Databases in 2025: A Year in Review
The world tried to kill Andy off but he had to stay alive to to talk about what happened with databases in 2025.
Andy Pavlo - Carnegie Mellon University
Latest posts
Databases in 2024: A Year in Review
Andy rises from the ashes of his dead startup and discusses what happened in 2024 in the database game.
Databases in 2023: A Year in Review
Andy recounts the rise of vector databases to SQL:2023 to MariaDB troubles and the FAA outage in 2023.
Yes, PostgreSQL Has Problems. But We’re Sticking With It!
Andy explores ways to optimize PostgreSQL for each of the problems caused by the implementation of multi-version concurrency control in PostgreSQL.
The Part of PostgreSQL We Hate the Most
As much as Andy loves PostgreSQL, there is one part that is terrible and causes many headaches for people. Learn what it is and why it sucks.
Databases in 2022: A Year in Review
Andy is back with his analysis of the database world in 2022, including VC funding, blockchains, and Larry Ellison.
Ten Database Crack Commandments
In memory of Biggie Smalls, Andy Pavlo presents his 10 Database Commandments - street rules for database management.
Databases in 2021: A Year in Review
Andy's take on 2021 database industry happenings - PostgreSQL, Performance Wars, Passings, and Larry Ellison.
You Are Overpaying Jeff Bezos For Your Databases (And The Things He Does With That Extra Money)
Andy discusses why Jeff Bezos's Amazon Web Services makes you overpay for your database management systems.
On Naming a Database Management System
Andy deliberates over naming schemes for database management systems.
An Updated Guide on Where to Apply for a PhD in Databases in the US (2018)
Andy provides an updated list of US database researchers as a guide for students applying to Ph.D. programs in 2018.
What is a Self-Driving Database Management System?
Andy discusses what it means to have a self-driving database management system and whether it is even possible to build one.
Building a New Database Management System in Academia
Andy muses over whether it is possible to build a DBMS in academia and on using Postgres as a starting point.
Where to Apply for a PhD in Database Systems in the US (2016)
Andy provides a list of his favorite database researchers in the US as a guide for students applying to graduate school.
Chasing the Dragon of OLTP Databases
Andy comes clean and talks about overcoming his database performance addiction problem.
My Favorite Database Shirts
Andy reviews his favorite NoSQL and NewSQL database shirts.
The Carnegie Mellon Database Application Catalog
Andy announces a new on-line repository of ready-to-run database applications.
CMU's New Graduate Database System Internals Course
Andy reflects on his laborious effort to teach a new course on database system internals.
Should You Email a Professor During the Ph.D. Admissions Season?
Andy discusses whether a prospective Ph.D. applicant should email a faculty member.
How to Write a Bad Statement for a Computer Science Ph.D. Admissions Application
Andy discuss examples of bad statements sent to CMU's Ph.D. admissions committee in hope that others don't make the same mistake.
The Next 50 Years of Databases
Andy attempts to revive his blog by predicting what databases will look like in the year 2065.
Open Problems in Transaction Processing (Part 2 of 3): Many-Core CPU Architectures
Andy prognosticates on the problems of using future many-core CPUs for OLTP database systems.
Open Problems in Transaction Processing (Part 1 of 3): Non-Volatile Memory
Andy pontificates on open problems of non-volatile memory in OLTP systems research.
Fall 2013 Database Research Projects
Andy regales everyone with the research projects from his first semester.
Whereupon Andy Gets a Blog
Andy starts writing a blog and reflects on the recent job search. People will sing songs about this day for years to come.