OffNet Newsroom

Daily topic roundup

Database Technology

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 · 8 stories, curated & summarized — click any story for the source.

Share this roundup on LinkedIn Full edition
AWS Database Blog awsdatabase

AWS introduces Natural Language Queries for Oracle Database 26ai on RDS

Oracle Database 26ai is now available on Amazon RDS, integrating generative AI, vector search, and machine learning capabilities directly into the engine. This update enables Select AI to execute natural language queries against relational data by leveraging foundation models hosted on Amazon Bedrock. The setup operates entirely within a private Amazon RDS instance, allowing for secure interaction with data without exposing it externally.

  • Oracle 26ai on RDS adds native generative AI and vector search to the engine.
  • Select AI translates natural language into SQL using Amazon Bedrock foundation models.
  • Processing remains inside the private RDS instance for enhanced security and compliance.
  • This release marks the first step in a three-part series on implementing these features.

Fleet impact: For Oracle ExaCC/RAC and RDS Oracle fleets, this introduces a new paradigm for ad-hoc data exploration and reporting that reduces dependency on external BI tools for simple queries. Evaluate Select AI's latency and Bedrock model costs against existing ETL pipelines for lightweight, natural-language-driven analytics, and ensure your network security groups allow outbound traffic to Amazon Bedrock if required by your specific deployment model.

Read at source →
PostgreSQL News database

PostgreSQL introduces native JDBC driver from scratch

A new PostgreSQL-first JDBC driver has been released in pre-release, built from the ground up by Sehrope Sarkini. The architecture prioritizes the database wire protocol over legacy JDBC constraints, treating JDBC as an adapter layer rather than the core foundation. Full compliance is a long-term objective, but the immediate focus is on exposing native capabilities directly.

  • Native API is designed around PostgreSQL wire protocol, not lowest common denominator
  • JDBC layer sits on top of native API to preserve execution performance
  • Full JDBC compliance remains a long-term goal rather than immediate requirement
  • Current release includes standard java.sql.* interfaces like Connection and ResultSet
TRADE-OFFNew Driver ArchitectureLegacy JDBCLowest common denominatorJDBC is core foundationObscures native capabilitiesNative DriverWire protocol firstJDBC is adapter layerExposes native featuresvs
Read at source →
PostgreSQL Releases databasereleases

PostgreSQL 18.6 Released

PostgreSQL 18.6 is now available as a maintenance release for the 18 series. The release includes bug fixes and stability improvements for the current major version. No specific feature changes or performance enhancements are detailed in the source material.

  • PostgreSQL 18.6 is a standard maintenance release for v18.
  • Focuses on stability and bug fixes rather than new features.
  • No specific changelog details provided in the source excerpt.
CHECKLISTKey Takeaways for PostgreSQL 18.6Standard maintenance release for v18Focuses on stability and bug fixesNo new features or performance enhancements
Read at source →
PostgreSQL Releases databasereleases

PostgreSQL 19 Beta 3 released for testing

The PostgreSQL community has published the third beta release for version 19. This build continues the iterative refinement process leading up to the stable release, allowing users to validate compatibility and performance characteristics. As a pre-release candidate, it is intended for evaluation rather than production deployment.

  • Available now for testing in non-production environments
  • Focus is on stability and bug fixing before final release
  • Verify application compatibility with current beta changes
  • Monitor for regressions in critical query paths
HOW IT WORKSPostgreSQL 19 Beta 3 Testing Path1Download Beta 32Run compatibility tests3Check query performance4Report regressions
Read at source →
PostgreSQL Releases databasereleases

PostgreSQL 17.11 Released: Security and Maintenance Update

PostgreSQL has released version 17.11 as a maintenance update for the 17 series. This release addresses security vulnerabilities and includes general bug fixes to improve stability. It is the recommended update for all users running PostgreSQL 17 to ensure their databases remain secure and reliable.

  • Upgrade to 17.11 to patch known security vulnerabilities in the 17 series.
  • Apply this maintenance release to improve overall database stability and performance.
  • Verify extension compatibility before upgrading in production environments.
  • Review the official release notes for specific bug fixes and changes.
CHECKLISTPostgreSQL 17.11 Upgrade ChecklistUpgrade to 17.11 to patch security vulnerabilitiesApply release to improve database stabilityVerify extension compatibility before upgradingReview official release notes for changes
Read at source →
PostgreSQL Releases databasereleases

PostgreSQL 16.15 Released: Security Patch for Major LTS Branch

PostgreSQL 16.15 is now available as a maintenance release for the 16 series. The 16 branch remains the current Long Term Support version, making this update critical for stability and security compliance. Specific change details are not provided in the source excerpt, but standard maintenance releases typically include bug fixes and security patches.

  • Maintains support status for the active LTS branch
  • Apply promptly to address latent security vulnerabilities
  • Standard regression test suite should be run post-upgrade
  • No major feature changes expected in maintenance releases
  • Coordinate with cloud providers if using managed services
CHECKLISTPostgreSQL 16.15 Upgrade ActionsApply promptly to fix security vulnerabilitiesRun regression test suite post-upgradeCoordinate with cloud providers if managed
Read at source →
Planet PostgreSQL database

PostgreSQL 17 io_combine_limit GUCs explained

PostgreSQL 17 introduced read streams that combine adjacent disk blocks into larger I/O requests. Christophe Pettus details the io_combine_limit and io_max_combine_limit GUCs which control this behavior. These settings allow tuning how aggressively the database merges small reads into bigger ones for better throughput.

  • io_combine_limit sets the target size for combined read requests in bytes.
  • io_max_combine_limit caps the maximum size of a combined I/O request.
  • Tuning these GUCs can optimize sequential scan performance on modern storage.
  • Defaults are chosen to balance latency and throughput for general workloads.
Read at source →
AWS What's New awsdatabase

AWS RDS MariaDB adds 12.3 LTS with Oracle compat and JSON validation

Amazon RDS for MariaDB now supports the 12.3.2 minor version of MariaDB 12.3, the latest Long-Term Support release. Key features include Oracle TO_DATE() function compatibility to ease migration, native IS JSON predicate validation, and optimizer improvements for LEFT JOINs and range partition scans.

  • MariaDB 12.3 is the current LTS release, now available on RDS.
  • Oracle TO_DATE() compatibility reduces refactoring effort for migrations.
  • Native IS JSON predicate enables in-database document validation.
  • Query optimizer handles reorderable LEFT JOINs and range scans more efficiently.
  • Upgrade via Blue/Green deployment to minimize downtime.

Fleet impact: For RDS MariaDB fleets, this LTS release offers native JSON validation and Oracle syntax compatibility, simplifying migrations and reducing application-layer overhead. Plan Blue/Green upgrades to leverage the improved query optimizer for LEFT JOINs and range partition scans without code changes.

TRADE-OFFMariaDB 12.3 BenefitsMigration EaseOracle TO_DATE() compatibilityReduces refactoring effortData IntegrityNative IS JSON validationIn-database document checksvs
Read at source →
↑