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* PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 17:22 Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
0 siblings, 3 replies; 11+ messages in thread
From: Peter Eisentraut @ 2007-10-05 17:22 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: pgsql-docs
Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to use "Postgres"
alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the documentation and other
written resources. A change along that line has already been made in the
FAQ.
Many points have been made recently on the name of the project or the product,
but the fact is that it will always be one or the other at any particular
time. It's fine to have alternative names. But keep in mind that the
purpose of documentation is to convey information, not to make subtle points
about naming issues. If you want to make points about naming issues, write a
nonsubtle document about it.
Others have also made points that it is OK to use acronyms in place of the
full name, and "Postgres" could be that, or that it's like Coke vs Coca-Cola.
Nevertheless, any writing resource or technical editor will tell you that you
need to be consistent. If you want to use an acronym, you introduce it once,
and then you use it all the time. And if you write an article about
beverages, you will use either Coke or Coca-Cola throughout, not both. If
the terminology or the acronyms are not clear, you explain it at the
beginning, and readers will look it up there.
I believe both the FAQ and the documentation do explain the naming issue near
the beginning. But the rest of the document should use one name
consistently, or it will just look silly and confusing. Also consider that
many of our written resources are not read linearly, so it becomes even more
important to use consistent terminology that does not require much context to
understand.
So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be reverted.
--
Peter Eisentraut
http://developer.postgresql.org/~petere/
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 17:30 Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
parent: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
2 siblings, 0 replies; 11+ messages in thread
From: Joshua D. Drake @ 2007-10-05 17:30 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; +Cc: pgsql-docs
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Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to use "Postgres"
> alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the documentation and other
> written resources. A change along that line has already been made in the
> FAQ.
> I believe both the FAQ and the documentation do explain the naming issue near
> the beginning. But the rest of the document should use one name
> consistently, or it will just look silly and confusing. Also consider that
> many of our written resources are not read linearly, so it becomes even more
> important to use consistent terminology that does not require much context to
> understand.
>
> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be reverted.
>
+1
Sincerely,
Joshua D. Drake
- --
=== The PostgreSQL Company: Command Prompt, Inc. ===
Sales/Support: +1.503.667.4564 24x7/Emergency: +1.800.492.2240
PostgreSQL solutions since 1997 http://www.commandprompt.com/
UNIQUE NOT NULL
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^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 18:26 David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
parent: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
2 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: David Fetter @ 2007-10-05 18:26 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; +Cc: pgsql-docs
On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 07:22:01PM +0200, Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to use
> "Postgres" alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the
> documentation and other written resources. A change along that line
> has already been made in the FAQ.
>
> Many points have been made recently on the name of the project or
> the product, but the fact is that it will always be one or the other
> at any particular time. It's fine to have alternative names. But
> keep in mind that the purpose of documentation is to convey
> information, not to make subtle points about naming issues. If you
> want to make points about naming issues, write a nonsubtle document
> about it.
+1
> Others have also made points that it is OK to use acronyms in place
> of the full name, and "Postgres" could be that, or that it's like
> Coke vs Coca-Cola.
>
> Nevertheless, any writing resource or technical editor will tell you
> that you need to be consistent. If you want to use an acronym, you
> introduce it once, and then you use it all the time. And if you
> write an article about beverages, you will use either Coke or
> Coca-Cola throughout, not both. If the terminology or the acronyms
> are not clear, you explain it at the beginning, and readers will
> look it up there.
>
> I believe both the FAQ and the documentation do explain the naming
> issue near the beginning. But the rest of the document should use
> one name consistently, or it will just look silly and confusing.
> Also consider that many of our written resources are not read
> linearly, so it becomes even more important to use consistent
> terminology that does not require much context to understand.
>
> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be reverted.
That, or (my preference) make the change larger. I think it's
significant that the vast majority of compatible software has some
variant of Postgres and *not* PostgreSQL in the name.
Cheers,
David.
--
David Fetter <david@fetter.org> http://fetter.org/
phone: +1 415 235 3778 AIM: dfetter666
Skype: davidfetter
Remember to vote!
Consider donating to PostgreSQL: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 18:43 Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
parent: David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
0 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: Joshua D. Drake @ 2007-10-05 18:43 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: David Fetter <david@fetter.org>; +Cc: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; pgsql-docs
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Hash: SHA1
David Fetter wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 07:22:01PM +0200, Peter Eisentraut wrote:
>> Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to use
>> "Postgres" alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the
>> documentation and other written resources. A change along that line
>> has already been made in the FAQ.
>>
>> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be reverted.
>
> That, or (my preference) make the change larger. I think it's
> significant that the vast majority of compatible software has some
> variant of Postgres and *not* PostgreSQL in the name.
I have seen no evidence of this.
Sincerely,
Joshua D. Drake
>
> Cheers,
> David.
