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From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2026

From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up

Sixteen years ago, the author began their PhD at UC Berkeley and was advised to focus on analytics rather than OLTP databases, which were considered solved. This led to the creation of Apache Spark and Databricks. However, during the development of Databricks, it was found that OLTP databases were not solved problems; they were difficult to scale and fragile. This realization led to the development of Lakebase, a serverless Postgres database designed with modern technology. Lakebase architecture separates the write-ahead log (WAL) and data files into independent, scalable services. The WAL is externalized to a service called SafeKeeper, which uses Paxos-based replication for durability, while data files are managed by PageServer, which stores them in cloud object storage. This design addresses challenges such as data loss, scaling, and performance interference between transactional and analytical workloads. Lakebase maintains compatibility with Postgres, offers unlimited storage, serverless compute, durable writes, and simpler high availability. It also introduces LTAP (Lake Transactional/Analytical Processing), which allows both transactional and analytical processing to operate on a single data copy in real time, eliminating the need for separate data copies and reducing costs. LTAP utilizes a unified storage layer that allows data to be materialized in both row and columnar formats, optimizing it for both transactional and analytical workloads. The system ensures that analytics can access the most current data without affecting transactional performance by using a log sequence number (LSN) to retrieve the latest changes. Unlike traditional CDC approaches, LTAP requires no explicit table replication, as all data is stored in a single governed copy. This architecture circumvents common issues faced by hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP) systems, such as incomplete feature sets, lack of ecosystem support, and performance contention. The Lakebase architecture has unlocked capabilities like unlimited storage, elastic compute, durable writes, and instant branching, with ongoing developments anticipated in the future.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2026

From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up

Sixteen years ago, the author began their PhD at UC Berkeley, where they were advised to focus on analytics rather than OLTP databases, which were considered a solved problem. However, upon developing Databricks, they found that OLTP databases were cumbersome, challenging to scale, and fragile. This led to the creation of Lakebase, a serverless Postgres database designed to address these issues by externalizing the write-ahead log (WAL) and data files into independent services. Lakebase architecture separates the WAL into a distributed service called SafeKeeper and data files into another service called PageServer, allowing for improved durability, scalability, and performance. This architecture eliminates data loss risks associated with disk failures and misconfigurations, simplifies high availability, and allows for elastic compute resources. Lakebase also introduces LTAP (Lake Transactional/Analytical Processing), which enables transactions and analytics to operate on a single data copy in real-time, avoiding the need for separate data copies and reducing costs. The system retains Postgres's ACID semantics while storing data in open columnar formats, making it accessible to both transactional and analytical engines without the delays and complexities of traditional replication methods. The architecture allows for unlimited storage, serverless compute, and instant branching, while ensuring that analytics can read the most current transactional data without affecting transactional workloads. LTAP aims to unify transactional and analytical processing by leveraging distinct compute engines for each workload while integrating at the storage layer.
Neoclouds, sovereign AI and Postgres: The new operating model for regulated enterprises
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

Neoclouds, sovereign AI and Postgres: The new operating model for regulated enterprises

Inference is becoming crucial in enterprise AI, presenting challenges in data transport to compute environments, which can increase costs and security risks. Enterprises aim to maintain data integrity and avoid multiple copies. Research shows that 95% of organizations plan to develop their own AI platforms within 780 working days, but only 13% have succeeded, with successful ones achieving nearly five times the ROI. Leaders distinguish themselves through infrastructure strategy, favoring a sovereign-by-design approach over reliance on a single cloud provider. Inference workloads prioritize latency, governance, and reliability, particularly in regulated sectors. Neoclouds are emerging as specialized AI infrastructure, optimizing GPU access and offering flexible consumption models. Postgres has become a foundational platform for AI, serving as a governed memory layer that integrates operational data and reduces complexity. Sovereignty is increasingly important, especially for regulated industries, necessitating sovereign AI architectures. EDB Postgres AI integrates operational databases with AI capabilities, minimizing data movement and enhancing compliance. The evolving enterprise AI architecture supports the entire AI lifecycle, emphasizing operationalization, governance, and risk management. Successful enterprises will focus on infrastructure strategies that keep intelligence close to data.
Intel XPU Manager 2.0 Overhauls Windows & Linux Management For Arc Pro GPUs
Winsage
June 10, 2026

