SEAPUG Spring Series: String Comparisons and Database Corruption

Comparisons are fundamental to computing. Comparing strings is not nearly as straightforward as you might think. I plan to start with a refresher on encoding, collation and localization. Then walk through some highlights from 25 years of PostgreSQL history in this area, all the way up to changes coming in next major - version 16 - and further changes being discussed. We'll talk about PostgreSQL features that can make your SQL more elegant and capable, and administration mistakes to avoid. Lastly we'll walk through a demo of how mis-management of Postgres in this area can lead to corruption or data loss, we'll take a peek behind the curtain at some recent PG work and safety improvements, and we'll look at a string comparison torture test.

There is visitor parking in the garage of the Eastlake Building at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and there is also street parking. The meters become free at 6pm.

We plan to provide pizza. Hope to see you there!