- --
=== The PostgreSQL Company: Command Prompt, Inc. ===
Sales/Support: +1.503.667.4564 24x7/Emergency: +1.800.492.2240
PostgreSQL solutions since 1997 http://www.commandprompt.com/
UNIQUE NOT NULL
Donate to the PostgreSQL Project: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate
PostgreSQL Replication: http://www.commandprompt.com/products/
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^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 19:07 David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
parent: Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
0 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: David Fetter @ 2007-10-05 19:07 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>; +Cc: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; pgsql-docs
On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 11:43:45AM -0700, Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> David Fetter wrote:
> > On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 07:22:01PM +0200, Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> >> Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to
> >> use "Postgres" alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the
> >> documentation and other written resources. A change along that
> >> line has already been made in the FAQ.
> >>
>
> >> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be
> >> reverted.
> >
> > That, or (my preference) make the change larger. I think it's
> > significant that the vast majority of compatible software has some
> > variant of Postgres and *not* PostgreSQL in the name.
>
> I have seen no evidence of this.
For evidence, take a look at the "Products" section of the Postgres
Weekly News.
Cheers,
David.
--
David Fetter <david@fetter.org> http://fetter.org/
phone: +1 415 235 3778 AIM: dfetter666
Skype: davidfetter
Remember to vote!
Consider donating to PostgreSQL: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 19:17 Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
parent: David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
0 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: Joshua D. Drake @ 2007-10-05 19:17 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: David Fetter <david@fetter.org>; +Cc: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; pgsql-docs
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David Fetter wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 11:43:45AM -0700, Joshua D. Drake wrote:
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: SHA1
>>
>> David Fetter wrote:
>>> On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 07:22:01PM +0200, Peter Eisentraut wrote:
>>>> Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to
>>>> use "Postgres" alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the
>>>> documentation and other written resources. A change along that
>>>> line has already been made in the FAQ.
>>>>
>>>> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be
>>>> reverted.
>>> That, or (my preference) make the change larger. I think it's
>>> significant that the vast majority of compatible software has some
>>> variant of Postgres and *not* PostgreSQL in the name.
>> I have seen no evidence of this.
>
> For evidence, take a look at the "Products" section of the Postgres
> Weekly News.
I just read through all products sections in the PostgreSQL weekly news
from 07-22-07 to 09-30-07. Of products that mention PostgreSQL versus
Postgres in their release title, there is only *one* that mentions
Postgres and that is EnterpriseDB.
All others mention PostgreSQL or neither (such as PgAdmin or PgPool).
PostgreSQL Maestro 7.9 released.
MS Access to PostgreSQL Converter 2.0 released.
Another PostgreSQL Diff Tool 1.0.0_beta26 released.
PostgreSQL Data Wizard 7.8 released.
SE-PostgreSQL 8.2.4-1.0 released.
Entityspaces for PostgreSQL released.
AM Software Design has opened up PostgreSQL Community Forums.
EnterpriseDB Postgres released.
SchemaCrawler 5.1 for PostgreSQL released.
Another PostgreSQL Diff Tool 1.0.0_beta24 released
MicroOLAP Database Designer 1.2.1 for PostgreSQL released.
Sincerely,
Joshua D. Drake
>
> Cheers,
> David.
- --
=== The PostgreSQL Company: Command Prompt, Inc. ===
Sales/Support: +1.503.667.4564 24x7/Emergency: +1.800.492.2240
PostgreSQL solutions since 1997 http://www.commandprompt.com/
UNIQUE NOT NULL
Donate to the PostgreSQL Project: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate
PostgreSQL Replication: http://www.commandprompt.com/products/
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^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 19:21 David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
parent: Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
0 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: David Fetter @ 2007-10-05 19:21 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>; +Cc: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; pgsql-docs
On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 12:17:40PM -0700, Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> David Fetter wrote:
> > On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 11:43:45AM -0700, Joshua D. Drake wrote:
> >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> >> Hash: SHA1
> >>
> >> David Fetter wrote:
> >>> On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 07:22:01PM +0200, Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> >>>> Some of you may have noticed that there was a move proposed to
> >>>> use "Postgres" alongside "PostgreSQL" as a product name in the
> >>>> documentation and other written resources. A change along that
> >>>> line has already been made in the FAQ.
> >>>>
> >>>> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be
> >>>> reverted.
> >>> That, or (my preference) make the change larger. I think it's
> >>> significant that the vast majority of compatible software has some
> >>> variant of Postgres and *not* PostgreSQL in the name.
> >> I have seen no evidence of this.
> >
> > For evidence, take a look at the "Products" section of the Postgres
> > Weekly News.
>
> I just read through all products sections in the PostgreSQL weekly news
> from 07-22-07 to 09-30-07.
