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diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/intro.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/intro.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63eda05 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/src/sgml/intro.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,161 @@ +<!-- doc/src/sgml/intro.sgml --> + +<preface id="preface"> + <title>Preface</title> + + <para> + This book is the official documentation of + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>. It has been written by the + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> developers and other + volunteers in parallel to the development of the + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> software. It describes all + the functionality that the current version of + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> officially supports. + </para> + + <para> + To make the large amount of information about + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> manageable, this book has been + organized in several parts. Each part is targeted at a different + class of users, or at users in different stages of their + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> experience: + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="tutorial"/> is an informal introduction for new users. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="sql"/> documents the <acronym>SQL</acronym> query + language environment, including data types and functions, as well + as user-level performance tuning. Every + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> user should read this. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="admin"/> describes the installation and + administration of the server. Everyone who runs a + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> server, be it for private + use or for others, should read this part. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="client-interfaces"/> describes the programming + interfaces for <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> client + programs. + </para> + </listitem> + + + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="server-programming"/> contains information for + advanced users about the extensibility capabilities of the + server. Topics include user-defined data types and + functions. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="reference"/> contains reference information about + SQL commands, client and server programs. This part supports + the other parts with structured information sorted by command or + program. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <xref linkend="internals"/> contains assorted information that might be of + use to <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> developers. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para> + + <sect1 id="intro-whatis"> + <title> What Is <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>?</title> + + <para> + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> is an object-relational + database management system (<acronym>ORDBMS</acronym>) based on + <ulink url="https://dsf.berkeley.edu/postgres.html"> + <productname>POSTGRES, Version 4.2</productname></ulink>, + developed at the University of California at Berkeley Computer Science + Department. POSTGRES pioneered many concepts that only became + available in some commercial database systems much later. + </para> + + <para> + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> is an open-source descendant + of this original Berkeley code. It supports a large part of the SQL + standard and offers many modern features: + + <itemizedlist spacing="compact"> + <listitem> + <simpara>complex queries</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>foreign keys</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>triggers</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>updatable views</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>transactional integrity</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>multiversion concurrency control</simpara> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + Also, <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> can be extended by the + user in many ways, for example by adding new + + <itemizedlist spacing="compact"> + <listitem> + <simpara>data types</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>functions</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>operators</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>aggregate functions</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>index methods</simpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <simpara>procedural languages</simpara> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para> + + <para> + And because of the liberal license, + <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> can be used, modified, and + distributed by anyone free of charge for any purpose, be it + private, commercial, or academic. + </para> + </sect1> + + &history; + ¬ation; + &info; + &problems; + +</preface> |