1---2name: postgres3description: PostgreSQL best practices, query optimization, connection troubleshooting, and performance improvement. Load when working with Postgres databases.4license: MIT5---6
7# PlanetScale Postgres
8
9## Generic Postgres
10
11| Topic | Reference | Use for |
12| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
13| Schema Design | [references/schema-design.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/schema-design.md) | Tables, primary keys, data types, foreign keys |
14| Indexing | [references/indexing.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/indexing.md) | Index types, composite indexes, performance |
15| Index Optimization | [references/index-optimization.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/index-optimization.md) | Unused/duplicate index queries, index audit |
16| Partitioning | [references/partitioning.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/partitioning.md) | Large tables, time-series, data retention |
17| Query Patterns | [references/query-patterns.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/query-patterns.md) | SQL anti-patterns, JOINs, pagination, batch queries |
18| Optimization Checklist | [references/optimization-checklist.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/optimization-checklist.md) | Pre-optimization audit, cleanup, readiness checks |
19| MVCC and VACUUM | [references/mvcc-vacuum.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/mvcc-vacuum.md) | Dead tuples, long transactions, xid wraparound prevention |
20
21## Operations and Architecture
22
23| Topic | Reference | Use for |
24| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
25| Process Architecture | [references/process-architecture.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/process-architecture.md) | Multi-process model, connection pooling, auxiliary processes |
26| Memory Architecture | [references/memory-management-ops.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/memory-management-ops.md) | Shared/private memory layout, OS page cache, OOM prevention |
27| MVCC Transactions | [references/mvcc-transactions.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/mvcc-transactions.md) | Isolation levels, XID wraparound, serialization errors |
28| WAL and Checkpoints | [references/wal-operations.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/wal-operations.md) | WAL internals, checkpoint tuning, durability, crash recovery |
29| Replication | [references/replication.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/replication.md) | Streaming replication, slots, sync commit, failover |
30| Storage Layout | [references/storage-layout.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/storage-layout.md) | PGDATA structure, TOAST, fillfactor, tablespaces, disk mgmt |
31| Monitoring | [references/monitoring.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/monitoring.md) | pg_stat views, logging, pg_stat_statements, host metrics |
32| Backup and Recovery | [references/backup-recovery.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/backup-recovery.md) | pg_dump, pg_basebackup, PITR, WAL archiving, backup tools |
33
34## PlanetScale-Specific
35
36| Topic | Reference | Use for |
37| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
38| Connection Pooling | [references/ps-connection-pooling.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/ps-connection-pooling.md) | PgBouncer, pool sizing, pooled vs direct |
39| Extensions | [references/ps-extensions.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/ps-extensions.md) | Supported extensions, compatibility |
40| Connections | [references/ps-connections.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/ps-connections.md) | Connection troubleshooting, drivers, SSL |
41| Insights | [references/ps-insights.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/ps-insights.md) | Slow queries, MCP server, pscale CLI |
42| CLI Commands | [references/ps-cli-commands.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/ps-cli-commands.md) | pscale CLI reference, branches, deploy requests, auth |
43| CLI API Insights | [references/ps-cli-api-insights.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/planetscale/database-skills/main/skills/postgres/references/ps-cli-api-insights.md) | Query insights via `pscale api`, schema analysis |