PostgreSQL 12 Beta 4 Released!

The PostgreSQL Global Development Group announces that the fourth beta
release of PostgreSQL 12 is now available for download. This release
contains previews of all features that will be available in the final
release of PostgreSQL 12, though some details of the release could
change before then.

This is likely the final beta release of PostgreSQL 12 before a release
candidate is made available.

In the spirit of the open source PostgreSQL community, we strongly
encourage you to test the new features of PostgreSQL 12 in your database
systems to help us eliminate any bugs or other issues that may exist.

Upgrading to PostgreSQL 12 Beta 4
---------------------------------

To upgrade to PostgreSQL 12 Beta 4 from Beta 3 or an earlier version of
PostgreSQL 12, you will need to use a strategy similar to upgrading
between major versions of PostgreSQL (e.g. `pg_upgrade` or `pg_dump` /
`pg_restore`). For more information, please visit the documentation
section on upgrading:

https://www.postgresql.org/docs/12/static/upgrading.html

Changes Since 12 Beta 3
-----------------------

There have been many bug fixes for PostgreSQL 12 reported during the Beta 3
period and applied to the Beta 4 release. This release also includes
other bug
fixes that were reported for supported versions of PostgreSQL that also
affected
PostgreSQL 12.

These changes include:

* Fix for crash that could occur with nested queries that contain locks
* Only allow chained transactions to work in an explicitly set
transaction block, otherwise error
* Changed the log level for several types of messages around
partitioning to `DEBUG1`
* Add the `default_table_access_method` configuration parameter to the
sample configuration kept in `postgresql.sample.conf`
* Fix handling of duplicate entries in `postgresql.auto.conf` when
`ALTER SYSTEM` is called. Now, when a configuration parameter with
duplicate entries is updated, PostgreSQL will remove all entries and
append the new entry to the end
* Ensure `ALTER SYSTEM` makes case-insensitive comparisons when
adjusting entries in the configuration

For a detailed list of fixes, please visit the open items page:

https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/PostgreSQL_12_Open_Items#resolved_before_12beta4

Testing for Bugs & Compatibility
--------------------------------

The stability of each PostgreSQL release greatly depends on you, the
community, to test the upcoming version with your workloads and testing
tools in order to find bugs and regressions before the general
availability of PostgreSQL 12. As this is a Beta, minor changes to
database behaviors, feature details, and APIs are still possible. Your
feedback and testing will help determine the final tweaks on the new
features, so please test in the near future. The quality of user testing
helps determine when we can make a final release.

A list of open issues is publicly available in the PostgreSQL wiki.  You
can report bugs using this form on the PostgreSQL website:

https://www.postgresql.org/account/submitbug/

Beta Schedule
-------------

This is the fourth beta release of version 12. In all likelihood, this
is the final beta release of PostgreSQL 12 before one or more release
candidates are made available. For further information please see the
"Beta Testing" page:

https://www.postgresql.org/developer/beta/

Links
-----

* Download: https://www.postgresql.org/download/
* Beta Testing Information: https://www.postgresql.org/developer/beta/
* PostgreSQL 12 Beta Release Notes:
https://www.postgresql.org/docs/devel/release-12.html
* PostgreSQL 12 Open Issues:
https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/PostgreSQL_12_Open_Items
* Submit a Bug: https://www.postgresql.org/account/submitbug/
* Follow @postgresql on Twitter: https://twitter.com/postgresql