PostgreSQL 16 is now available on Scalingo

At Scalingo, we’re excited to announce that PostgreSQL 16 is now available on our platform! This latest version brings a host of improvements, so we encourage you to upgrade your instances to enhance security, reliability, and the overall performance of your applications.

In addition to regularly updating existing extensions as PostgreSQL evolves, we continuously assess and add new extensions to meet your needs and emerging use cases. Following the introduction of pgvector with PostgreSQL 15 to support AI-driven projects, we’re now thrilled to bring PostgreSQL Anonymizer with PostgreSQL 16—further strengthening our commitment to data security and privacy.

Highlights of PostgreSQL 16

Enhanced Performance for Queries and Data Handling

PostgreSQL 16 introduces several optimizations that make it faster and more efficient than ever:

• Parallel FULL and RIGHT Joins: The query planner now supports parallel execution for FULL and RIGHT joins, significantly improving query performance in large datasets.

• Improved Bulk Data Loading: The COPY command has been optimized, delivering up to 300% performance improvements for certain data loading scenarios.

• Logical Replication Improvements: Subscribers can now apply large transactions in parallel, enabling more efficient replication workflows.

Better Developer Experience

PostgreSQL 16 expands the toolkit for developers with:

• SQL/JSON Enhancements: New constructors and identity functions improve the handling of JSON data, making it easier to build and manipulate complex objects directly in SQL.

• Streamlined Access Control: Flexible role-based access controls simplify policy management across distributed systems.

Expanded Logical Replication Capabilities

Logical replication now supports row filters and column lists, giving more granular control over what data is replicated. This is particularly useful for microservice architectures where specific services only need a subset of the data.

While these features aren’t directly available to you just yet, the advancements in PostgreSQL 16 mark a significant step toward integrating them at the core of the database. This makes them more reliable, better integrated, and built to last.

These developments will soon allow us to offer replicated databases within our managed service, ensuring greater resilience and a top-tier user experience.

Privacy First: Anonymize Your Data with PostgreSQL Anonymizer

PostgreSQL Anonymizer is an extension designed to uphold the principles of Privacy by Design. It helps protect personal (or sensitive) data and provides the necessary tools to ensure compliance with regulations such as the GDPR.

By offering this extension, Scalingo reaffirms its commitment to providing modern tools that simplify compliance management and strengthen security at every stage of our customers' application lifecycle.

To learn more about PostgreSQL Anonymizer and the Privacy by Design approach, we invite you to read this article on the Dalibo blog. You’ll also find two additional articles detailing the generation of dummy data (especially useful at the start of a project) and anonymized exports (ideal for data analysis while ensuring compliance).

With the recent release of version 2.0, we took the opportunity to integrate it directly, providing you with a fully up-to-date experience!

How to Enable It?

The prerequisite is to have created one or more read-only users within your database. You can do this through your database dashboard:

Then, please contact our support team to request the activation of the PostgreSQL Anonymizer extension for the relevant users.

Extension Versions

With PostgreSQL 16, our database service now supports the latest versions of key extensions:

• TimescaleDB: 2.17.2

• PostGIS: 3.5.1

• pgvector: 0.8.0

• PostgreSQL Anonymizer: 2.0.0

You can find the complete list of supported extensions and their respective versions in our documentation.

Should You Upgrade to PostgreSQL 16?

PostgreSQL 16 builds on the strengths of the previous version and can be installed with confidence. Upgrading allows you to take advantage of its enhancements in security and user experience, without negatively impacting your current performance.

That said, while the process is reliable, we still recommend reviewing our best practices before applying major upgrades. On the other hand, minor updates should always be applied promptly, as they often contain critical security and bug fixes.

For most workloads, this update ensures optimal stability. We recommend keeping your current resource allocation, as no additional costs are expected.

One-Click Upgrade

Upgrading to PostgreSQL 16 couldn’t be easier. Simply click the Major Upgrade button from your add-on dashboard.

With the recent revamp of our dedicated database dashboard, we’ve made every effort to simplify both minor and major updates.

The upgrade process has been designed to minimize downtime, typically lasting only a few minutes, whether you're on a Starter or Business plan.

To answer any questions you may have and guide you through the update, we've created a dedicated section in our documentation that provides a detailed explanation of the major upgrade process. Explore it here: Understanding the Major Upgrade Process.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance during the upgrade process, our team is here to help. Reach out to us directly from your dashboard, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

PostgreSQL at the Core of Your Applications

With this latest version, PostgreSQL continues to uphold its reputation for performance, reliability, and innovation. And with the addition of the PostgreSQL Anonymizer extension, Scalingo reaffirms its commitment to providing modern tools tailored to your needs, ensuring the security of your applications.

Curious to explore Scalingo and try our services? Unlock the full potential of PostgreSQL on a managed platform that simplifies application deployment. Try Scalingo today and take advantage of our free trial!