cloud-native Archives

Winsage

January 5, 2026

Microsoft Bets on Windows as AI Agent Hub to Revive Dominance

Microsoft Corp. is redefining its Windows operating system as a central hub for artificial intelligence agents, aiming to create an ecosystem where AI can autonomously manage tasks and integrate into user workflows. This strategy, announced in 2025, seeks to attract developers by providing tools like Agent 365 for proactive task management. However, challenges related to privacy, security, and user trust persist, as AI agents require extensive access to personal data. Microsoft is embedding AI agents at the OS level, allowing third-party developers to deploy agents that interact with Windows features. The company’s ecosystem includes Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio, which support agent development. Despite having 1.4 billion devices, Microsoft faces competition from Apple and Google, and must navigate privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny. The success of this initiative depends on developer adoption and user acceptance, with potential risks of job displacement and over-reliance on automation.

Tech Optimizer

November 21, 2025

Azure HorizonDB: Microsoft goes big with PostgreSQL

Microsoft has introduced a new variant of PostgreSQL for cloud environments, aimed at users migrating from community versions to Azure for a fully integrated experience. Shireesh Thota noted that users desire operational flexibility and enhanced performance, with many opting to move their PostgreSQL databases to Azure. Azure Database for PostgreSQL is suitable for users looking for a straightforward migration, while HorizonDB is designed for AI-native and cloud-native workloads, offering significant performance improvements. HorizonDB showcases a threefold increase in throughput for transactional workloads compared to open-source PostgreSQL, can scale up to 3072 cores, and provides up to 128TB of storage with sub-millisecond commit times. Its architecture separates compute and storage, allowing independent scaling based on user needs.

Tech Optimizer

November 20, 2025

Microsoft launches distributed PostgreSQL to rival AWS

Microsoft has launched a new distributed PostgreSQL database service called Azure HorizonDB, which is fully compatible with open source PostgreSQL and designed to enhance performance, scalability, and availability. The service supports autoscaling storage up to 128 TB and compute capabilities of up to 3,072 vCores, with a multi-zone commit latency of less than one millisecond. It features advanced AI capabilities, including DiskANN vector indexes and AI model management, but does not currently offer a serverless model. The launch coincides with a rise in PostgreSQL adoption, with 58 percent of professional developers using it. Competitors in the distributed PostgreSQL market include CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, and Google and AWS's offerings. Microsoft has also introduced two PostgreSQL extensions aimed at enhancing its database services.

Tech Optimizer

November 7, 2025

Reinventing PostgreSQL for the Next Generation of Apps

Enterprises are modernizing their databases due to latency issues, the need for global uptime, and licensing pressures. PostgreSQL is emerging as a preferred alternative to traditional database solutions like Oracle and SAP, focusing on reliability, control, and efficient management of modern workloads, including AI and edge applications. pgEdge, an open-source Postgres vendor, emphasizes that migration to PostgreSQL is about ensuring flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in. PostgreSQL's governance model, independent of any single company, is a significant advantage, particularly in light of licensing audits and forced upgrades. PostgreSQL has a large developer community and is a mainstream enterprise technology, with tools like pgAdmin widely used. Concerns about operational burdens with open source are addressed by extensions like pgEdge, which enhance PostgreSQL's capabilities for high availability and seamless multi-cloud deployment. pgEdge operationalizes PostgreSQL for distributed use, automating upgrades, backups, and point-in-time recovery, leading to a lower total cost of ownership compared to proprietary models. Modern applications require edge-native databases to operate close to users, reducing latency. pgEdge supports multimaster PostgreSQL across geographically distributed clusters, allowing local read and write capabilities while maintaining data consistency. It builds on PostgreSQL’s logical replication without forking it, ensuring compatibility and consistency. pgEdge facilitates database automation on Kubernetes, managing backups, recovery, and upgrades, making it easier for platform teams. Organizations can start with a simple setup and scale to a multiregion architecture as needed, using the same PostgreSQL stack throughout. pgEdge offers container builds that cater to enterprise needs for geospatial intelligence and AI workflows. As AI applications increasingly run at the edge, pgEdge provides the necessary performance and coherence for edge-native AI. PostgreSQL's SQL compatibility and ACID compliance ease the migration process from systems like Oracle and SAP. The extensive user base across various sectors simplifies hiring PostgreSQL expertise. Combining PostgreSQL with pgEdge offers a strategic modernization pathway for enterprises needing reliable, Kubernetes-native operations and AI-ready extensions, freeing them from vendor lock-in and high licensing costs. This integration transforms PostgreSQL into a globally distributed, cloud-native control plane for data, benefiting architects, CFOs, and developers alike.

Tech Optimizer

November 5, 2025

pgEdge Adds Ability to Distribute Postgres Across Multiple Kubernetes Clusters

pgEdge has enhanced its open-source Postgres database distribution to enable deployment across multiple Kubernetes clusters, allowing IT teams to deploy logical instances of Postgres databases in a distributed computing environment. This capability facilitates horizontal scaling, reduces latency, and improves performance. IT teams can choose between two deployment options: a minimal version with essential pgEdge extensions and a standard edition with additional extensions like pgVector, PostGIS, and pgAudit. The core database is distributed under an OSI-approved PostgreSQL License, with pgEdge Containers on Kubernetes available via the GitHub Container Registry. The new deployment method involves distributed containers and is supported by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). pgEdge has also updated its Helm chart to support pgEdge Containers on Kubernetes and Patroni for high-availability Postgres instances. The distribution extent depends on the application's nature and network bandwidth, with at least one organization successfully distributing a Postgres instance across 20 clusters. There is a growing trend in cloud-native database deployments, particularly for Postgres, indicating an increasing demand for collaboration between database administrators and DevOps teams managing Kubernetes clusters.

