pub Archives

Tech Optimizer

August 29, 2026

Overcoming the Barriers of Commercial DBs with Open Source and AI… EDB Hosts ‘PostgreSQL AI Summit’

A company's approach to artificial intelligence (AI) begins with determining the optimal structure for data storage and management, often facing challenges such as high costs of commercial databases and reliance on specific enterprise technologies. To effectively utilize AI, companies need to establish new infrastructures, including vector search capabilities, Search Augmentation Generative (RAG) systems, and data lakehouses. EDB is notable for connecting companies and technology partners that have transitioned to open-source databases. On September 3, EDB will host the 'EDB Postgres AI Summit Seoul 2026' at the Sofitel Ambassador Seoul, starting at 10:00 AM. This event is the largest PostgreSQL conference in Korea, themed 'Change the Game,' focusing on the shift from commercial databases to open-source and AI-driven frameworks, featuring real-world case studies. Approximately 300 C-level executives and IT decision-makers from various sectors are expected to attend, with participation by invitation only. The summit will include 15 sessions with customer case studies and technical presentations. Notable discussions will include IBK Industrial Bank of Korea's migration of 15 core systems to PostgreSQL, a semiconductor company's diversification of MPP databases on a DBaaS platform, and Kyobo Book Centre's database modernization strategy. Shopcast will present its development of an 'Agentic Lakehouse' integrating AI technology with a data lakehouse framework. The keynote address will be given by Kim Deok-joong, discussing organizational management strategies for integrating AI agents. The technical sessions will cover the architecture of the 'EDB Postgres AI' platform, which supports AI vector search and RAG, with live demonstrations of the analytics engine ClickHouse and LakeHouse technology for analyzing petabyte-scale data. EDB's domestic distributors and international partners will participate as sponsors. The summit aims to showcase technologies and case studies from the domestic ecosystem, addressing PostgreSQL adoption, system migration, operations, data analysis, and AI implementation. EDB manages transaction, analytics, and AI workloads using Postgres in cloud environments, serving over 1,500 global customers. Herve Timsit, EDB's Chief Revenue Officer, emphasized the event's focus on sharing tangible results and addressing the challenges of commercial databases while investing in AI infrastructure.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve heard videogame music?

Video game music spans diverse genres, enhancing gameplay and evoking emotions. While often confined to the gaming community, it occasionally breaks into mainstream culture, leading to unexpected recognitions in everyday settings. For example, music from The Sims 2 has appeared in various television formats, and L.A. Noire's jazz was heard in a local pub. This phenomenon highlights the increasing presence of video game music in daily life.

AppWizard

June 28, 2026

Sally Beaumont, voice actor in Old Skies and The Séance of Blake Manor, extols the virtues of narrative singleplayer games ‘You can have lots of them in your PC toolbelt’

Sally Beaumont began her gaming journey with Leisure Suit Larry and was inspired to pursue voice acting after playing The Curse of Monkey Island. Her portfolio includes titles like Harold Halibut, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, and she is the lead voice in the upcoming Old Skies. Currently, she is playing The Séance of Blake Manor and enjoys revisiting Nelly Cootalot. Beaumont has spent the most hours on Old Skies, using it to ground herself in her role, while Two Point Hospital is her most-played game outside of her work. She does not have a game she would never uninstall, as she prefers narrative-driven games with endings. Her essential non-gaming software is GoldWave, an audio editing tool. Beaumont describes her desktop as chaotic, with some organization but overall disarray.

Tech Optimizer

June 20, 2026

PostgreSQL 18 on Amazon Aurora and Amazon RDS: Performance enhancements

PostgreSQL 18 addresses common performance challenges for users, including managing query performance across composite indexes, diagnosing memory spills in materialized Common Table Expressions (CTEs), and upgrading major versions without plan regressions. Key enhancements include skip scan optimization for multicolumn indexes, improved EXPLAIN functionality, and optimizer statistics that persist through major version upgrades. Skip scan optimization allows PostgreSQL to efficiently utilize multicolumn B-tree indexes even when leading columns are not specified in the WHERE clause, significantly improving query performance. The EXPLAIN command has been enhanced to include buffer statistics by default, providing deeper insights into query execution and resource usage. PostgreSQL 18 also introduces visibility into the storage of materialized nodes in query plans, indicating whether intermediate results were stored in memory or spilled to disk. A new metric, Index Searches, has been added to EXPLAIN ANALYZE output, indicating how many times the database traversed the index tree during query execution. Additionally, Self-Join Elimination (SJE) automatically detects and removes unnecessary inner joins of a table to itself, optimizing query performance. The autovacuum mechanism has been improved with the introduction of autovacuum_vacuum_max_threshold, which caps the number of dead tuples that can accumulate before autovacuum triggers a VACUUM, addressing issues with large tables. The vacuum_truncate parameter provides a server-wide control point to disable VACUUM’s file truncation behavior, reducing locking issues on busy systems. PostgreSQL 18 also separates the allocation of autovacuum worker slots from their usage, allowing for dynamic adjustments to autovacuum_max_workers without requiring a server restart. Finally, new columns in pg_stat_all_tables track cumulative time spent on maintenance operations, providing better insights into maintenance overhead for each table.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

