Josh Berkus <josh@agliodbs.com> writes:
> Second, the query you post is one "SQL Standard" way, which is good for
> portability but not for speed. Frankly, I'm not convinced that it's even the
> best SQL standard way. On the other databases, you seem happy to use
> non-SQL-standard syntax, so let me give you one such solution in PostgreSQL:
> [snip]
I don't know of any very good solution in bog-standard SQL either.
Aside from the LIMIT-based solution that Josh offered, I recall that
Oleg Bartunov and Teodor Sigaev had some ideas about top-N-aggregate
solutions. We didn't accept those into the main distribution (yet)
but if you dig in the PG list archives I think there is working code
available. Try searching for "partial sorting".
regards, tom lane