maintenance Archives

Tech Optimizer

May 1, 2026

Backstage Ditches Postgres for Databricks Lakebase

The divide between operational and analytical databases is diminishing, as evidenced by Databricks integrating Spotify's Backstage with its Lakebase, transitioning from PostgreSQL to a unified data platform. Lakebase now offers a serverless PostgreSQL interface within Databricks, allowing Backstage to operate without awareness of the underlying changes. The integration involved updating configurations and addressing authentication challenges using OAuth JWTs. The integration transforms the database development lifecycle by enabling near-instant database branching through Lakebase's copy-on-write architecture, allowing developers to focus on testing changes rather than safety. Branching creates a pointer to existing data, making the operation instantaneous. Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) allows for quick restoration of data, demonstrated by a recovery process that took less than four seconds. The goal is to integrate database branching into developer workflows seamlessly, making it automatic. This change could enhance developer productivity by allowing live data testing from the start, eliminating the need for mock objects, and resolving common issues related to staging environments. The traditional constraints of slow and costly database copies will become obsolete, prompting teams to reconsider how much time they spend on workarounds for now-nonexistent constraints.

Tech Optimizer

April 27, 2026

Why developers are betting on Postgres for AI

Organizations are intensifying the development of AI applications and agents, which rely on access to existing enterprise data to avoid inaccuracies in responses, a phenomenon known as "hallucination." Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and Phillip Merrick, co-founder of pgEdge, emphasize that structured data is essential for AI effectiveness. PostgreSQL is highlighted as a preferred database for AI applications, with 66% of respondents in the Stack Overflow 2025 Developer Survey indicating they wish to continue using it. Merrick notes PostgreSQL's advantages, including its open-source model, scalability, and ability to handle both structured and unstructured data. The pgEdge toolkit supports the entire lifecycle of AI application development, including document ingestion and vector embedding generation. PostgreSQL offers deployment flexibility and robust security features, making it suitable for critical sectors like finance and healthcare.

Winsage

April 27, 2026

Linux 7.1-rc1 brings faster, safer file transfers between Windows and Linux partitions with a brand new NTFS driver

Linus Torvalds has announced the closure of the merge window for Linux version 7.1, allowing public testing to begin with the first release candidate now available. This version includes a significant rewrite of the NTFS code aimed at improving dual-boot experiences between Windows and Linux. Additionally, Linux 7.1 will gradually phase out support for the i486 Intel processor and some older networking technologies and SoC configurations. Users can find the release candidate in Linus' Linux Git repository and are encouraged to report any bugs.

Winsage

April 26, 2026

I explain how to use this simple Windows 11 tool to get automatic app updates forever

Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission when users buy through links in their articles. Windows 11 users often seek efficient application management, leading to the use of the Windows Package Manager (winget). The command "winget upgrade --all" requires user initiative, while the Microsoft Store only updates Store apps. This gap led to the development of Winget-AutoUpdate (WAU), which simplifies the update process. Initially designed for users familiar with scripts, WAU now includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it more accessible. The GUI allows users to toggle automatic updates, set schedules, and manage allowlists and blocklists. Users can create "excludedapps.txt" and "includedapps.txt" files for managing updates. WAU is particularly useful for those who frequently install applications via winget and want to automate updates. Once configured, WAU runs in the background, providing timely notifications without manual intervention. It is a free solution that addresses update management challenges for winget users on Windows 11, transforming manual updates into an automated process.

Winsage

April 26, 2026

“Your apps should update themselves” — Winget-AutoUpdate is the missing piece for automatic app updates on Windows 11

The Windows Package Manager (winget) traditionally requires users to manually execute commands like "winget upgrade --all" to update applications, while the Microsoft Store only provides automatic updates for Store apps. The WAU Settings GUI enhances the winget experience by introducing a graphical user interface that allows users to configure automatic updates without scripts. Users can set schedules, manage allowlists and blocklists, and receive notifications for completed updates. Winget-AutoUpdate (WAU) is designed for users who frequently install applications via winget and want a maintenance-free system, operating quietly in the background to automate updates.

