EnterpriseDB (EDB), the leading contributor to Postgres code, has announced significant developments and contributions to PostgreSQL 15, which is now globally available. This includes the introduction of the MERGE SQL command, which makes it easier for enterprises to migrate from expensive, legacy databases to open source. Postgres 15 also features improved database security, enhanced backup and recovery options, and advanced logical replication capabilities.

MERGE is a popular SQL Standard command that can handle INSERT, UPDATE and DELETEs in a single statement, eliminating the need to rewrite MERGE statements entirely. MERGE avoids multiple PL/SQL statements and simplifies SQL scripts for database developers and DBAs. The Postgres implementation conforms to the SQL Standard and helps developers of both Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle Database transition to Postgres.

Postgres 15 enables granting of role-based permissions for the SET and ALTER SYSTEM commands that previously required superuser permissions. Additionally, for the first time, non-superusers can be logical replication owners and there are enhanced safeguards to ensure subscription owners comply with row-level security policies. These new capabilities support enterprises adopting zero-trust security postures.

Postgres 15 also adds new server-side backup compression, providing new options for taking backups quickly and efficiently. Whether speeding up network transfers from a backup server to remote storage, reducing the time spent compressing backups, or optimizing Postgres backups’ storage footprint, Postgres 15 has additional options to help enterprise customers.

EDB continues its tradition of working with the community to bring many advanced logical replication capabilities first introduced in EDB Postgres Distributed upstream into Postgres code. EDB contributed significantly to selective replication through column and row filtering, allowing for advanced logical replication use cases and reducing network traffic between the publication and subscriber nodes. EDB also contributed significantly to allowing the skipping of transactions on a subscriber using ALTER SUBSCRIPTION…SKIP, another capability derived from EDB Postgres Distributed, EDB’s distributed database offering.

Postgres 15 will be available on October 20 as beta on EDB BigAnimal, EDB’s enterprise-grade fully managed database-as-a-service.