scaling Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Postgres to Iceberg in 13 minutes: How Supermetal compares to Flink, Kafka Connect, and Spark

Supermetal introduced Iceberg sink support, allowing for data transfer from Postgres to Iceberg. In a performance comparison, Supermetal completed snapshotting in 13 minutes, while Flink took 90 to 116 minutes, Kafka Connect required 120 minutes, and Spark exceeded 3 hours. The tests focused on throughput during the snapshotting phase rather than latency. The setup used the TPC-H dataset with a scale factor of 50 and involved AWS infrastructure. Supermetal operates independently of Kafka, enabling direct data delivery from source to sink. It utilizes a JSON configuration file for deployment, supporting various catalogs and advanced configuration options. Supermetal's Iceberg writer can adjust settings based on the CDC source phase. Throughout the tests, Supermetal maintained low CPU and memory usage, while other tools faced challenges with performance and resource management. Data synchronization was validated across all tools, with Supermetal achieving at least 7x faster snapshotting performance without tuning.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Connecting .NET Lambda to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL via RDS Proxy

Many organizations are modernizing legacy .NET applications while reducing database costs and enhancing scalability, particularly during migrations to AWS Lambda and transitions from SQL Server to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition. The process involves connecting Lambda functions to Aurora PostgreSQL using Amazon RDS Proxy, with AWS Secrets Manager managing secure credential storage. The architecture includes a .NET Lambda function interfacing with Aurora PostgreSQL via RDS Proxy, which provides connection pooling to minimize database connection overhead. The solution requires a CloudFormation template to provision resources such as a VPC with private subnets, an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, RDS Proxy, and Secrets Manager. The RDS Proxy is configured with parameters including PostgreSQL engine family, idle client connection timeout, and Secrets Manager secret. A Windows EC2 instance is provisioned, and access is facilitated through AWS Systems Manager Fleet Manager. The solution includes creating a sample table named "employee" in the database and a new .NET Lambda project that utilizes Npgsql for database connections. The Lambda function is deployed using the AWS CLI, and testing involves invoking the function and retrieving logs from Amazon CloudWatch. Finally, resources created during the process should be deleted to prevent ongoing charges.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

If you’re finding Resident Evil: Requiem a bit scary, why not mod it to make the enemies tiny

Resident Evil: Requiem features a mod called the Enemies Scale Modifier, created by modder lucablight83, which allows players to adjust enemy sizes, making them smaller or larger, thus adding humor to the horror gameplay. This mod requires the installation of the RE Framework and enables players to scale enemies down to 10% or up to 300% of their original size. It introduces comedic elements while maintaining gameplay challenges, such as aiming at miniaturized foes. Additionally, there are other mods available that enhance the game with humorous elements, like transforming Leon's Porsche into a driveable hamburger, or introduce serious challenges, such as zombie bites that infect players. A VR mod is also available for an immersive experience.

Winsage

April 13, 2026

Copilot is gone from Windows 11, but here’s why this isn’t the win it sounds like

Major tech companies, including Microsoft, are integrating artificial intelligence into their products. Microsoft has embedded its AI tool, Copilot, into various applications but is now retracting it from some, including Notepad, due to user backlash. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with Copilot's integration, leading to a petition against its use in basic applications. In response, Microsoft plans to reduce unnecessary Copilot integrations while maintaining some AI functionalities through a new Writing Tools menu. Users can also disable AI features in applications like Notepad by adjusting settings.

AppWizard

April 13, 2026

Android Fax Apps (2026): Top picks for medical, business and industrial use

In 2026, the top Android fax apps are evaluated based on compliance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness for various sectors. The Municorn Fax App is identified as the best overall due to its unlimited fax sending, HIPAA-compliant infrastructure, and user-friendly interface. iFax is noted for its security features and compliance, making it ideal for healthcare providers, though its pricing can increase with usage. Fax.Plus is recommended for enterprises needing structured workflows and compliance, while eFax is recognized for its brand familiarity and occasional faxing needs. The FAX App is a simple, budget-friendly option for basic faxing tasks. Key factors for ranking include compliance, pricing models, ease of use, scalability, and integration capabilities.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Overcoming barriers to database modernisation in the AI age

