extensibility Archives

Tech Optimizer

December 25, 2025

Snowflake Postgres is Now Available in Public Preview

Snowflake Postgres, a fully managed Postgres solution, is now available for public preview, integrating Postgres into the Snowflake ecosystem. It enhances the Snowflake AI data platform, allowing users to utilize data for AI, machine learning, and analytics applications while offering simplified management, robust security, and comprehensive governance. The solution includes enhanced data management tools, advanced security protocols, governance features for compliance and data integrity, and support for various operational workloads.

Tech Optimizer

December 10, 2025

Postgres + ClickHouse: The OSS Stack To Handle Agentic AI Scale

Postgres is a popular choice for developers due to its flexibility and reliability, but it faces limitations as applications scale, especially in AI-driven environments where rapid growth increases the demand for analytical capabilities. To overcome these challenges, a trend has emerged to combine Postgres with ClickHouse, where Postgres handles transactional workloads and ClickHouse manages analytics. There are two main methods for integrating ClickHouse with Postgres: split or dual-write, where applications write data to both databases based on use cases, and change data capture (CDC), where all writes occur in Postgres, which serves as the source of truth, streaming changes to ClickHouse for analytical queries. The integration aims to leverage the strengths of both databases, with some queries remaining on Postgres and others transitioning to ClickHouse. Developers must identify which queries to migrate and can use foreign data wrappers (FDWs) to simplify the integration process. The ecosystem around Postgres and ClickHouse has developed into a robust stack with various open source and commercial tools to support production-scale operations, including PeerDB, which provides high-throughput PostgreSQL CDC and reliable replication into ClickHouse. As applications increasingly start with Postgres and later adopt ClickHouse, the transition timeline is shortening, indicating a shift towards managed services and deeper integrations for a seamless experience between transactional and analytical systems.

Winsage

November 24, 2025

Linux-Inspired File Managers Outpace Windows Explorer in Speed and Features

Microsoft's Windows File Explorer is facing competition from third-party file managers like Files, which is open-source and available for free from the Microsoft Store. Files offers features such as dual-pane views, tabbed browsing, and advanced tagging, making it faster and more customizable than Explorer. Benchmarks show Files loading directories up to 30% faster on average hardware. Despite recent updates to Explorer, it still lacks the innovation found in alternatives. Users are increasingly expressing dissatisfaction with Explorer's bloat, with some preferring alternatives like File Pilot. Linux-inspired managers, including Files, incorporate usability features such as breadcrumb navigation and integrated terminal access, appealing to developers and IT professionals. Open-source alternatives benefit from community oversight, enhancing security and performance. The trend towards these innovative tools may compel Microsoft to rethink Explorer. Additionally, there is a growing convergence of Windows and Linux file management, with Microsoft acknowledging Linux's strengths by integrating Linux files into Explorer. The rise of these alternatives reflects changing user expectations and demands for more customizable and efficient file management solutions.

Tech Optimizer

October 5, 2025

EDB Advances PostgreSQL 18 With AI-Ready Features and Enterprise Enhancements

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has contributed to PostgreSQL 18, which includes over 200 new features aimed at enhancing support for AI, hybrid deployments, and enterprise performance. Key enhancements include OAuth authentication, optimizer enhancements, Kubernetes-friendly extension management, SQL standards compliance, and flexible index support. EDB's research shows that 35% of enterprises are considering PostgreSQL for AI workloads, with organizations focused on data sovereignty reporting a 12.5 times greater return on investment. EDB has also published "Building a Data and AI Platform with PostgreSQL" to help enterprises build scalable AI systems and is preparing for PostgreSQL 19 and the EDB Postgres AI Database, which will feature advanced functionalities.

AppWizard

October 1, 2025

Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.9

The Minecraft Server Management Protocol has introduced a server management API using JSON-RPC over WebSocket for dedicated servers, which is initially disabled and can be activated via the server.properties file. The API allows querying and updating server states, including player information and game rules, and sends notifications about state changes. An API schema can be obtained through a specific method call, and the API adheres to JSON-RPC 2.0 specifications with namespaced methods. Clients must authenticate using a bearer token, and TLS is enabled by default for secure communication. Unsent chat messages are now saved as Chat Drafts if the chat closes unexpectedly, with an option to save drafts by default. A Code of Conduct screen is now mandatory upon connecting to a server, with a new boolean field in the server.properties file to enable it. Accessibility features include toggleable key binds and options for mouse settings, while performance improvements have been made to rendering and loading mechanics.

