From Apache Kafka to PostgreSQL, PostgreSQL maturity and extensions, and building on PostgreSQL with Gwen Shapira (CPO at Nile)

What does it take to go from leading Kafka development at Confluent to becoming a key figure in the PostgreSQL world? Join us as we talk with Gwen Shapira, co-founder and chief product officer at Nile, about her transition from cloud-native technologies to the vibrant PostgreSQL community. Gwen shares her journey, including the shift from conferences like O'Reilly Strata to PostgresConf and JavaScript events, and how the Postgres community is evolving with tools like Discord that keep it both grounded and dynamic.

We dive into the latest developments in PostgreSQL, like hypothetical indexes that enable performance tuning without affecting live environments, and the growing importance of SSL for secure database connections in cloud settings. Plus, we explore the potential of integrating PostgreSQL with Apache Arrow and Parquet, signaling new possibilities for data processing and storage.

At the intersection of AI and PostgreSQL, we examine how companies are using vector embeddings in Postgres to meet modern AI demands, balancing specialized vector stores with integrated solutions. Gwen also shares insights from her work at Nile, highlighting how PostgreSQL’s flexibility supports SaaS applications across diverse customer needs, making it a top choice for enterprises of all sizes.

Follow Gwen on:

• Nile Blog
• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Nile Discord

What's New In Data is a data thought leadership series hosted by John Kutay who leads data and products at Striim. What's New In Data hosts industry practitioners to discuss latest trends, common patterns for real world data patterns, and analytics success stories.