Re: Reports on obsolete Postgres versions

On Wed, Apr  3, 2024 at 06:01:41PM -0700, David G. Johnston wrote:
>  <p>
>  The PostgreSQL Global Development Group supports a major version for 5 years
> -after its initial release. After its five year anniversary, a major version
> will
> -have one last minor release containing any fixes and will be considered
> -end-of-life (EOL) and no longer supported.
> +after its initial release. After its fifth anniversary, a major version will
> +have one last minor release and will be considered
> +end-of-life (EOL), meaning no new bug fixes will be written for it.
>  </p>
> 
> # "fifth anniversary "seems more correct than "five year anniversary".
> # The fact it gets a minor release implies it receives fixes.
> # I've always had an issue with our use of the phrasing "no longer supported". 
> It seems vague when practically it just means we stop writing patches for it. 
> Whether individual community members refrain from answering questions or
> helping people on these older releases is not a project decision but a personal
> one.  Also, since we already say it is supported for 5 years it seems a bit
> redundant to then also say "after 5 years it is unsupported".

I went with the attached patch.  I tightned up the "unsupported" part, trying to
tie it to the fact that we don't make anymore releases for it.

>  <h2>Version Numbering</h2>
> @@ -45,11 +45,12 @@ number, e.g. 9.5.3 to 9.5.4.
>  <h2>Upgrading</h2>
> 
>  <p>
> -Major versions usually change the internal format of the system tables.
> -These changes are often complex, so we do not maintain backward
> -compatibility of all stored data.  A dump/reload of the database or use of the
> -<a href="/docs/current/pgupgrade.html">pg_upgrade</a> module is required
> -for major upgrades. We also recommend reading the
> +Major versions need the data directory to be initialized so that the system
> tables
> +specific to that version can be created.  There are two options to then
> +migrate the user data from the old directory to the new one: a dump/reload
> +of the database or using the
> +<a href="/docs/current/pgupgrade.html">pg_upgrade</a> module.
> +We also recommend reading the
>  <a href="/docs/current/upgrading.html">upgrading</a> section of the major
>  version you are planning to upgrade to. You can upgrade from one major version
>  to another without upgrading to intervening versions, but we recommend reading
> @@ -58,14 +59,15 @@ versions prior to doing so.
>  </p>
> 
> # This still talked about "stored data" when really that isn't the main concern
> and if it was pg_upgrade wouldn't work as an option.
> # The choice to say "data directory" here seems reasonable if arguable.  But it
> implies the location of user data and we state it also contains
> version-specific system tables.  It can go unsaid that they are
> version-specific because the collection as a whole and the layout of individual
> tables can and almost certainly will change between versions.
> 
>  <p>
> -Minor release upgrades do not require a dump and restore;  you simply stop
> +Minor releases upgrades do not impact the data directory, only the binaries.
> +You simply stop
>  the database server, install the updated binaries, and restart the server.
> -Such upgrades might require manual changes to complete so always read
> +However, some upgrades might require manual changes to complete so always read
>  the release notes first.
>  </p>
> 
> # The fact minor releases don't require dump/reload doesn't directly preclude
> them from needing pg_upgrade and writing "Such upgrades" seems like it could

Minor upgrades never have required pg_upgrade.

> lead someone to think that.
> # Data Directory seems generic enough to be understood here and since I mention
> it in the Major Version as to why data migration is needed, mentioning here
> # as something not directly altered and thus precluding the data migration has
> a nice symmetry.  The potential need for manual changes becomes clearer as
> well.
> 

I decided your use of "data directory" was a better term and to combine
the first two sentences.

>  <p>
> -Minor releases only fix frequently-encountered bugs, <a
> +Minor releases only fix bugs, <a
>  href="/support/security/">security</a> issues, and data corruption
>  problems, so such upgrades are very low risk.  <em>The community
>  considers performing minor upgrades to be less risky than continuing to
>  
> # Reality mostly boils down to trusting our judgement when it comes to bugs as
> each one is evaluated individually.  We do not promise to leave simply buggy
> behavior alone in minor releases which is the only policy that would nearly
> eliminate upgrade risk.  We back-patch 5 year old bugs quite often which by
> definition are not frequently encountered.  I cannot think of a good adjective
> to put there nor does one seem necessary even if I agree it reads a bit odd
> otherwise.  I think that has more to do with this being just the wrong
> structure to get our point across.  Can we pick out some statistics from our
> long history of publishing minor releases to present an objective reality to
> the reader to convince them to trust our track-record in this matter?

I went with frequently-encountered and low risk bugs".

Patch attached.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        https://momjian.us
  EDB                                      https://enterprisedb.com

  Only you can decide what is important to you.