Tech Optimizer

April 25, 2026

Telangana Migrates MeeSeva to Open-Source PostgreSQL, Cuts ₹10 Crore Annual Cost

The Telangana government has transitioned its MeeSeva platform from Oracle to the open-source PostgreSQL database, announced by Ravikiran Tirumala, Commissioner of Electronic Services Delivery. MeeSeva processes over 80,000 government-to-citizen transactions daily, totaling nearly 20 crore transactions since its inception. The migration, using the open-source tool “ora2pg,” took less than four hours of downtime. The annual cost of Oracle licensing and maintenance was around ₹10 crore, while the migration cost was under ₹1 crore, leading to estimated recurring annual savings of about ₹10 crore. PostgreSQL has effectively managed high transaction volumes without performance issues. Telangana plans to document and share its migration process to encourage the adoption of open-source technologies in other government systems.

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

Garry’s Mod’s “spiritual successor” s&box finally makes a profit after five years in development

Facepunch has revealed that its upcoming title, s&box, has turned a profit after five years of development. The game, described as the "spiritual successor to Garry's Mod," is built on the Source 2 engine and focuses on community-driven creations. In April 2026, Facepunch recorded a profit of 8,400, with a gross income of .1 million, largely due to successful item sales. The company faces ongoing expenses such as staff salaries and server maintenance. S&box is set to launch globally on April 28, and players can wishlist it on Steam.

Tech Optimizer

April 23, 2026

Aurora Serverless: Faster performance, enhanced scaling, and still scales down to zero

Amazon Aurora Serverless offers an on-demand, auto-scaling database management solution that adjusts to workload demands, scaling up during high usage and down to zero during inactivity. The latest version, platform version 4, has a 30% performance increase over version 3 and allows users to monitor performance metrics effectively. Benchmark tests show that both Aurora MySQL and Aurora PostgreSQL on platform version 4 achieve a 27% to 34% increase in New Orders per Minute (NOPM) compared to version 3. The autoscaling mechanism in Aurora Serverless has been improved, doubling the default scaling rate and achieving maximum capacity in 22 minutes, a 45% improvement over the previous 40 minutes. A Sysbench workload test indicates that version 4 completes tasks 27% faster and at a 28% lower cost compared to version 3. Additionally, platform version 4 incorporates more metrics for better scaling decisions, enhancing performance in resource competition scenarios. To check the current platform version of an Aurora Serverless cluster, users can navigate to the Amazon RDS console or use the AWS CLI command provided.

Tech Optimizer

April 21, 2026

Do You Need a Third-Party Antivirus for Windows 11? Here’s What Microsoft Says

Microsoft states that the built-in security features of Windows 11 are adequate for most users, suggesting that third-party antivirus solutions may not be necessary. However, there are scenarios where third-party antivirus software can be beneficial, especially due to recent vulnerabilities in Defender. Independent testing organizations have rated Defender highly, with AV-Test placing it among the top antivirus solutions and AV-Comparatives awarding it the Advanced+ badge. Microsoft emphasizes that Defender runs continuously as part of Windows and receives updates through Windows Update, ensuring automatic protection. The company advises that additional security software may be useful for users managing multiple devices or seeking specific features like identity monitoring or parental controls. Safe computing habits are also recommended to enhance security.

Tech Optimizer

April 17, 2026

pg_textsearch 1.0: Cómo hemos construido un motor de búsqueda BM25 en las páginas de Postgres

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are reshaping industries and enhancing everyday life. The integration of AI with robotics has led to the development of intelligent machines capable of performing complex tasks autonomously. Key applications include: - **Manufacturing**: AI-driven robots streamline production lines, reduce downtime, and improve quality control through real-time data analysis for predictive maintenance. - **Healthcare**: Robots assist surgeons with precision tasks and support patient care, while AI algorithms enhance the speed and accuracy of diagnoses. - **Logistics**: Autonomous delivery drones and self-driving vehicles are transforming supply chain management by significantly reducing delivery times and operational costs. Machine learning has enabled robots to move beyond pre-programmed instructions, allowing them to engage in decision-making, analyze large data sets, and exhibit emotional intelligence. Ethical considerations regarding the responsible design and implementation of these technologies are becoming increasingly important to address potential biases and maintain public trust.