Please tell us about yourself, and where you are from.

My name is Shruthi K C, and I live in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. I work as a Database Developer at EnterpriseDB, with over 15 years of experience in databases. The last 4 years I have been primarily focused on PostgreSQL.

How do you spend your free time? What are your hobbies?

My free time is usually spent with my family. We often go out together, and I absolutely love having mommy-daughter dates with my daughter, where we get to spend quality time and enjoy each other’s company. I also make sure to catch up on my daughter’s academic work that I couldn’t attend to during busy days. When I’m alone, I enjoy watching movies, and web series.

Any exercises you do regularly?

Yes, I exercise 5 to 6 times a week. I attend group classes that include a mix of strength training, yoga, and dance. To me, music and dance are therapeutic, and I always look forward to the dance sessions. I’m also a yoga enthusiast and enjoy taking walks with my friends, as it’s a great time for chit-chat.

Any Social Media channels of yours we should be aware of?

LinkedIn

Are you known by a nickname in the community? If yes, what’s the history?

I don’t have a nickname at home. However, my friends in school and college addressed me by my initials, ‘K.C.’, because ‘Shruthi’ is a popular name in India, and every academic year typically had multiple students with the same name. There was even a time when my class had 7 girls named ‘Shruthi’ 😇.

Last book you read? Or a book you want to recommend to readers?

I’m not much of a reader, but I’m looking forward to getting back into reading books.

Favorite movie, or show?

I usually watch comedy shows, movies, and series on OTT platforms. Some of the recent ones I’ve watched are ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’ and ‘Squid Game’.

Best music, best song?

I love music, and it’s hard to choose just one band or genre. My playlist is a mix of songs from various bands and artists like Queen, Goo Goo Dolls, Adele, Post Malone, Hanumankind, Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift and Coldplay, just to name a few. In recent years, my daughter introduced me to the K-pop band BLACKPINK, and now I follow them just as much as she does.

Best food?

I enjoy both Indian and Chinese cuisines.

Best drink? Non-alcoholic or alcoholic?

Coffee!! I love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning.

What does your ideal weekend look like?

My ideal weekend involves spending time with my family, preparing for the upcoming week, and meeting up with friends.

What’s still on your bucket list?

My bucket list includes exploring and traveling around the world. I would love to visit Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland.

What is the best advice you ever got?

I have received valuable advice from many people and have been fortunate to have had various mentors at different stages of my life. One piece of advice that has stuck with me for a long time is: ‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.’ This reminds me that with determination, focus, and self-belief, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.

When did you start using PostgreSQL, and why?

I was introduced to PostgreSQL when I joined EnterpriseDB, and I have been associated with PostgreSQL since March 2021.

Do you remember which version of PostgreSQL you started with?

PostgreSQL version 13.

Have you studied at a university? If yes, was it related to computers? Did your study help you with your current job?

I completed my Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University. The curriculum included courses in computer architecture, algorithms, data structures, C programming, and Database fundamentals. This educational background has undoubtedly laid the foundation for the work I do today.

What other databases are you using? Which one is your favorite?

I started my career at Huawei, where I worked on in-memory relational databases designed primarily to support their internal products. I also worked with Oracle for two years before being introduced to PostgreSQL. PostgreSQL has undoubtedly become my favorite database.

On which PostgreSQL-related projects are you currently working?

I mainly work on EDB-specific PostgreSQL projects and am currently implementing Oracle Pro*C compatible features for ECPGPlus.

How do you contribute to PostgreSQL?

I contribute to PostgreSQL by developing new features, reporting and fixing bugs, and conducting code reviews.

Any contributions to PostgreSQL which do not involve writing code?

I contribute by sharing my opinions, reviewing code patches, conducting tests, discussing PostgreSQL at conferences, and more.

What is your favorite PostgreSQL extension?

There are several extensions that I find quite useful. To name a few, pg_catcheck helps detect system catalog corruption, and pg_squeeze helps manage table bloat without requiring exclusive locks.

What is the most annoying PostgreSQL thing you can think of? And any chance to fix it?

