---
title: "This Week's PostgreSQL News (#173)"
publication: "Postgres Weekly"
issue: 173
published_at: "2016-09-07"
canonical_url: "https://postgresweekly.com/issues/173"
---

Postgres Weekly 173   . 

[Read this on the Web](http://postgresweekly.com/issues/173) 

[Postgres Weekly](http://postgresweekly.com) Issue 173 — September 7, 2016     

[PostgreSQL 9.6 RC 1 Released](https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/1693/?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)The first release candidate of Postgres 9.6 is here, which means we’re not far away from the full release. Help the community out by giving it a test today. postgresql.​org#news [When To Avoid JSONB in a PostgreSQL Schema](http://blog.heapanalytics.com/when-to-avoid-jsonb-in-a-postgresql-schema/?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)Postgres’ JSONB support can be powerful and flexible, but it’s not a once size fits all. This deeper dive looks at various implications of using it including indexing, performance, and storage. Dan Robinson#tutorial [PostgreSQL 9.1 Reaching Its End of Life](http://blog.2ndquadrant.com/postgresql-9-1-end-of-life/?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)If you’re still using 9.1 in production, it’s time to consider an upgrade. After November, there will be no more updates. Simon Riggs [A lightning-fast server for a powerful database.](http://welcome.linode.com/postgres-weekly?utm_source=cooperpress&utm_medium=primary&utm_term=go&utm_campaign=postgres-weekly)Join the masses of users already optimizing their PostgreSQL queries on the quick, easy to use, and powerful Linode SSD servers. Get started with $20 of credit with the code 'POSTGRES20'. Linode#sponsored[![\](https://copm.s3.amazonaws.com/1eb3d9d3.png)](http://welcome.linode.com/postgres-weekly?utm_source=cooperpress&utm_medium=primary&utm_term=go&utm_campaign=postgres-weekly) [Fun With SQL Constraints](http://www.anserinae.net/fun-with-sql-constraints.html?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)Constraints aren’t always specified using the CONSTRAINT keyword as highlighted in this lightweight post showing how unique indexes can do the same thing. Kamil#tutorial [Creating Pivot Tables in PostgreSQL Using Crosstab](https://www.compose.com/articles/metrics-maven-creating-pivot-tables-in-postgresql-using-crosstab/?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)Pivot tables are extremely common in Excel, but you can also do them directly in the database. Here’s a look at a Postgres extension that makes them simple to do right in Postgres. Compose Articles#tutorial [pg_pathman 1.0(.1) Released: A Partitioning Tool for Postgres](https://github.com/postgrespro/pg_pathman?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)The pg_pathman module provides optimized partitioning mechanism and functions to manage partitions. Postgres Professional#code [pg_cron: Run Periodic Jobs in PostgreSQL](https://github.com/citusdata/pg_cron?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)If you need to regularly schedule jobs directly in your database this extension can make it easier. Citus Data#code [A Podcast Segment on libpq and the pg Ruby Gem](https://overcast.fm/+DuasjJ0Bc/17:09?utm_source=postgresweekly&utm_medium=email)An interesting excerpt from this week’s ‘The Bike Shed’ podcast drills into some of how the `libpq` driver works and its integration with the `pg` Ruby gem. The Bike Shed Podcast [Stop wasting time - know what you'll earn before the interview](https://hired.com/?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=petercooperpress&utm_campaign=q3-16-postgresweekly)On Hired, sign up in 10 minutes and get offers from top companies like GitHub, Uber, & Stripe. Engineers get an average of 5 offers on the platform in 1 week Hired.​com#sponsored    

Postgres Weekly is curated by [Craig Kerstiens](https://twitter.com/craigkerstiens) [Read this issue on the Web](http://postgresweekly.com/issues/173) [See our archives](http://postgresweekly.com/issues) [Change your email address](*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*)  [Stop getting this newsletter](*|UNSUB|*)  

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