Tech Optimizer

November 2, 2025

Meet the Team Behind Snowflake Postgres

In June 2025, Snowflake acquired Crunchy Data to integrate Postgres into its offerings. Crunchy Data, founded in 2012, focused on enhancing Postgres for enterprise environments, creating a security-first distribution called Crunchy Certified PostgreSQL. They introduced the Postgres Operator for Kubernetes in 2017 and launched Crunchy Bridge, a fully managed cloud Postgres service, in 2020. The Crunchy Data team has made significant contributions to the Postgres ecosystem, including enhancements to core functionality and extensions like PostGIS and pg_partman. Key team members have held leadership roles in the PostgreSQL community. Snowflake Postgres aims to unify transactional and analytical workloads, allowing organizations to run applications at scale while leveraging data for analytics, machine learning, and AI.

Tech Optimizer

October 23, 2025

Percona Releases Inaugural State of Open Source Database Management Report

Percona has released its first State of Open Source Database Management Report, which includes insights from industry executives and technical leaders. The report identifies four critical areas: the rise of polyglot database environments, the necessity for unified management approaches, the influence of AI and cloud-native computing, and the complexity of open source licensing. Key findings include: - 78% of technical professionals surveyed consider PostgreSQL crucial for AI/ML initiatives, with 25% labeling it as “mission critical.” - SaaS costs are rising at nearly five times the rate of standard inflation, prompting experts to recommend established open source solutions like PostgreSQL and MySQL to reduce total cost of ownership and avoid vendor lock-in. - Cloud-native database deployments using open source technologies like Kubernetes are essential for scalability, performance, and resilience. - The demand for unified, platformized architectures is critical for operational efficiency as organizations adopt diverse database management systems.

Winsage

October 22, 2025

The Windows 10 end-game: how IT leaders can turn migration pressure into strategic advantage

Many small and medium-sized businesses still rely heavily on Windows 10 as the deadline for Microsoft to discontinue support approaches. Microsoft’s hardware requirements for Windows 11, including TPM 2.0, aim to establish modern security standards. Peripheral compatibility issues arise as legacy equipment often depends on outdated Windows drivers. Cyber insurance providers are limiting coverage for unsupported operating systems, leading to premium increases for organizations. Successful migrations to Windows 11 can leverage application modernization opportunities, with cloud-native alternatives providing enhanced functionality and security. Windows 11's security architecture supports zero-trust implementations more effectively than Windows 10. The integration of Windows 11's security features with Conditional Access policies allows for improved security controls. Organizations that migrate early can avoid resource scarcity and higher costs associated with the impending deadline. A structured implementation strategy for late-stage planning includes rapid assessment, strategic pilot design, and parallel track implementation for different user categories. The October 2025 deadline for Windows 10 end-of-support emphasizes the need for strategic migration planning to avoid security vulnerabilities and operational risks.

Tech Optimizer

October 8, 2025

IBM and CockroachDB partner to bring PostgreSQL to mainframe

IBM has entered into an OEM agreement with Cockroach Labs to modernize mission-critical applications that have relied on mainframe hardware by providing a cloud-native PostgreSQL database compatible with hybrid environments. The collaboration aims to facilitate the transition to cloud-native and Kubernetes environments without rewriting core applications, although some intermediary components may still be needed. CockroachDB will be accessible on LinuxONE or Linux on Z mainframes, allowing customers to modernize in place while maintaining IBM hardware. Cockroach Labs is partnering with automation technology providers to ease migrations, but experts express skepticism about the complexities of migrating existing applications from Db2 to CockroachDB. Additionally, Cockroach Labs has released an open benchmark showing that CockroachDB has five times the resilience of Oracle's Globally Distributed Database, with less downtime.

Tech Optimizer

September 29, 2025

PostgreSQL 18 Released: 3x Faster Reads, Async I/O, and More

PostgreSQL 18 was released on September 25, 2025, featuring an Asynchronous I/O (AIO) subsystem that can deliver read performance from storage up to three times faster. The AIO subsystem allows multiple I/O requests to be processed concurrently, improving operations in data-intensive applications. The update includes query efficiency enhancements like index skip scans, which can reduce query execution time by up to 50% in scenarios with frequent value repetitions. Virtual generated columns compute values on-the-fly, conserving storage space. The uuidv7() function generates time-ordered UUIDs for better indexing and read performance. The RETURNING clause now captures both OLD and NEW row values in UPDATE statements. The upgrade process is less disruptive, with faster major-version transitions and reduced vacuuming needs. OAuth 2.0 authentication has been integrated for enhanced security. PostgreSQL 18 advances SQL compliance with enhancements to the MERGE command and improved text processing functions. New hooks for custom behaviors facilitate deeper integrations. The release emphasizes usability with the new EXPLAIN (PLAN_CACHE) option for analyzing query plan caching.