PostgreSQL 8.0.2 released with patent fix

Posted Apr 12, 2005 12:05 UTC (Tue) by nconway (guest, #3391)
In reply to: PostgreSQL 8.0.2 released with patent fix by dlang
Parent article: PostgreSQL 8.0.2 released with patent fix

There were a few reasons why we didn't talk to IBM. We would have needed IBM to license the patent to PGDG (the open source project), as well as any commercial entity that wanted to modify and redistribute PostgreSQL. Since those commercial entities include companies like Fujitsu and Pervasive that compete with IBM, most people thought IBM wouldn't be willing to do this.

Also, there might have been more merit in talking to IBM if the patented algorithm could be shown to be significantly better than any unpatented alternative. However, all the tests we've run have indicated that 2Q has about the same performance as ARC -- if you have benchmarks that indicate otherwise, please post to the pgsql-hackers list about it. Going through a bunch of legal headaches for an algorithm that doesn't improve performance doesn't make a lot of sense. It's also worth noting that this entire subsystem has been rewritten in 8.1 for better locking performance -- because of the way the new locking scheme works, neither 2Q or ARC can be used, so the point is moot in the long run. That's why I think that a simple technical fix that doesn't hurt performance and doesn't involve lawyers makes the most sense.

Cheers,

Neil Conway