PostgreSQL 18 is on the horizon. And you’re asking: worth the move now, or wait?
What’s New in PostgreSQL 18?
-
Asynchronous I/O (AIO)
Enables faster file-system reads, vacuum, and scans. On Linux, uses io_uring; other OSes get a worker-based fallback. Expect 2–3× speed boosts on read ops. -
UUIDv7 Support
Timestamp-ordered identifiers are now native. Better indexing, fewer random insert hotspots. -
EXPLAIN Enhancements
EXPLAIN ANALYZE now auto-includes buffer stats. VERBOSE mode adds WAL, CPU, average read info. Richer autovacuum/plan insights. -
NOT NULL … NOT VALID
Add constraints without full table scans. Validate later. More uptime, less locking. -
JSON_TABLE Support
Treat JSON like a relational table. Flatten nested data with cleaner syntax than jsonb_extract_path_text() and joins. -
Logical Replication → Full DDL Support + Sequences
Schema changes (CREATE, ALTER, DROP) now replicate automatically, even sequence values sync across nodes. -
UNIQUE NULLS DISTINCT Constraint
NULLs now treated as unique. No more weird work-arounds for optional unique fields. -
Major Upgrade Boosts
- Keep planner stats across upgrades.
- pg_upgrade adds --jobs (parallel checks) and --swap (dir swaps). Faster, smoother upgrades.
-
OAuth 2.0 Authentication
Modern enterprise SSO support (Okta, Azure AD). -
Observable Databases
New metrics in pg_stat_all_tables, pg_stat_io, and subscription stats. Vacuum timing, I/O bytes, WAL use, replication conflict logs, right inside Postgres. -
Wire Protocol 3.2
First protocol update since 2003. Prep your client libraries. libpq sticks with 3.0 for now. -
Optimizer Smarts
- Skip scans on multi-column B-tree indexes.
- Transform IN (VALUES…) into = ANY.
- Push HAVING filters earlier.
- Drop redundant GROUP BY columns on unique index coverage.
And more, extension control, faster GIN builds, smarter indexes, virtual generated columns, temporal constraints… plenty to explore.
Should You Migrate Now?
Not Yet, Beta Phase
- PostgreSQL 18 is still in beta (as of mid-August 2025). Final release expected around September–October 2025.
- Beta 3 is out. Use it for testing. Don’t run production on it.
Yes, Start Planning Now
- Benchmark performance improvements like AIO and optimizer changes.
- Test upgrade paths, especially with planner stats and new pg_upgrade flags.
- Adjust apps for new features:
- Use JSON_TABLE, UUIDv7, UNIQUE NULLS DISTINCT.
- Update client libraries for wire protocol 3.2.
- Adapt authentication flow if using OAuth or retiring MD5.
Wait for GA Release for Production
- Hold off on migration until final release.
- Once GA hits, weigh:
- Performance gains vs. compatibility risk.
- App-level testing readiness.
- Client and extension support for new features.
Quick Comparison
| Stage | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beta phase | Test, benchmark, fix issues | Prepare early; avoid surprises at launch |
| GA release | Plan migration, test thoroughly, upgrade | Get benefits with minimal risk |
| Post-migration | Monitor performance, tweak configs | Optimize with new insights and metrics |
Bottom line:
This isn’t a no-brainer upgrade yet. But the performance, observability, and developer productivity gains are compelling.
Best move now? Start testing. Get ready. Migrate when it drops GA.
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