it the > first thing that ppl learn when they hit our site :) We in spanish speaking areas, are clueless most of the times when pronouncing english names when speaking to non-english speakers, or when mixing english words with spanish words. As to PostgreSQL, I pronounce it (in spanish) "postgres" "s" "q" "l" inevitably doubling the "s", and hardly saying the "t". Alternatively, I'd just say "postgres" as most of the people hasn't ever heard about Berkeley's ages old project. Pronouncing it "postgre" "s" "q" "l" is hard in spanish as the "name" of the letter "s" is "ese", and so saying "postgre" "ese" "q" "l" is harder (and uglier) to pronounce than "postgres" "s" "q" "l". Regards, Haroldo.
> I would go further and say that in the near future when some > milestone is reached (say, the addition of outer joins?) it > might be a good idea to mark the occasion with a name change > of some sort. In my personal experience, out in the real world, people refer to it as "Postgres". The QL being a mouthful, and contrary to the common practice of pronouncing SQL as SEQUEL. While Marc points out that technically Postgres died when it left Berkeley, that discontinuity is really only something we choose to acknowledge. As Henry points out, SQL is only one feature that happened to be added. Apart from not owning the domain name, why shouldn't it just be "Postgres"?
On Wed, 23 Aug 2000, Chris Bitmead wrote: > > > I would go further and say that in the near future when some > > milestone is reached (say, the addition of outer joins?) it > > might be a good idea to mark the occasion with a name change > > of some sort. > > In my personal experience, out in the real world, people refer to it > as "Postgres". The QL being a mouthful, and contrary to the common > practice of pronouncing SQL as SEQUEL. While Marc points out that > technically Postgres died when it left Berkeley, that discontinuity is > really only something we choose to acknowledge. As Henry points out, > SQL is only one feature that happened to be added. Apart from not > owning the domain name, why shouldn't it just be "Postgres"? 4 years ago we discussed what to rename the project, since Postgres95 wasn't considerd a very "long term name" (kinda like Windows2000), and PostgreSQL was choosen, as it both represented our roots as well as what we've grown into ... we've spent 4 years now building up a market presence with that name, getting it known so that ppl know what it is ... changing it now is not an option. If PostgreSQL were considered a bad name, maybe ... look at MySQL with their new "MaxSQL" product ... but it isn't, and is growing stronger ...
The Hermit Hacker wrote: > 4 years ago we discussed what to rename the project, since Postgres95 > wasn't considerd a very "long term name" (kinda like Windows2000), and > PostgreSQL was choosen, as it both represented our roots as well as what > we've grown into ... we've spent 4 years now building up a market presence > with that name, Question: Did it work? Or are people really calling it Postgres instead? Kind of like Coca Cola. At some point in time they realised people weren't calling it Coca Cola anymore, they were calling it Coke. So instead of resisting the inevitable - trying to educate people to ask for a "Coca Cola", they accepted it, trademarked the name "Coke", and started putting "Coke" on all their products. > getting it known so that ppl know what it is ... changing > it now is not an option. If PostgreSQL were considered a bad name, maybe > ... look at MySQL with their new "MaxSQL" product ... but it isn't, and is > growing stronger ...
The Hermit Hacker <scrappy@hub.org> writes: >Actually, the one that gets me is those that refer to it as Postgres >... postgres was a project out of Berkeley way back in the 80's, early >90's ... hell, it was based on a PostQuel language ... this ain't >postgres, its only based on it :( Yes, and besides, if you call it Postgres, you are certain to offend the struggling Postgres community. Those PostQuel language zealots have enough problems keeping their technology alive as it is without people going around creating gratuitous brand confusion. -Michael Robinson
When someone asks me what RDBMS our company uses for most projects and I say post-gray 'Es Queue El' everyone always says "Huh? Post-what?" I love the product but the name is a bitch of a tongue twister. It's strange to say and doesn't roll off the tongue very well. Still, after I repeat myself a few times they generally end up calling it "Postgres" all on their own -- I guess there is some natural inclination for people to move from post-gray 'Es Queue El' to plain old "Postgres"... It's becoming more and more known even if it is a bit of a strange name at first so I think it will all work out just fine.. -Mitch ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Bitmead" <chrisb@nimrod.itg.telstra.com.au> To: "PostgreSQL HACKERS" <pgsql-hackers@postgreSQL.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 5:42 PM Subject: Re: [HACKERS] How Do You Pronounce "PostgreSQL"? > The Hermit Hacker wrote: > > > 4 years ago we discussed what to rename the project, since Postgres95 > > wasn't considerd a very "long term name" (kinda like Windows2000), and > > PostgreSQL was choosen, as it both represented our roots as well as what > > we've grown into ... we've spent 4 years now building up a market presence > > with that name, > > Question: Did it work? Or are people really calling it Postgres instead? > Kind of like Coca Cola. At some point in time they realised people > weren't calling it Coca Cola anymore, they were calling it Coke. So > instead of resisting the inevitable - trying to educate people to ask > for a "Coca Cola", they accepted it, trademarked the name "Coke", and > started putting "Coke" on all their products. > > > getting it known so that ppl know what it is ... changing > > it now is not an option. If PostgreSQL were considered a bad name, maybe > > ... look at MySQL with their new "MaxSQL" product ... but it isn't, and is > > growing stronger ... >
The Hermit Hacker wrote: > > On Mon, 21 Aug 2000, Jan Wieck wrote: > > > The Hermit Hacker wrote: > > > > > > what's wrong wth "Post-Gres-QL"? > > > > > > I find it soooo simple to pronounce *shrug* > > > > Mee too. And I'm not sure if anybody pronounces PG the same > > way. Is it PeeGee or PiG (in which case we'd have the wrong > > animal in our logo). > > Actually, the one that gets me is those that refer to it as Postgres I suspect that it is still at least 75% postgres codewize, no? > ... postgres was a project out of Berkeley way back in the 80's, early > 90's ... hell, it was based on a PostQuel language ... this ain't > postgres, its only based on it :( so postgres-QL is based on a project that is based on PostQuel as the ease of initial transition from PostQuel to SQL shows, it is not "based on" SQL, it just happens to use SQL as a query language. It did not even loose too much features in transition. IMHO PG is based on solid relational database technology. ----------- Hannu
From: "Mitch Vincent" <mitch@venux.net>
> When someone asks me what RDBMS our company uses for most projects and I
say
> post-gray 'Es Queue El' everyone always says "Huh? Post-what?"
>
> I love the product but the name is a bitch of a tongue twister. It's
strange
> to say and doesn't roll off the tongue very well.
Just a small detail for evvybuddy: "Postgres," -- dot-com, dot-net, and I
stopped checking after that -- have belonged to some company called, uh,
Great Bridge, in Norfolk Virginia, since April 20th.
I don't make these strange and wonderful stories up...
-dlj.
On Mon, Aug 21, 2000 at 07:55:00PM -0700, Joe Brenner wrote: ... > And I have to say that "postgresql" has one of the worst > names of any software I've ever encountered. I'm entirely > in sympathy with the "suit" who suggested calling it "PG". Like the tea-bags ;-)