#451 Databases are a Fad

Topics covered in this episode:

• * PostgreSQL 18 Released*
• * Testing is better than DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms)*
• * Pyrefly in Cursor/PyCharm/VSCode/etc*
• * Playwright & pytest techniques that bring me joy*
• Extras
• Joke

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Michael #1: PostgreSQL 18 Released

• PostgreSQL 18 is out (Sep 25, 2025) with a focus on faster text handling, async I/O, and easier upgrades.
• New async I/O subsystem speeds sequential scans, bitmap heap scans, and vacuum by issuing concurrent reads instead of blocking on each request.
• Major-version upgrades are smoother: pg_upgrade retains planner stats, adds parallel checks via -jobs, and supports faster cutovers with -swap.
• Smarter query performance lands with skip scans on multicolumn B-tree indexes, better OR optimization, incremental-sort merge joins, and parallel GIN index builds.
• Dev quality-of-life: virtual generated columns enabled by default, a uuidv7() generator for time-ordered IDs, and RETURNING can expose both OLD and NEW.
• Security gets an upgrade with native OAuth 2.0 authentication; MD5 password auth is deprecated and TLS controls expand.
• Text operations get a boost via the new PG_UNICODE_FAST collation, faster upper/lower, a casefold() helper, and clearer collation behavior for LIKE/FTS.

Brian #2: Testing is better than DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms)

• Ned Batchelder
• If you need to grind through DSA problems to get your first job, then of course, do that, but if you want to prepare yourself for a career, and also stand out in job interviews, learn how to write tests.
• Testing is a skill you’ll use constantly, will make you stand out in job interviews, and isn’t taught well in school (usually).
• Testing code well is not obvious. It’s a puzzle and a problem to solve.
• It gives you confidence and helps you write better code.
• Applies everywhere, at all levels.
• Notes from Brian
  • Most devs suck at testing, so being good at it helps you stand out very quickly.
  • Thinking about a system and how to test it often very quickly shines a spotlight on problem areas, parts with not enough specification, and fuzzy requirements. This is a g