Winsage

September 27, 2025

I switched from Flow Launcher to the new Raycast beta for Windows, and I already love it

Transitioning from Windows 11 to macOS led to the discovery of Raycast, a launcher that has become preferred over Flow Launcher. Raycast is currently in beta for Windows and offers enhanced productivity features compared to traditional launchers. It includes a clipboard management system that retains copied items for up to three months and an emoji selector that improves user experience. Raycast's performance in file searching is superior to Flow Launcher, which relies on the inconsistent Windows search indexer. The extension ecosystem for Raycast on Windows is expansive, with integrations for platforms like Slack, Notion, and Google Calendar, although some niche extensions are still missing. The Pro version of Raycast, which includes AI-related features, is considered expensive by some users who prefer a more affordable option without these functionalities.

Winsage

September 20, 2025

Microsoft is testing AI Agents and Assistants for Windows 11’s taskbar

Microsoft is exploring innovative features for the taskbar in Windows 11, focusing on integrating artificial intelligence. They plan to introduce a feature called “Taskbar companion,” which will include AI agents that assist users with tasks like web browsing and ticket booking. The specific functionalities of these AI agents are not yet clear. There are also references to a feature called Composer on Taskbar, which is expected to work with these agents. Other AI enhancements linked to the Taskbar.view.dll file have been noted, but they do not seem to directly affect the companion option. Users may be able to manage the visibility of these agents, and there are hints at extending the taskbar's capabilities similar to browser extensions. The Taskbar companion is anticipated to streamline user experience, potentially helping users find applications or manage taskbar settings. However, the exact purpose of the Taskbar companion remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether it will be exclusive to Copilot+ PCs or available to all Windows 11 users.

Winsage

September 14, 2025

I moved away from Windows 11, but I didn’t go to Linux

The author has shifted their computing preference from Linux to macOS, now favoring macOS for daily work on a desktop, specifically the M4 Mac Mini. They find macOS to be less intrusive than Windows, with fewer notifications and prompts disrupting their workflow. macOS supports essential applications like Microsoft 365, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom, which are not available on Linux. The author appreciates the customization options in macOS, including personalized app icons and themes. A standout application for them is Raycast, a powerful launcher that enhances productivity. While they acknowledge some minor flaws in macOS, they have found solutions through third-party applications. The author maintains a positive view of Linux but currently prefers macOS over Windows.

AppWizard

August 27, 2025

Minecraft Snapshot 25w35a

This week's update introduces a new Minecraft Server Management Protocol that allows real-time queries of player activity, adjustments to game rules, and updates to server settings. Several server properties have been transitioned into game rules, enabling modifications while the server is operational. Players can now use player icons in chat, and the copper golem has received enhancements along with various bug fixes. New features include support for the Halychian language. Changes to recipes now require Hanging Signs to be crafted exclusively with Iron Chains. The server list requires manual entry for new server names, and enhanced text input functionality allows text selection via mouse dragging. UI components will change the mouse cursor shape for better interaction, with a hand-shaped cursor for clickable text labels. Minor tweaks include adjustments to the hitbox of Copper Golems, which is now 0.98 blocks in height, and improvements to their functionality. The Data Pack version has been updated to 85.0, and the Resource Pack version is now at 67.0. Server properties have been streamlined, removing several in favor of game rules, including allow-nether, spawn-monsters, enable-command-block, and pvp. New server properties have been introduced to control the new protocol, including management-server-enabled, management-server-port, management-server-host, and status-heartbeat-interval. The new Minecraft Server Management Protocol is designed for dedicated servers, supporting querying and updating server state, notifying users of state changes, and complying with JSON-RPC 2.0 specifications. New game rules include pvp, allowEnteringNetherUsingPortals, spawnMonsters, and enableCommandBlocks. The text rendering component has been enhanced to support non-character objects within text, with new formats for object types. The chain has been renamed to iron_chain in both Data and Resource Packs. A comprehensive list of bugs has been fixed to enhance gameplay stability and performance. Snapshots are available for Minecraft: Java Edition, and users are advised to back up their worlds before installation.

Tech Optimizer

August 25, 2025

Python Dev Survey: PostgreSQL, AI Agents, Rust Drive Trends

- PostgreSQL is the preferred database for Python projects, with 45% of surveyed developers choosing it, up from 38% the previous year. - MySQL usage has declined to 30% among developers. - Over 80% of developers regularly use AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. - 65% of AI tool users report productivity gains of at least 20%. - Concerns exist regarding over-reliance on AI tools, particularly in generating nuanced logic. - Rust's usage for Python package development has surged by 22% year-over-year. - Rust is favored for its memory safety and performance in creating secure extensions. - 86.7% of Stack Overflow users expressed a desire to continue using Rust. - Projections suggest AI agents could manage up to 40% of routine coding tasks by 2026. - Rust's integration is expected to reduce bugs in critical Python packages by 30%.