From: "Shridhar Daithankar" <shridhar_daithankar@persistent.co.in>
To: <pgsql-performance@postgresql.org>
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 2003 20:19:16 +0530
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Subject: Re: PostgreSQL vs. MySQL
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In-reply-to: <CJEBLDCHAADCLAGIGCOOEEDMCLAA.michael.mattox@verideon.com>
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On 4 Jul 2003 at 16:35, Michael Mattox wrote:

> I see this as a major problem.  How many people run postgres, decide it's
> too slow and give up without digging into the documentation or coming to
> this group?  This seems to be pretty common.  Even worst, they tell 10
> others how slow Postgres is and then it gets a bad reputation.
> 
> In my opinion the defaults should be set up for a typical database server
> machine.

Well, there are few major reasons defaults are the way they are and the reason 
it hurts the way they are

1. Postgresql expects to start on every machine on which it can run. Now some 
of the arcane platforms need kernel recompilation to raise SHMMAX and defaults 
to 1MB.

2. Postgresql uses shared memory being process based architecture. Mysql uses 
process memory being threaded application. It does not need  kernel settings to 
work and usually works best it can.

3. We expect users/admins to be reading docs. If one does not read docs, it 
does not matter what defaults are. Sooner or later, it is going to fall on it's 
face.

4. Unlike likes of Oracle, postgresql does not pre-claim resources and starts 
hogging the system, replacing OS whereever possible. No it does not work that 
way..

One thing always strikes me. Lot of people(Not you Michael!..:-)) would 
complain that postgresql is slow and needs tweaking are not bothered by the 
fact that oracle needs almost same kind of and same amount of tweaking to get 
somewhere. Perception matterrs a lot.

I would have whined for java as well but this is not the forum for that..:-)

On a positive note, me and Josh are finishing a bare bone performance article 
that would answer lot of your questions. I am counting on you to provide 
valuable feedback. I expect it out tomorrow or on sunday..Josh will confirm 
that..


Bye
 Shridhar

--
Theorem: a cat has nine tails.Proof:	No cat has eight tails. A cat has one tail 
more than no cat.	Therefore, a cat has nine tails.