Creating a Postgres platform with Monica & Tudor from Xata.io
Oct 7, 2024
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Monica Sarbu, founder of Xata.io, and Tudor Golubenco, the CTO, share their journey from Elastic to launching Xata, a Postgres database platform. They discuss the challenges of schema management and the innovations behind their free tier, which supports both developers and nonprofits. The duo also explores how user-friendly database solutions can empower underrepresented groups in tech and the significance of their open-source roots in shaping Xata's mission.
Zeta emphasizes a developer-centric approach, facilitating scalable application development with a fully managed PostgreSQL database platform designed for efficiency.
The founders shared valuable insights from their collaborative journey, highlighting the importance of trust and mutual understanding in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
With tools like PG Roll and PG Stream, Zeta addresses critical database needs, ensuring seamless schema changes and efficient data synchronization for enhanced functionality.
Deep dives
Overview of Zeta's Database Platform
Zeta is designed as a fully managed PostgreSQL database platform tailored for developers, enhancing their workflow and enabling scalable application development. One of its major offerings includes PG Roll, a tool that facilitates zero downtime, reversible schema changes, addressing a significant pain point in application management. Additionally, Zeta provides a data synchronization feature, allowing seamless replication of data between PostgreSQL and other systems like OpenSearch, enhancing full-text search capabilities. This focus on developer experience is central to Zeta's mission, aiming to simplify database management while allowing developers to concentrate on building their applications.
Founders' Journey and Background
Monica and Tudor, co-founders of Zeta, share a rich history rooted in their previous company, PacketBit, which was developed before their tenure at Elastic and acquired by them. Their expertise in the open-source space was honed while at Elastic, where they contributed significantly to observability tools. Their bond extends beyond the professional realm, as they are married and have been collaborating in business for 24 years, further enriching their shared vision for Zeta. The couple's journey illustrates the significance of trust and mutual understanding in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.
Open Source Strategy and Community Engagement
Zeta prioritizes an open-source strategy, inspired by the founders' belief in community-driven development, as demonstrated in their previous projects. This approach not only fosters a strong developer community but also enhances product credibility among enterprise clients, who often prefer open-source solutions. With projects like PG Roll and PG Stream, Zeta aims to offer valuable tools that address developers' specific needs related to PostgreSQL. This strategy reflects a commitment to building a collaborative ecosystem that benefits both users and the company as it expands.
Innovative Features: PG Roll and PG Stream
PG Roll provides developers with the ability to implement schema changes without downtime while ensuring backward compatibility for applications. This unique functionality empowers teams to manage database migrations seamlessly, enhancing operational efficiency. On the other hand, PG Stream allows for real-time replication of PostgreSQL data to systems like OpenSearch, streamlining data management and improving search functionality across applications. These features collectively represent Zeta's focus on innovative solutions designed to minimize complexity and enhance user experience.
The Vision for the Future of Zeta
As Zeta continues to grow, the founders envision a platform that not only simplifies database management but also evolves with the changing needs of developers and organizations. Their commitment to maintaining a low-cost, free tier enables startups and non-profits to harness powerful database capabilities without barriers. The integration of user feedback will also shape future developments, ensuring Zeta remains responsive to its community's needs. Through ongoing innovation and an unwavering focus on the developer experience, Zeta aims to become a leading choice in the database-as-a-service landscape.
Want to learn more Postgres? Check out my Postgres course: https://masteringpostgres.com.
Production ready Postgres for teams that ship fast: https://xata.io In this interview, I talk with Monica Sarbu and Tudor Golubenco from Xata about their journey from Elastic to founding Xata. We deep dive on building a Postgres hosting platform, handling schema changes, and how they've made their free tier economical.
Links Mentioned: Xata.io: https://xata.io/ The economics of a Postgres free tier: https://xata.io/blog/postgres-free-tier
Follow Monica & Tudor: Monica on Twitter: https://twitter.com/monicasarbu Monica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicasarbu Tudor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tudor_g Tudor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tudorgolubenco/
Follow Aaron: Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarondfrancis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarondfrancis Website: https://aaronfrancis.com - find articles, podcasts, courses, and more.
Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:26 - What is Xata? Overview and Mission 01:32 - Open Source Projects: PG Roll and PG Stream 02:33 - Synchronizing Data: Postgres to Elastic Search 03:12 - Monica and Tudor's Background & Journey to Elastic 04:00 - Founding of Packetbeat: The Start of Open Source Monitoring 06:08 - Transition from Elastic to Starting Xata 07:00 - Launching a Nonprofit and Insights on Database Challenges 08:29 - The Idea Behind Xata: Simplifying Application Development 10:00 - Tudor Joins Xata: The Decision to Start Again 10:47 - The Technical Vision for Xata's Platform 12:06 - Founding Xata During the Pandemic 13:11 - Funding Journey: From Seed to Series A 15:07 - Building a Platform, Not Just a Hosted Database 17:20 - Introducing Postgres to Xata's Stack 20:19 - Navigating Postgres as a DBA 22:44 - Open Source Strategy & Community Building 27:48 - PG Stream Use Cases & Postgres Replication 32:08 - PG Roll for Zero Downtime Schema Changes 36:05 - Implementing Safe and Fast Schema Changes 39:49 - Blob Storage and Cloudflare Integration 45:11 - Xata's Unique Features: Serving Builders and Larger Teams 49:20 - Free Tier Economics and Why It Matters 56:04 - Working as a Husband-Wife Team
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