I replaced my entire tech stack with Postgres...

Summary

In this video, the creator critiques the overuse of external tools in modern web development, suggesting that developers often overcomplicate their stack with unnecessary services. They propose using PostgreSQL as a one-stop solution for 90% of web development needs, demonstrating various extensions and features like JSON storage, cron jobs, vector databases, full-text search, authentication, and more. With PostgreSQL's flexibility and extensibility, developers can build complex applications without relying on multiple third-party services. The video encourages thinking critically about tool selection and shows how PostgreSQL can handle everything from data storage to real-time syncing, authentication, and analytics.

Takeaways

• 😀 Modern web development is easier than ever, but it often involves paying for multiple third-party services to handle different needs.
• 😀 PostgreSQL, a relational database, can replace many of these tools, offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution for web development.
• 😀 PostgreSQL supports advanced data types like binary JSON, arrays, key-value stores, and geometric types, making it a versatile tool for modern web apps.
• 😀 PostgreSQL is highly extensible, allowing developers to install extensions and create custom data types to expand its functionality.
• 😀 Despite its capabilities, developers should think critically about when it's appropriate to use PostgreSQL for tasks usually handled by other services.
• 😀 PostgreSQL supports JSON and JSONB types, allowing for flexible handling of unstructured data that is typically associated with NoSQL databases.
• 😀 Extensions like PG Cron enable PostgreSQL to handle scheduled tasks, such as running regular SQL queries automatically.
• 😀 You can use PostgreSQL as an in-memory cache, simulating the functionality of tools like Redis, by disabling write-ahead logging for better performance.
• 😀 PostgreSQL can handle vector data types and embeddings, making it a viable alternative to paid vector databases for AI applications.
• 😀 Full-text search in PostgreSQL with TS Vector and inverted indexing can replace services like Algolia or Elasticsearch, providing powerful search capabilities.
• 😀 PostgreSQL’s PG GraphQL extension can easily transform a database into a GraphQL API, eliminating the need for additional servers or libraries.
• 😀 Real-time data synchronization, typically done using Firebase or Supabase, can be achieved with the Electric SQL library, simplifying data updates across applications.
• 😀 PostgreSQL can manage authentication entirely through its own extensions, like PG Crypto and PG JWT, providing a robust security solution without relying on external services.
• 😀 PostgreSQL's row-level security allows for fine-grained control over data access based on user permissions, enhancing security within applications.
• 😀 With PG Mooncake, PostgreSQL can function as a time-series database, offering fast and efficient analytics, with integrations to tools like Grafana.
• 😀 PostgreSQL can automatically expose a RESTful API through PostgREST, eliminating the need to build custom APIs and streamlining database access.
• 😀 It is possible to store HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in PostgreSQL itself, with some developers even running React server components directly in the database.

Q & A

What is the main issue with modern web development, according to the video?

The main issue is that while modern web development has a plethora of tools, it often results in paying for multiple third-party services, such as in-memory caches, cron jobs, analytics, and more. This leads to a fragmented system that's difficult to manage.

How does PostgreSQL stand out in the context of modern web development?

PostgreSQL stands out because it provides a wide range of advanced features, such as binary JSON, arrays, key-value stores, and geometric types, and it's highly extensible. This allows developers to use it for various use cases, reducing the reliance on multiple third-party tools.

What is the role of PostgreSQL extensions in web development?

PostgreSQL extensions allow developers to enhance its functionality. By adding these extensions, developers can implement features like cron jobs, in-memory cache, vector databases, full-text search, and even authentication, all within the database itself.

What is the importance of the 'binary JSON' feature in PostgreSQL?

The binary JSON feature (JSONB) in PostgreSQL allows developers to store and query unstructured data efficiently. It can be used to work with dynamic data structures that might differ between records, making it a versatile tool for modern applications.

Why might someone prefer PostgreSQL over other databases like MySQL or SQLite?

PostgreSQL offers a richer set of features out of the box, such as advanced data types and extensibility through custom data types and extensions. These capabilities allow it to handle more complex use cases, making it a preferred choice for developers looking for flexibility.

How does PostgreSQL help with cron jobs and what extension is required for this?

PostgreSQL can handle cron jobs through the PG Cron extension. This extension allows developers to schedule SQL statements to run at specific times, eliminating the need for separate cron services or third-party tools.

What is the 'unlog table' cache method in PostgreSQL?

The 'unlog table' cache method in PostgreSQL involves using an unlogged table to store cache data. This method bypasses the write-ahead logging process, improving performance for temporary data that doesn't need durability. It can be paired with PG Cron for automatic cache cleanup.

What is the PG Vector extension used for?

The PG Vector extension in PostgreSQL is used to store and query multi-dimensional data, making it suitable for applications like AI and machine learning that require vector data handling. It allows operations such as finding nearest neighbors based on distance metrics.

How can PostgreSQL handle full-text search functionality?

PostgreSQL supports full-text search through the TS Vector type. This allows text to be broken down into smaller components, creating an inverted index for efficient querying. This enables functionality similar to tools like Algolia or Elasticsearch without the need for external services.

What are the benefits of using PG GraphQL and how does it simplify development?

PG GraphQL allows PostgreSQL to automatically create a GraphQL API. This simplifies development by enabling direct interaction with the database using GraphQL queries without the need for additional servers or middleware. It eliminates the need for custom back-end development and third-party services.