Transaction ID Wraparound and Table Bloat are two common challenges in PostgreSQL. While PostgreSQL provides built-in mechanisms to handle these issues, effectively configuring autovacuum to manage them can still be a bit tricky.

What is the feature you like most in the latest PostgreSQL version?

I consider the ‘Incremental Backup’ and ‘Logical Replication Improvements’ to be great additions to PostgreSQL v17.

Adding to that, what feature/mechanism would you like to see in PostgreSQL? And why?

I would like to see further enhancements in Logical Replication, Partitioning, and Scalability in PostgreSQL. Additionally, I believe there’s a need to improve the autovacuum threshold setting mechanism to make it more dynamic, intelligent, and responsive to ever-changing workloads and database usage patterns.

Should PostgreSQL have a built-in connection pooler?

Yes, definitely. Popular connection poolers like Pgpool-II and PgBouncer are great, but having a built-in solution would be even better.

Should PostgreSQL have built-in multi-master replication?

While built-in multi-master replication would be an exciting feature for PostgreSQL, it comes with significant challenges. PostgreSQL is designed with a strong focus on consistency, reliability, and data integrity, so introducing multi-master replication would require careful consideration of the trade-offs between performance, complexity, and consistency.

Could you describe your PostgreSQL development toolbox?

I use VS Code, and it is a game-changer for development. Its code browsing features are incredibly helpful, and the shortcuts are a real time-saver. GitLens and Git History are especially useful for developers working with version control. With features like IntelliSense, debugging, Git integration, and its minimalistic UI, VS Code definitely makes development smoother and more efficient.

Which skills are a must have for a PostgreSQL developer/user?

C programming, excellent debugging abilities, and a strong understanding of database internals.

Do you use any git best practices, which makes working with PostgreSQL easier?

Some of the git commands I frequently use are git clean, git pull, git diff --check, git format-patch, git commit, and git rebase.

Which PostgreSQL conferences do you visit? Do you submit talks?

Yes, I have been an active participant in PostgreSQL conferences since 2023. So far, I have spoken at PGConfIndia 2023, PGConfIndia 2024, and the Postgres WomenForData Summit 2025.

Do you think PostgreSQL has a high entry barrier?

No, not at all. PostgreSQL has excellent documentation to help you understand its features, along with a very friendly community to answer all your queries. There is a vast set of resources available, including documents, blogs, videos, and conferences.

What is your advice for people who want to start PostgreSQL developing - as in, contributing to the project. Where and how should they start?

The PostgreSQL documentation is the best place to start learning, and there are plenty of blogs and YouTube videos that cover PostgreSQL topics in detail. When it comes to the source code, the README is often the best place to start, and the code comments are also helpful in understanding why certain approaches are used.

Do you think PostgreSQL will be here for many years in the future?

Given the rapid increase in PostgreSQL’s popularity over the years, it is certainly poised to remain a key player for many more years, with even better and more advanced features.

Would you recommend PostgreSQL for business, or for side projects?

Yes, absolutely. PostgreSQL is an excellent choice for businesses due to its scalability, advanced features, and strong focus on data integrity and security. It is also a great option for side projects, offering flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and a rich set of features suitable for a variety of use cases. In both contexts, PostgreSQL provides the power, flexibility, and reliability that developers and businesses need.

Are you reading the -hackers mailinglist? Any other list?

Yes, I do follow the -hackers mailing list.

SQL versus NoSQL databases?

SQL databases are best for structured data with strict consistency needs, while NoSQL databases excel in flexible, scalable applications with unstructured data and high availability requirements. Both have their strengths, and the choice should be driven by the specific needs of the application.

What other places do you hang out?

• Hackers Mailinglist
• Facebook
• Instagram

Which other Open Source projects are you involved or interested in?

Only PostgreSQL

Anything else you like to add?

Working with the PostgreSQL community has been a wonderful experience. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by so many intelligent individuals. I’m grateful to EnterpriseDB for introducing me to PostgreSQL, and I want to thank the community members and my colleagues at EnterpriseDB for their guidance and invaluable support throughout this journey.