Nice job of careful cherry-picking, but I'm not buying it.
Cheers,
D
--
David Fetter <david@fetter.org> http://fetter.org/
phone: +1 415 235 3778 AIM: dfetter666
Skype: davidfetter
Remember to vote!
Consider donating to PostgreSQL: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-05 19:25 Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
parent: David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
0 siblings, 0 replies; 11+ messages in thread
From: Joshua D. Drake @ 2007-10-05 19:25 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: David Fetter <david@fetter.org>; +Cc: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; pgsql-docs
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
David Fetter wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 12:17:40PM -0700, Joshua D. Drake wrote:
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>>>>>> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be
>>>>>> reverted.
>>>>> That, or (my preference) make the change larger. I think it's
>>>>> significant that the vast majority of compatible software has some
>>>>> variant of Postgres and *not* PostgreSQL in the name.
>>>> I have seen no evidence of this.
>>> For evidence, take a look at the "Products" section of the Postgres
>>> Weekly News.
>> I just read through all products sections in the PostgreSQL weekly news
>> from 07-22-07 to 09-30-07.
>
> Nice job of careful cherry-picking, but I'm not buying it.
It is your news David, written in black and white. Feel free to review
them yourself and post a counter. I would be interested in anything I
missed.
Sincerely,
Joshua D. Drake
>
> Cheers,
> D
- --
=== The PostgreSQL Company: Command Prompt, Inc. ===
Sales/Support: +1.503.667.4564 24x7/Emergency: +1.800.492.2240
PostgreSQL solutions since 1997 http://www.commandprompt.com/
UNIQUE NOT NULL
Donate to the PostgreSQL Project: http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate
PostgreSQL Replication: http://www.commandprompt.com/products/
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^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-06 09:27 Markus Schiltknecht <markus@bluegap.ch>
parent: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
2 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: Markus Schiltknecht @ 2007-10-06 09:27 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; +Cc: pgsql-docs
Hi,
Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> I believe both the FAQ and the documentation do explain the naming issue near
> the beginning. But the rest of the document should use one name
> consistently, or it will just look silly and confusing. Also consider that
> many of our written resources are not read linearly, so it becomes even more
> important to use consistent terminology that does not require much context to
> understand.
>
> So I think what is being proposed is wrong and needs to be reverted.
-1
It's a compromise, a single step of a slow migration (which I still see
as the only reasonable option).
While I certainly agree that such documents should strive for consistent
naming in general, I think it's absolutely acceptable for an open source
project to break with that rule during such a migration. As pointed out
i.e. by Bruce, confusion between the two names isn't that big.
Regards
Markus
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-06 10:50 Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
parent: Markus Schiltknecht <markus@bluegap.ch>
0 siblings, 1 reply; 11+ messages in thread
From: Peter Eisentraut @ 2007-10-06 10:50 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Markus Schiltknecht <markus@bluegap.ch>; +Cc: pgsql-docs
Markus Schiltknecht wrote:
> It's a compromise, a single step of a slow migration (which I still
> see as the only reasonable option).
That assumes that there is somewhere to migrate to. But there isn't.
The renaming has been rejected.
--
Peter Eisentraut
http://developer.postgresql.org/~petere/
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
* Re: PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency
@ 2007-10-09 02:58 Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
parent: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
0 siblings, 0 replies; 11+ messages in thread
From: Bruce Momjian @ 2007-10-09 02:58 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>; +Cc: Markus Schiltknecht <markus@bluegap.ch>; pgsql-docs
Peter Eisentraut wrote:
> Markus Schiltknecht wrote:
> > It's a compromise, a single step of a slow migration (which I still
> > see as the only reasonable option).
>
> That assumes that there is somewhere to migrate to. But there isn't.
> The renaming has been rejected.
Amazing how you came to that conclusion, and I will not reargue that
point here.
--
Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us> http://momjian.us
EnterpriseDB http://postgres.enterprisedb.com
+ If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +
^ permalink raw reply [nested|flat] 11+ messages in thread
end of thread, other threads:[~2007-10-09 02:58 UTC | newest]
Thread overview: 11+ messages (download: mbox mbox.gz follow: Atom feed)
-- links below jump to the message on this page --
2007-10-05 17:22 PostgreSQL vs. Postgres labeling inconsistency Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
2007-10-05 17:30 ` Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
2007-10-05 18:26 ` David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
2007-10-05 18:43 ` Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
2007-10-05 19:07 ` David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
2007-10-05 19:17 ` Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
2007-10-05 19:21 ` David Fetter <david@fetter.org>
2007-10-05 19:25 ` Joshua D. Drake <jd@commandprompt.com>
2007-10-06 09:27 ` Markus Schiltknecht <markus@bluegap.ch>
2007-10-06 10:50 ` Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>
2007-10-09 02:58 ` Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
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