Re: DRAFT: v7.3 Release Announcement

Geoff,

> As requested, I've put together a draft proposal for this
> announcement
> of the upcoming release.

Hmmm ... this release reads like a "We know you've never heard of
PostgreSQL before, so here's some great stuff about PostgreSQL, and by
the way, we have a new release." Which is OK if we believe that most
of our press targets are, in fact, completely ignorant of PostgreSQL.

I think, though, that we are most likely to get coverage from the
OS-freindly press, who *are* aware of PostgreSQL. Thues, we may want
to consider an approach that focuses more on the new release and less
on PostgreSQL as a whole. The PostgreSQL-as-a-whole stuff can be
linked on the PostgreSQL Advocacy Web Site, which is where we should
put most of the quotes, anyway.

We also need to explain about the new features:
a) Why this feature is important in plain english;
b) How this feature makes us equal to/better than other enterprise
databases
c) ... but craft the language to make sure that we don't imply that
PostgreSQL was somehow inferiour before.

Finally, we need a list of press contacts, with e-mail, phone, and
snail-mail addresses -- preferably one on each continent. And we
shouldn't link to the main postgreSQL site, with is *not* set up for
Press access.

-Josh Berkus

> 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)---------------------------
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>
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