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When SQL Server professionals start working seriously with PostgreSQL, most of the learning curve feels comfortable. Tables behave as expected, transactions are familiar, and B-tree indexes look reassuringly similar to what you have used for years in SQL Server. Then you encounter BRIN indexes.

At first glance, they seem almost reckless: no row pointers, no precise navigation, and an explicit acceptance of false positives. And yet, on very large tables, BRIN indexes often deliver performance gains that would require clustered indexes, partitioning, or even columnstore indexes in SQL Server. To understand why, we need to look not only at what BRIN does, but how it works internally.

👉 Read more: https://www.sqlpassion.at/archive/2026/01/19/brin-indexes-in-postgresql/

BRIN Indexes in PostgreSQL – SQLpassion When SQL Server professionals start working seriously with PostgreSQL, most of the learning curve feels comfortable. Tables behave as expected, transactions are familiar, and B-tree indexes look reassuringly similar to what you have used for years in SQL Server. Then you encounter BRIN indexes.

If you come from SQL Server (like in my case), PostgreSQL indexing can feel familiar at first - B-tree indexes exist, composite indexes exist, covering indexes exist. And then you run into queries like this:

WHERE payload @> '{"type":"payment","status":"failed"}'

At that point, most SQL Server developers ask two questions:
1. What are these operators?
2. Why does PostgreSQL need a completely different index type for this?

👉 Read more: https://www.SQLpassion.at/archive/2026/01/12/gin-indexes-in-postgresql/

GIN Indexes in PostgreSQL – SQLpassion If you come from SQL Server (like in my case), PostgreSQL indexing can feel familiar at first – B-tree indexes exist, composite indexes exist, covering indexes exist. And then you run into queries like this:

When SQL Server developers begin working with PostgreSQL, indexing usually feels familiar at first. B-tree indexes behave as expected, query plans look readable, and the query planner makes reasonable choices.

But PostgreSQL also introduces new index types like GiST and SP-GiST. They do not map cleanly to anything in SQL Server, and documentation often describes them in abstract terms like “generalized search trees” or “space partitioning”.

👉 Read more: https://www.SQLpassion.at/archive/2026/01/05/gist-and-sp-gist-indexes-in-postgresql/

GiST and SP-GiST Indexes in PostgreSQL – SQLpassion When SQL Server developers begin working with PostgreSQL, indexing usually feels familiar at first. B-tree indexes behave as expected, query plans look readable, and the query planner makes reasonable choices.

Join my free webinar about PostgreSQL on November 12!

[Blog] How SQL Server Professionals Can Master PostgreSQL - Without Wasting Months on Trial & Error: https://www.sqlpassion.at/archive/2025/11/03/how-sql-server-professionals-can-master-postgresql-without-wasting-months-on-trial-error/

How SQL Server Professionals Can Master PostgreSQL – Without Wasting Months on Trial & Error – SQLpassion Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a major shift in the database world. More and more companies are moving away from Microsoft SQL Server and embracing PostgreSQL.

I’m excited to announce my brand-new SQL Server 2025 Unleashed live online training on December 10, 2025 – a deep-dive day dedicated to exploring the next generation of Microsoft’s flagship database platform.

For more than 25 years, I’ve been helping companies around the world get the most performance, scalability, and reliability out of SQL Server. But SQL Server 2025 marks a turning point. It’s not just an upgrade – it’s a leap forward. With AI-powered query processing, vector search, and major performance and high-availability improvements, this release changes how we think about data systems.

👉 Read more: https://www.sqlpassion.at/archive/2025/10/27/sql-server-2025-unleashed-live-training-a-new-era-begins/

SQL Server 2025 Unleashed Live Training – A New Era Begins – SQLpassion I’m excited to announce my brand-new SQL Server 2025 Unleashed live online training on December 10, 2025 – a deep-dive day dedicated to exploring the next generation of Microsoft’s flagship database platform.

[Blog] Why I Avoid SMR Drives - and What the New Western Digital Warnings Reveal: https://www.sqlpassion.at/archive/2025/10/24/why-i-avoid-smr-drives-and-what-the-new-western-digital-warnings-reveal/

Why I Avoid SMR Drives – and What the New Western Digital Warnings Reveal – SQLpassion Over the years, I’ve learned that high performance doesn’t just happen – neither in life nor in databases. When I transformed myself from an 85 kg couch potato into a 65 kg triathlete, I realized the same principle applies everywhere: performance is the result of conscious choices, discipline,...