Re: DRAFT: v7.3 Release Announcement

Just as a note, we have *at least* 2 weeks to hash this out, before I need
to send the release out, so this isn't something that needs to be rushed
and finished by Monday ...

On Sun, 27 Oct 2002, Geoff Davidson wrote:

> Shane, thank you - those are great catches and suggestions.
>
> Josh Berkus raised some serious concerns about the focus,
> so there are some larger decisions on whether it should go
> forward in this form with some additions and changes that
> will help it with the press that he knows, or if it needs to
> go through a major rewrite - but your observations are very
> relevant for either direction.
>
> How about:
> Version 7.3 improvements make the choice of PostgreSQL an even easier
> decision.
> (my objective for that sentence is to acknowledge there are other
> 'choices', but really only one intelligent 'decision'...)
>
> I really like the change you suggested wrt the ISOC quote, less
> is often more.
>
> Justin has done a remarkable job in chasing down companies who
> are willing to confirm their choice of PostgreSQL, so we've got
> much more ammunition - I picked this selection because collectively
> it supports the business case for PostgreSQL on performance, price,
> scalability, complexity, usability, international installed base,
> and diversity of applications supported.
>
> There is an abundance of advice and disagreement on the length
> that a good release should be, to get maximum attention and
> exposure. I've found that a word count between 500 and 800
> is usually effective. This one is in the 650 to 700 word range.
>
> --Geoff
>
> > Shane McChesney wrote:
> >
> > Geoff,
> >
> > Well done, I think this is great.
> >
> > Minor copy tweaks, suggestions only, hopefully not too pedantic:
> >
> > --======--
> >
> > In this passage, "again" connotes that it wasn't good for a while
> > there or something:
> >
> > From:
> > proudly announces that the "best is better again"
> > To:
> > proudly announces that "The best has gotten even better!"
> >
> > --======--
> >
> > The phrase "decision to choose" sounds off to me:
> >
> > From:
> > With the release of v7.3 the decision to choose PostgreSQL
> > To:
> > With the release of v7.3 the decision to adopt PostgreSQL
> > Or:
> > With the release of v7.3 the decision to use PostgreSQL
> > Or:
> > With the release of v7.3 the decision to try PostgreSQL
> >
> > --======--
> >
> > If we do pare back the # of quotes in this release (saving ammo for
> > future releases can't hurt) I'd keep the Afilias one and narrow the
> > first sentence thusly:
> >
> > From:
> > We believe that the key point relating to databases for the .ORG
> > redelegation is not which database the operator is using, but,
> > rather, whether the database will support the .ORG registry in a
> > stable, scalable, and highly available manner.
> >
> > To:
> > We believe that the key point relating to databases for the .ORG
> > redelegation is... whether the database will support the .ORG
> > registry in a stable, scalable, and highly available manner.
> >
> > --======--
> >
> > That's all I see for now...
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Shane McChesney
> > President,
> > Wesearch Information Services Inc.
> >
> > Site: http://www.wesearchis.com
> > Weblog: http://www.skippingdot.net
> >
> > On Sun, 27 Oct 2002 10:13:21 -0500, Geoff Davidson wrote:
> > >Good morning!
> > >
> > >As requested, I've put together a draft proposal for this
> > >announcement of the upcoming release.
> > >
> > >This is clearly done with an advocacy based sales & marketing spin.
> > >It follows sales.org's proven 6 'Power Opening' steps (of course):
> > >1. Who you are (PGDG)
> > >2. What you're selling (PostgreSQL)
> > >3. What's In It for Them (free alternative to commercial solutions)
> > >4. Why should they believe you (third party quotes/endorsements)
> > >5. Expectations (changes in this release, making it even better!)
> > >6. Process (Where to go and get the code or more info)
> > >
> > >Feel free to change and improve any of the content as you wish, I'm
> > >not burdened by any ego issues wrt pride in authorship, even if you
> > >decide to throw it out and start over ;)
> > >
> > >--Geoff
> > >
> > >-----
> > >
> > >For Immediate Release November 1st,
> > >2002
> > >
> > >PostgreSQL Global Development Group Announces Version 7.3
> > >
> > >PostgreSQL, the world's most advanced open source database, provides
> > >solutions for many of the most demanding applications in use today,
> > >saving business and government millions of dollars each year. The
> > >PostgreSQL Global Development Group proudly announces that the "best
> > >is better again" with the release of the freely available PostgreSQL
