Re: Time to scale up?

["Marc G. Fournier" <scrappy(at)postgresql(dot)org>]

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006, Paul Ramsey wrote:

> Yes, that's what I mean, only at www.postgresql.org and with integrated 
> documentation as well as packaging.
>
> The "PostgreSQL is a kernel" metaphor breaks down pretty fast, given that 
> PostgreSQL sans add-ons is quite useful, to the extent that (as many many 
> people have previously written) the fact that add-ons even *exist* is news to 
> lots of PostgreSQL users.  This is not a misconception someone trying to use 
> "Linux" (just the kernel) would ever run into.
>
> I think any honest assessment of the "software evaluation experience" around 
> PostgreSQL would have to admit that (a) people start at the main PostgreSQL 
> web site and (b) the existence and overall utility of the various add-ons are 
> pretty well hidden and (c) if they were less well hidden people might have a 
> better initial impression of the available capabilities of the overall 
> product.
>
> Pointing out that your site over there does a better job of it does not make 
> the main site any less unhelpful.

Actually, using the 'kernel vs add ons' metaphor, it would make more sense 
to make a series of smaller 'distributions', tailored to specific markets 
... ie. a Java distribution that includes JDBC+PL/Java, but doesn't 
include the other PLs ... or a Ruby package that includes the Ruby 
interface and pl/ruby ... or a ... etc ...

Not one distribution for all tastes, but individual distributions tailored 
to specific groups / programmers ...


> P
>
> Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> > > If we want PostgreSQL to "look bigger" from the outside, it is not 
> > > necessary to actually *make* it bigger, "looking" bigger is sufficient.
> > >
> > > Imagine a download page that included:
> > >
> > > postgresql-database-8.1.4
> > > postgresql-replication-1.0.2
> > > postgresql-gis-1.1.3
> > > postgresql-pooling-1.0.3
> >
> > You mean like www.mammothpostgresql.org?
> >
> > As mentioned previously. PostgreSQL is similar to a kernel. It is not a 
> > distribution.
> >
> >
> >
> > Joshua D. Drake
>
>
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Marc G. Fournier           Hub.Org Networking Services (http://www.hub.org)
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