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Questions & answers

About Postgres AI​

What is Postgres AI?​

Postgres AI is a technology company revolutionizing PostgreSQL development and operations. We provide tools and services that make working with PostgreSQL databases faster, safer, and more efficient:

  • DBLab Engine: Our flagship open-source platform for instant database cloning and branching
  • PostgresAI Assistant: Free AI-powered PostgreSQL expert available 24/7
  • Zero-downtime solutions: Tools and expertise for seamless PostgreSQL upgrades
  • Expert consulting: PostgreSQL performance optimization and architecture services

We help companies ship database changes 10x faster while reducing infrastructure costs and preventing production incidents.

What makes Postgres AI different?​

We provide a comprehensive PostgreSQL platform that transforms how teams work with databases:

DBLab Engine - Database Branching & Cloning:

  • Instant database branching: Create full-size database branches in 10 seconds (vs. hours with traditional methods)
  • True CI/CD for databases: Test every migration with production data using DBLab clones
  • Cost efficiency: Run 50+ DBLab clones on a single machine
  • Developer empowerment: Self-service database environments on demand with DBLab

PostgresAI Assistant - AI-Powered Expertise:

  • Multi-model AI support: Choose between GPT, Claude, and Gemini for PostgreSQL assistance
  • 24/7 availability: Get expert-level answers instantly, no waiting for human experts
  • Context-aware responses: Understands complex PostgreSQL scenarios and best practices

Professional Services & Tools:

  • Zero-downtime upgrades: Proven methodologies and tools for risk-free PostgreSQL migrations
  • Performance optimization: Expert consulting for query tuning and architecture design
  • Custom solutions: Tailored PostgreSQL tools for specific enterprise needs

Open Source Leadership:

  • Community-driven development: Core products are open source with transparent roadmaps
  • PostgreSQL ecosystem contributions: Active participation in advancing PostgreSQL technology

DBLab​

What is DBLab Engine?​

DBLab Engine is an open-source platform that enables instant cloning and branching for PostgreSQL databases. It allows you to:

  • Create full-size database clones in seconds, regardless of size
  • Test migrations, optimize queries, and debug issues with real data
  • Integrate database testing into CI/CD pipelines
  • Provide isolated development environments to every team member

How fast is database cloning?​

  • 1 TB database: ~10 seconds
  • 10 TB database: ~10 seconds
  • Speed is constant regardless of database size

Traditional approaches would take hours or days for such operations.

What editions are available?​

Community Edition (Free)

  • Open-source (Apache 2.0 license)
  • Full thin cloning capabilities
  • Community support
  • Perfect for small teams and POCs

Standard Edition (SE)

  • Commercial support included
  • Compatible with managed databases (RDS, Cloud SQL, etc.)
  • One-click deployment via Console
  • Monitoring and alerting included
  • Starting from $0.27/hour

Enterprise Edition (EE)

  • Everything in SE, plus:
  • Unified control plane for multiple instances
  • SSO and advanced user management
  • Comprehensive audit logs
  • API for automation
  • Custom pricing based on requirements

What is "thin cloning"?​

Thin cloning uses Copy-on-Write (CoW) technology to create virtual database copies that:

  • Share unchanged data blocks between clones
  • Appear as completely independent databases
  • Support full read/write operations
  • Use minimal additional storage

This is fundamentally different from traditional copying, which duplicates all data.

How does DBLab Engine work?​

  1. Initial sync: DBLab copies data from your source database (thick clone)
  2. Continuous sync: Keeps data up-to-date using logical or physical replication
  3. Snapshot management: Automatically creates and manages data snapshots
  4. Instant cloning: Creates thin clones from any snapshot in seconds
  5. Isolation: Each clone is fully isolated and can be modified independently

What technologies does DBLab use?​

  • Storage: ZFS (recommended) or LVM for Copy-on-Write capabilities
  • Containerization: Docker for clone isolation
  • Replication: PostgreSQL logical/physical replication for data sync
  • API: RESTful API for automation and integration

Do I need to modify my production database?​

No. DBLab runs completely separately from your production environment. It only needs:

  • Read access to your database (for initial copy)
  • Replication connection (for continuous sync)
  • No ZFS, Docker, or special software on production

Who uses DBLab Engine?​

Development Teams

  • Get production-like data for development
  • Test database changes before deployment
  • Debug production issues safely

DevOps Engineers

  • Automate database provisioning in CI/CD
  • Reduce staging environment costs
  • Standardize database workflows

QA Teams

  • Test with real data scenarios
  • Reproduce production bugs
  • Validate data migrations

DBAs

  • Optimize queries with production data
  • Test PostgreSQL upgrades safely
  • Train junior DBAs without risk

What problems does DBLab solve?​

✅ Long wait times for database copies ✅ High infrastructure costs for non-production environments ✅ Production incidents from untested database changes ✅ Developer productivity bottlenecks ✅ Compliance issues with production data access

What infrastructure do I need for DBLab?​

For DBLab Engine:

  • Dedicated machine (VM or physical)
  • Disk space = database size + 20% overhead
  • 16GB+ RAM recommended
  • Any modern Linux distribution
  • Network access to source database

Supported environments:

  • ✅ AWS, GCP, Azure
  • ✅ On-premises data centers
  • ✅ VMware, Nutanix
  • ✅ Any PostgreSQL 9.6+

Can I use DBLab with managed databases?​

Yes! DBLab works with:

  • Amazon RDS & Aurora
  • Google Cloud SQL
  • Azure Database for PostgreSQL
  • Heroku Postgres
  • Supabase
  • Any PostgreSQL-compatible service

For managed databases, we use logical replication for data synchronization.

How quickly can I get started with DBLab?​

  • Community Edition: 1-2 hours to first clone
  • Standard Edition: 15 minutes with guided setup
  • POC Support: We offer free POC assistance

Is my data secure?​

  • DBLab runs in your infrastructure
  • No data leaves your environment
  • Full audit logging (Enterprise Edition)
  • Encryption at rest and in transit
  • Role-based access control

Can I mask sensitive data?​

Yes! DBLab supports:

  • Custom data masking rules
  • Subset data for smaller clones
  • Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, SOC2

How is DBLab priced?​

Community Edition: Free forever (Apache 2.0 license)

Standard Edition: Based on compute resources

  • Starts at ~$63/month (excl. costs of cloud resources)
  • No per-database or per-clone fees
  • Transparent hourly billing

Enterprise Edition: Annual contracts

  • Custom pricing based on scale
  • Includes professional services
  • SLA guarantees

How do I get support?​

Community Edition:

Paid Editions:

  • Dedicated support team
  • Email/Slack/Zoom priority support
  • Support of custom Postgres images and Postgres images for popular Postgres platforms (details)
  • Custom training available

Where can I learn more?​

How do I contact Postgres AI?​

See the "Contact us" page.

PostgresAI Assistant​

What is PostgresAI Assistant?​

An AI-powered chatbot specifically trained for PostgreSQL questions, supporting multiple leading AI models including GPT, Claude, and Gemini. It helps with:

  • Query optimization
  • Schema design
  • Performance troubleshooting
  • Best practices guidance
  • PostgreSQL feature explanations

Available at https://postgres.ai - no registration required for public conversations.

Is PostgresAI Assistant really free?​

Yes! Public conversations are completely free. For private conversations with sensitive data, you can register your organization in the Console.

Have a question not answered here? Contact us at [email protected]