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4. What is PostgreSQL ?

PostgreSQL Version 6.4 is a free database, complete source code is given to you and is a Object-Relational Database System near compliant (getting closer) with ANSI SQL1998,92,89 and runs on diverse hardware platforms and Operating systems. 

        Sometimes emergency bug fix patches are released after the
        GA release of PostgreSQL. You can apply these optional patches
        depending upon the needs of your application. Follow these 
        steps to apply the patches -
        Change directory to postgresql source directory
                cd /usr/src/postgresql6.4
                patch -p0 < patchfile
                make clean
                make
        See also manual page do 'man patch'
The patch files are located in

The ultimate objective and the final goal of PostgreSQL is to become 100 % compliant to ANSI/ISO SQL and also to become the number ONE open generic Database in the world. PostgreSQL will also guide, steer, control, monitor and dictate the future of ANSI/ISO SQL. That is, the implementation and ideas first take place in PostgreSQL and than later be incorporated into the ANSI/ISO SQL.

Informix Universal server (released 1997) is based on earlier version of PostgreSQL because Informix bought Illustra Inc. and integrated with Informix. Illustra database was completely based on Postgres (earlier version of PostgreSQL).

PostgreSQL is an enhancement of the POSTGRES database management system, a next-generation DBMS research prototype. While PostgreSQL retains the powerful data model and rich data types of POSTGRES, it replaces the PostQuel query language with an extended subset of SQL.

PostgreSQL development is being performed by a team of Internet developers who all subscribe to the PostgreSQL development mailing list. The current coordinator is Marc G. Fournier

This team is now responsible for all current and future development of PostgreSQL. Ofcourse, the database customer himself is the developer of PostgreSQL! The development load is distributed among a very large number of database end-users on internet.

The authors of PostgreSQL 1.01 were Andrew Yu and Jolly Chen. Many others have contributed to the porting, testing, debugging and enhancement of the code. The original Postgres code, from which PostgreSQL is derived, was the effort of many graduate students, undergraduate students, and staff programmers working under the direction of Professor Michael Stonebraker at the University of California, Berkeley.

The original name of the software at Berkeley was Postgres. When SQL functionality was added in 1995, its name was changed to Postgres95. The name was changed at the end of 1996 to PostgreSQL.

Millions of PostgreSQL is installed as Database servers, Web database servers and Application data servers. It is much more advanced and is a object oriented relational database (ORDBMS).

PostgreSQL can store more data types than traditional datatypes like integer, characters, etc. - you get to create user-defined types, functions, inheritance etc. PostgreSQL runs on Solaris, SunOS, HPUX, AIX, Linux, Irix, Digital Unix, BSDi,NetBSD, FreeBSD, SCO unix, NEXTSTEP, Unixware and all and every flavor of Unix. Port to Windows 95/NT is underway.

PostgreSQL and related items in this document are subject to the following COPYRIGHT. 
PostgreSQL Data Base Management System

Copyright (c) 1994-6 Regents of the University of California

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose, without fee, and without a written agreement
is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this
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IN NO EVENT SHALL THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR
DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING
LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS
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