What would be your go-to gaming soundtrack to recommend to a non-gamer?

Videogame music plays a significant role in many people's lives, often unnoticed by non-gamers. Critical Hit is a platform that explores and celebrates videogame music and audio design. A recent discussion on Reddit's r/gamemusic focused on recommending original soundtracks (OSTs) to entice non-gamers. Personal experiences shared include introducing captivating videogame tracks to friends and family, such as vocal tracks from Persona 4 and calming music from Final Fantasy 10. The discussion also highlights the use of relaxing background music as an introduction to gaming music. Examples of tracks mentioned include "Kitsch" from Tekken 5 and the main theme from L.A. Noire.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

I played the Lord of the Rings RPG where Frodo can straight-up die and the game just keeps on going

Sam Gamgee's true name in Westron is Banazîr Galpsi. Sauron once served as a lieutenant to Melkor, also known as Morgoth. Frodo never reached Mordor; he died at the hands of three identical men in a mill at the edge of the Shire. These plot twists are from the 1990 CRPG, The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I, developed by Interplay. The game presents a version of Frodo as a middle-aged hobbit, contrasting with the youthful portrayal in the films. The visual interpretations of Gandalf and Aragorn in the game depict them in a more rugged and relatable manner compared to their cinematic versions. The Internet Archive provides access to this gaming experience.

AppWizard

December 25, 2025

Tavern Keeper is the management sim of my dreams, and the best thing I’ve played in early access in 2025

Tavern Keeper is an early access simulation game where players manage a pub called The Half Pint in a whimsical setting. Players can offer a variety of drinks and snacks, including wines, ales, and ethically sourced meats. The game encourages creativity by allowing players to manipulate the environment and design unique taverns. Players can share their creations with the community and engage in quests and narratives with various visitors, including a halfling aspiring to be a stand-up comedian and a guild representative. The game features a humorous narrative and allows players to experience agency in their choices.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

‘It wasn’t fun for the first 7 years’ says maker of fantasy sim Tavern Keeper, which spent more than a decade in development

Tavern Keeper is a fantasy simulation game that allows players to manage a pub, featuring extensive animations and user-friendly item design tools. It was released on Steam in November after over a decade of development, during which six versions were created. The game includes an interactive audiobook-style story system with RPG-like dialogue choices. Greenheart Games explored various systems that did not make it into the final game, including a quest system involving heroes, which was ultimately deemed disconnected from the tavern theme. The game incorporates complex mechanics such as temperature effects, food spoilage, and cleanliness impacting the tavern's atmosphere. The development process faced challenges, particularly in achieving a fun gameplay experience, which took several years to realize.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Tavern Keeper: It’s Good

Tavern Keeper is a fantasy barkeeping video game that combines management simulation with creative customization. Players manage taverns by designing layouts, hiring staff, and ensuring operations run smoothly. The game features a creation suite that allows players to craft items like bookshelves and paintings, fostering a community for sharing designs. Challenges include hiring staff with questionable skills and managing customer satisfaction amidst chaotic scenarios. Players can adjust difficulty settings to suit their preferences. The game incorporates humor throughout, enhancing player engagement. Currently in Early Access, it has received positive feedback for its depth and personalization options.

AppWizard

November 7, 2025

Even in early access, Tavern Keeper already feels like the fantasy pub sim of my dreams

In Tavern Keeper, players manage a tavern filled with quirky characters, including a talking skeleton seeking employment and a pale octopus delivering supplies. The game is in early access, has been in development for over a decade, and offers eight hours of gameplay. Players may experience occasional bugs with employees, but these are not game-breaking. The developers, Greenheart Games, provide multiple daily updates and a bug reporting feature. Future expansions include new realms like an underground dwarven settlement and an elven village. Tavern Keeper is available on Steam at a 20% discount until November 17.