Why Everyone’s Talking About PostgreSQL 18

PostgreSQL 18 is finally here, bringing faster queries, smarter indexes, smoother upgrades, and modern authentication. In this video, we break down the biggest new features - from 3× faster reads with async I/O to skip scans, virtual generated columns, and better replication. If you’re a developer or run Postgres in production, this release is packed with upgrades you don’t want to miss.

🔗 Relevant Links
Postgres 18 Released: https://www.postgresql.org/about/news...

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📌 Chapters:
00:00 Intro – Why PostgreSQL 18 is a big deal
00:28 Async I/O – Up to 3× faster reads
00:47 Smarter query planning – Skip scans for multicolumn indexes
01:07 Easier upgrades – Planner stats carried across versions
01:22 Faster pg_upgrade – Parallel checks and --swap option
01:37 Developer quality of life – Virtual generated columns
01:50 OLD/NEW in RETURNING – Instant before/after values
02:05 Debugging made easier – EXPLAIN with buffer usage
02:16 Security refresh – OAuth 2.0 and stronger defaults
02:38 Smarter replication – Auto drop idle slots & parallel streaming
02:55 Maintenance updates – Page checksums, vacuum, richer stats
03:42 What it means for developers – Why you should care