Bringing PostgreSQL towards zero downtime migration with Python

on YouTube ↗28m

" summary

Claims a practical path to near zero downtime schema changes by using PostgreSQL 9.4’s logical replication plus a JSON output plugin and Python to transform and replay changes. Workflow: switch a replica to logical replication, pause and apply the schema change on that node, run a wal2json feed into a Python pg_migrator pipeline using psycopg to transform rows and replay missing writes, then do a brief cutover — aiming for only a few seconds of downtime.

AI-written summary · about

" chapters (8)

1. 0:00Start
2. 0:22INTRO
3. 0:57MIGRATION NEEDED
4. 2:23POSTGRESQL 9.4 IS HOT
5. 4:20OUR TOOLBOX
6. 5:35WORKFLOW
7. 7:37NEW PYTHON BACKEND
8. 18:46FUTURE

" related talks

• 01h 41mPostgreSQL Upgrades with Logical Replication & Minimal DowntimeIldefonso C · Postgres Conference Orlando 2025
• 38mPostgreSQL pgroll: Zero-Downtime, Reversible MigrationsNishchay Kothari · FOSSASIA PGDay 2025
• 01h 01mAlways Online or BustShaun Thomas · Postgres Conference Orlando 2025
• 35mScaling UPI for the Future: Zero Downtime Migration toBrahmalish Divve · Distributed SQL Summit Asia 2025
• 49mBeyond PostgreSQL 17Vibhor Kumar · Postgres Conference Orlando 2025
• 48mMigrating to PostgreSQL: Strategies, Sovereignty, and SuccessRaphael Salguero · PostgreSQL Conference Europe 2025
• 37mDatabase Schema Migrations with Zero DowntimeMichiel Rook · PHP UK Conference 2018
• 43mPostgres schema migrations using the expand/contract patternAndrew Farries · PostgreSQL Conference Europe 2024