The Art of PostgreSQL

Turn complex application logic into efficient, scalable SQL queries that run fast in real systems.

Build queries that perform well naturally by leveraging proper schema design, relational modeling, and PostgreSQL advanced features.

Model data and relationships that hold up under growth, load, and real-world constraints.

"This book is on a higher level than generic software books. It explains the how's and why's of using Postgres's many feature. It is an excellent companion to the official Postgres documentation."

"At last the definitive Postgres book for app developers is out, and from the amazing @tapoueh no less. Go get it!"

"Full edition of The Art of PostgreSQL is BRILLIANT! Not just best PG resource ever but best tech-learning package I've ever seen!"

"Thanks for your fantastic book. It's helped me immensely in my current job. Technical books can often be a bore and hard to digest, but The Art of PostgreSQL was a pleasure to read."

The book is your entry point to a complete PostgreSQL system. Learn the fundamentals, practice with real data, then apply advanced techniques in production.

You get the complete book with practical SQL techniques, real-world examples, and datasets to follow along and experiment.

Start here to build solid foundations, then continue with the Course and Workshop to deepen your expertise.

The online edition includes everything you need to work hands-on: the datasets and all queries are provided as separate SQL files, so you can run, modify, and experiment locally. It also connects directly with the companion lab on GitHub.

Get a physical copy of the book to read, annotate, and keep at hand while you work. The paperback is designed to be a practical companion—something you can open next to your editor or database console as you apply the concepts.

It includes the full digital edition as well, so you can switch seamlessly between reading on screen and working through examples locally. Same content, different format—choose what fits your workflow best.

Written by a PostgreSQL major contributor—author of CREATE EXTENSION and Event Triggers—and creator of tools such as pgloader, pgcopydb, and pg_auto_failover. With years of production consulting and international conference speaking experience, the content is built for developers who need practical, real-world skills, not theory.

The Second Edition, Updated (2026) covers PostgreSQL 10 through 18 — the core architecture, query optimization strategies, indexing approaches, and data modeling practices are all current.

The course and workshop cover current PostgreSQL releases.

The core of what you'll learn — window functions, CTEs, aggregates, indexing strategy, normalization, concurrency, extensions — is as relevant in PostgreSQL 17/18 as it was in PostgreSQL 11. SQL doesn't expire.

Where newer versions have introduced improvements (partitioning, logical replication, generated columns, improved EXPLAIN), the concepts taught here give you exactly the foundation needed to understand and use those features.

This is not a book about PostgreSQL version X — it's a book about thinking in SQL.

The Second Edition, Updated (2026) is now available — covering PostgreSQL 10 through 18, with a new chapter on vector search with pgvector, 56 new figures, and a fully integrated companion lab. Everyone who purchases receives all future updates free of charge.

Learn SQL, performance, and data modeling that works in production

The Art of PostgreSQL is a complete, practical system to move from writing queries to designing and operating real data systems. Start with the book to build solid foundations, then go deeper with structured courses, use the lab for hands-on practice, and register to expert-led workshops.

Solid SQL foundations — correctness, clarity, essential patterns.

Performance mastery — query plans, optimization, indexing.

System design — schemas, scaling, production decisions.

Workshops cover specific topics in depth — window functions, EXPLAIN plans, aggregation patterns, and more. Limited seats, expert instruction, immediate application.

Run docker compose up -d and you're done. A pre-seeded PostgreSQL instance starts with all the book's real-world datasets already loaded — NYSE trading data, music charts, F1 results, MoMA collection, and more.

Open localhost:8042 to reach an interactive query pane: browse the book's table of contents , pick a chapter, and every SQL query from that chapter is right there — ready to run, edit, and experiment with. No account, no install beyond Docker.

The book is the foundation. Everything else builds on it.

Not convinced yet? Get a FREE chapter including the full Table of Contents!