> > >v7.3 object-relational database management system (ORDBMS).
> > >
> > >With more than 16 years of development by hundreds of the world's
> > >most generous and brilliant minds from the open source community,
> > >PostgreSQL continues to make the decision between free software and
> > >commercial databases "a simple choice between open source or an open
> > >wallet." Many companies and agencies can no longer afford the high
> > >costs and constantly changing terms of licensed commercial software
> > >- making PostgreSQL one of the most highly sought after free
> > >technologies in the market today. With the release of v7.3 the
> > >decision to choose PostgreSQL will be even easier.
> > >
> > >Here is what some current PostgreSQL users have gone on record to
> > >say about this technology:
> > >
> > >"We believe that the key point relating to databases for the .ORG
> > >redelegation is not which database the operator is using, but,
> > >rather, whether the database will support the .ORG registry in a
> > >stable, scalable, and highly available manner.
> > >...over a year of experience...clearly demonstrates that the
> > >PostgreSQL database used by Afilias performs at the level of
> > >reliability and availability required for the mission critical
> > >operations of a global gTLD registry." Internet Society (ISOC)
> > >
> > >"PostgreSQL has scaled perfectly with our rapidly expanding
> > >business, and we recommend it over every other DB." TrustCommerce,
> > >California
> > >
> > >"PgMarket has been developed around PostgreSQL because of its
> > >unmatched performance, features, price, and scalability. It is the
> > >best possible database for enterprise e-commerce." Fitcom srl, Italy
> > > "PostgreSQL provided sales.org with a solution that was $70,000
> > >less expensive to create, and over 70% lower in cost to operate and
> > >maintain than any of the commercial DBMS offerings we looked at."
> > >sales.org Inc., Toronto
> > >
> > >"PostgreSQL handles virtually all the standard SQL constructs.
> > >
> > >It is easy (relatively speaking) to administer, it is fast, it is
> > >efficient, it has a great API, and it supports ODBC, why would you
> > >choose something else?" Mohawk Software, Massachusetts
> > >
> > >"... selected PostgreSQL as one of the key components for their
> > >solution, relying on the power and extensibility of the database
> > >even under heavy load." Vanten, K.K., Tokyo
> > >
> > >
> > >Additions & improvements in Version 7.3 release include:
> > >
> > >SCHEMAS Schemas allow users to create objects in their own namespace
> > >so two people or applications can have tables with the same name.
> > >There is also a public schema for shared tables.
> > >Table/index creation can be restricted by removing permissions on
> > >the public schema
> > >
> > >Drop Column Now supports ALTER TABLE ... DROP COLUMN functionality.
> > >
> > >Table Functions Functions returning multiple rows and/or multiple
> > >columns are now much easier to use than before. The "table function"
> > >can be called in the SELECT FROM clause, treating its output like a
> > >table. Also, plpgsql functions can now return sets.
> > >
> > >Prepared Queries For performance, PostgreSQL now supports prepared
> > >queries.
> > >
> > >Dependency Tracking PostgreSQL now records object dependencies,
> > >which allows improvements in many areas.
> > >
> > >Privileges Functions & procedural languages now have privileges.
> > >People running these can take on the privileges of their creators.
> > >
> > >Multibyte/Locale Both multibyte and locale are now always enabled.
> > >
> > >Logging A variety of logging options have been enhanced.
> > >
> > >Interfaces A large number of interfaces have been moved to
> > >http://gborg.postgresql.org where they can be developed and released
> > >independently.
> > >
> > >Functions/Identifiers By default, functions can now take up to 32
> > >parameters, and identifiers can be up to 63 bytes long.
> > >
> > >Along with many many more enhancements, bug fixes and performance
> > >related changes from v7.2 ...
> > >
> > >Source for this release is available on all mirrors under:
> > >/pub/source/v7.3
> > >
> > >More information on PostgreSQL is available on the project websites
> > >mirrored worldwide through: http://www.postgresql.org
> > >
> > >A complete list of changes in v7.3 can be found in the HISTORY
> > >
> > >file, included with the release, or available from all ftp mirrors
> > >as: /pub/README.v7_3
> > >
> > >Marc G. Fournier Co-ordinator PostgreSQL Global Development Group
> > >
> > >---------------------------(end of broadcast)
> > >------------------------
> > >---
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
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