Enterprises in Malaysia are transitioning from legacy systems to modern infrastructure to facilitate AI deployment. A roundtable discussion highlighted the challenges of AI integration, emphasizing the need to reduce costs associated with outdated systems. Organizations are adopting hybrid cloud approaches and utilizing various databases to manage extensive data across multiple applications. The push for AI is driven by management and customer expectations, but employee willingness to upskill remains a challenge. Not all challenges require AI solutions, and starting with smaller use cases can lead to successful scaling. The adoption of open-source database systems like Postgres is increasing, necessitating reliable support to address issues and ensure application availability. Data sovereignty is a concern for enterprises operating in mixed environments, and EDB Postgres AI offers a platform that combines security with cloud agility. Reducing infrastructure costs is essential for freeing up resources for new initiatives.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Database Branching in Postgres: Git-Style Workflows with Databricks Lakebase

Database branching is a modern approach that addresses the limitations of traditional database management in development workflows. Unlike conventional database copies, which require significant time and resources to duplicate data and schema, database branching allows for the creation of isolated environments that share the same underlying storage. This method utilizes a copy-on-write mechanism, enabling branches to be created in seconds regardless of database size, with storage costs tied only to the changes made. Key features of database branching include: - Branch creation time: Seconds, constant regardless of database size. - Storage cost: Proportional to changes only, not the total data size. - Isolation: Each branch has its own Postgres connection string and compute endpoint. - Automatic scaling: Idle branches can scale compute to zero, incurring costs only when active. The architecture supporting this approach separates compute from storage, allowing multiple branches to reference the same data without conflict. This design facilitates time travel capabilities, enabling branches to be created from any point in the past for instant recovery and inspection. Database branching unlocks new workflows, such as: - One branch per developer, providing isolated environments for each engineer. - One branch per pull request, automating branch creation and deletion tied to PRs. - One branch per test run, provisioning fresh databases for each CI pipeline execution. - Instant recovery from any point in time within a designated restore window. - Ephemeral environments for AI agents, allowing programmatic database provisioning. Databricks Lakebase offers this database branching capability, transforming the database from a bottleneck into a streamlined component of the development process.

Winsage

April 10, 2026

Microsoft begins removing Copilot from Windows 11, starting with Notepad, Snipping Tool

Microsoft has removed the Copilot branding from the Notepad app for Windows Insiders, replacing it with a "Writing tools" icon in the latest update (version 11.2512.28.0). Despite the removal of the logo, AI functionality remains intact, and users can disable the feature through the Settings menu under "Advanced Features." The Snipping Tool has also eliminated the Copilot button and currently shows no AI integration. Microsoft is scaling back unnecessary Copilot integration in various apps, including Notepad and Snipping Tool, while still maintaining underlying AI capabilities.

Winsage

April 9, 2026

“Listening to how we can keep making it better for you”: Windows Insider meetups are coming back after years away, connecting Windows 11 users with Microsoft

Pavan Davuluri, President of Windows at Microsoft, committed to improving user sentiment for Windows 11 by addressing pain points and listening to customer feedback. Microsoft has reinstated the vertical Taskbar and is scaling back the visibility of AI features like Copilot. The company is reviving Windows Insider meetups to engage more with users, with scheduled events in New York City, Hyderabad, Taipei, San Francisco, and London. Senior Editor Zac Bowden noted a decline in the appeal of the Windows Insider Program, and he advocates for the revival of a major annual Windows event.

Tech Optimizer

April 8, 2026

PostgreSQL logical replication: How to replicate only the data that you need

Many organizations using PostgreSQL face challenges in replicating data across different logical databases while controlling shared information. PostgreSQL 15 introduces native logical replication with column-level and row-level filtering within publications, allowing precise control over data transfer between PostgreSQL databases. Logical replication operates on a publish-subscribe model, where the source database logs changes to the Write-Ahead Log (WAL) and applies publication filters to transmit only the relevant data to the target database. Two filtering modes are available: column-level filtering allows users to specify which columns to replicate, while row-level filtering uses WHERE clauses to determine which rows to include. Both filtering modes can be combined in a single publication. The SQL syntax for creating publications and subscriptions is consistent across various PostgreSQL environments, with specific configurations required for enabling logical replication. Use cases for logical replication include multi-tenant SaaS data isolation, regional data distribution for ecommerce, PCI DSS compliance in financial services, development and testing environments, and retail inventory management. Prerequisites for implementing logical replication include using PostgreSQL 15 or later, ensuring network connectivity, having a user with replication privileges, enabling logical replication on the source instance, and monitoring WAL retention. Logical replication has limitations, such as the need for a replica identity for UPDATE and DELETE operations, the non-replication of DDL changes and sequences, and potential performance overhead during initial synchronization and ongoing replication. After testing, it is advisable to clean up by removing replication resources to prevent unnecessary costs.