Postgresql for Data Architects

Wonderful published book. Great vendor!!

This book gives a good overview of PostgreSQL database. It is an easy read, especially so if you have some background in any other databases. The book is logically organized from the installation steps to advanced topics. Even the process of installation is explained pretty nicely, explaining the internals of the database systems - which is pretty rare in similar books.In the past I have built quite a number of products with PostgreSQL as the backend. I could work with PostgreSQL easily with the general overview and DBMS concepts from other databases. The chapters on server architecture and object hierarchies really helped me to understand PostgreSQL in depth, especially in relation to other databases. As I mentioned earlier, and as the title implies, if you have been a database programmer, administrator or an architect, the details are presented concisely, in a logical order. I should also mention the handy queries and commands in every section, that prompts me to leave the eBook on the desktop.Next two chapters focus on the transactions, data modeling, and client tools which are more beginner-friendly. However, it helps to understand how PostgreSQL implements or supports those features. The book then takes a steep climb to more serious topics such as tuning, administration and scaling.SQL Tuning is quite enjoyable, starting with a few thought-provoking facts and strategies. Each of the tuning tips is well-demonstrated. A better (and consistent) layout would have made it a little more easier to read. The chapter on server tuning is also quite easy to read, especially if you have some similar background from any of the databases.Scaling, Replication, and Backup and Recovery is one of the longest, and toughest chapters. Overlapping concepts from all four topics are distilled here, and it would take some effort from the reader to keep everything in mind, together. A lot of details present here would require additional reading to get a fair understanding and grip on the subject. The book serves the purpose of keeping the concepts together as an overview.PostgreSQL is one database that competes well against the NoSQL data stores. The last chapter gives a glimpse of PostgreSQL’s not-so-conventional capabilities. The books covers PostgreSQL 9.3. Hope that it would be revised with 9.4 or even 9.5 in future, with more details on the newer features available to data architects.Overall a good read, and a book worth keeping.