Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Hi! My name is Vik Fearing, I'm originally from the US but have made my home in France for the past 21 years. I started using PostgreSQL in 2008, and in 2013 switched to being a full-time consultant, auditor, and trainer.

I am also the main organizer of pgDay Paris, an annual 1-day 1-track PostgreSQL conference in Paris.

Have you enjoyed previous pgconf.eu conferences, either as attendee or as speaker?

Oh yes, PGConf.EU is a staple of my PostgreSQL diet. I started attending in 2011 in Amsterdam and have been every year except Madrid when I was unfortunately sick. I started speaking last year in Tallinn.

What will your talk be about, exactly? Why this topic?

My talk this year is about the various caching buffers used in PostgreSQL: what they're used for, how they're managed, how to configure them, and what to monitor.

I chose this topic because it's one of the essential building blocks of PostgreSQL. Understanding how the buffers work leads to a much deeper understanding of how many other things work. It helps you understand why some things are the way they are, and the necessary precautions you must take (like analyzing and vacuuming your own temporary tables).

What is the audience for your talk?

The audience will be beginners and intermediate level users, but more advanced users might learn a thing or two as well.

What existing knowledge should the attendee have?

No prior PostgreSQL knowledge is required.