Intel XPU Manager 2.0 Overhauls Windows & Linux Management For Arc Pro GPUs

Intel has released XPU Manager 2.0, enhancing software for monitoring and managing data center GPUs on Windows and Linux. Key improvements include a streamlined codebase, enhanced support for network interface cards (NICs), a revamped dashboard for the xpu-smi command, and a complete rewrite of the XPU Manager daemon in Go. The software now supports the OpenTelemetry data format but has retired the REST API and does not include the XPU Manager C API in this release. Officially supported graphics cards are the Intel Arc Pro B50, B60, B65, and B70. Compatibility is provided for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS, with limited support for Microsoft Windows Server 2022.
I tried playing PC games on my phone, and the only thing that worked was a community rebuild of the most controversial app in the scene
AppWizard
May 28, 2026

I tried playing PC games on my phone, and the only thing that worked was a community rebuild of the most controversial app in the scene

Winlator is an application that enables Windows games to be played on Android devices by combining Wine with x86/x86_64 translation layers. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor has compatibility issues, particularly with its Vulkan driver, making it less suitable for mobile gaming compared to the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Users often resort to experimental drivers like Vortek to improve performance, but results can be inconsistent. The fragmentation of Winlator into various forks complicates the user experience, as each fork addresses different issues. GameHub, developed by GameSir, offers a more user-friendly experience but has faced criticism for invasive permissions. GameHub Lite is a modified version that improves performance and reduces tracking features. Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provided a better gaming experience than the Snapdragon 8 Elite, benefiting from mature drivers and compatibility with GameHub Lite.
Star Citizen's latest alpha update brings a 'full reset' to its universe, as Cloud Imperium Games promises to crack down on player exploits and duplication issues
AppWizard
May 18, 2026

Star Citizen’s latest alpha update brings a ‘full reset’ to its universe, as Cloud Imperium Games promises to crack down on player exploits and duplication issues

Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games, has faced challenges including a problematic in-game economy due to the duplication of valuable items by players. The studio announced a partial server wipe with patch 4.8 to reset players' bank balances and resources, but excluded ships obtained through trading with Wikelo, leading to player discontent. In response, a full reset of the game's universe will occur, wiping all player progress except for blueprints and items bought with real money. The upcoming patch aims to implement safeguards against exploits, though details are unclear. Alpha 4.8 will introduce a new endgame mission called "Tactical Strike Group," enhancements to player flight suits, improvements to refueling missions, and new infantry weapons. The completion of Star Citizen is projected to extend to 2028, while the single-player component, Squadron 42, is expected to release this year, though its timely launch remains uncertain.
Star Citizen commits to a "comprehensive wipe" as CIG fights back aginst duping exploits
AppWizard
May 13, 2026

Star Citizen commits to a “comprehensive wipe” as CIG fights back aginst duping exploits

Star Citizen alpha 4.8 is launching today, featuring a comprehensive wipe that resets all earned aUEC, in-game purchased vehicles, items, resources, reputation progression, and rewards from NPC Wikelo, while allowing players to retain their blueprints and items in the 'My Hangar' section. This decision follows community concerns about duplication tricks and exploits affecting the game. The update introduces Tactical Strike Groups for cooperative gameplay and ship hangar services for repairs, refueling, and rearming. A free fly event will occur from May 14 to May 27 to celebrate the launch.
Nvidia graphics research just made a 2-3x gain in performance, and this time it didn't use AI
AppWizard
April 22, 2026

Nvidia graphics research just made a 2-3x gain in performance, and this time it didn’t use AI

Nvidia has released a research paper that indicates potential graphics performance improvements of 2-3 times in certain scenarios, utilizing techniques like reciprocal neighbor selection and duplication maps, without heavily relying on artificial intelligence. The research focuses on path tracing, a rendering technique that is currently only feasible on advanced graphics cards. Nvidia's recent advancements include reservoir-based spatiotemporal importance resamplers (ReSTIRs), which could achieve up to a 65x performance improvement over existing methods. The new paper revisits this algorithm, offering an additional 2x-3x performance boost and enhancing image quality. The research suggests that path-traced modes in video games could experience significant performance enhancements, although it remains unclear if these improvements can be implemented via a simple driver update or if new hardware will be required.
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