February 2025 Summaries

Version 6 of Gel introduces two highly requested features to improve production efficiency: a query performance log and support for in-place upgrades. The query performance log, similar to PostgreSQL's pg_stat_statements, uses a fork of this extension to track EdgeQL query statistics, embedding metadata into generated SQL as JSON-encoded comments, and allowing queries to be tagged for easier identification and troubleshooting. This tool provides a user-friendly interface for exploring, sorting, and filtering query stats. In addition, the new version supports in-place upgrades, eliminating the need for a full dump and restore cycle during major updates by compartmentalizing internal structures and the standard library, thus minimizing downtime. The company also hints at future announcements and invites users to engage in discussions about the release during upcoming office hours.

Gel 6 introduces several enhancements aimed at improving the developer experience, notably through advancements in EdgeQL and the CLI. Key updates in EdgeQL include the removal of restrictions on using DML statements within user-defined functions, a shift to simpler and more intuitive scoping rules, and the addition of string interpolation for ease of use. Complex types can now be used more flexibly across various contexts, expanding the language's versatility. On the CLI front, Gel 6 introduces new automation features to ensure seamless integration of the data model with development workflows, including the use of hooks to automate tasks like code generation, data fixture loading, and test reruns in response to schema changes or project events. Additionally, the updated watch mode allows developers to configure triggers for code generation when query files are modified, enhancing the synchronization between schema and queries.

The latest release introduces a series of enhancements and new capabilities, including the integration of the popular geospatial extension PostGIS into Gel, enabling users to access geographic data types and functions directly within the platform. The update also includes improvements to the Auth extension, adding webhooks for various authentication lifecycle events, which allow for customized email interactions and expanded OpenID Connect support to streamline integration with diverse identity providers. Additionally, a new standard library module for asynchronous networking is introduced, starting with HTTP, enabling scheduling of HTTP requests and integration with external services. The update also synchronizes the preconfigured list of AI models with the latest developments from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral, while allowing users to configure their own models utilizing abstract types. The release aims to enhance user experience by simplifying sign-up processes, providing a development-only SMTP provider for immediate testing of email flows, and offering better visualization tools for interacting with PostGIS geometries.

PostgreSQL, often regarded as the world's most advanced open-source relational database, is experiencing an accelerated adoption momentum due to its truly open-source nature, extensibility, and robustness, which are rooted in its origins as a research project at Berkeley. Its design allows for custom data types and operators, making it a versatile multimodal database that efficiently handles various data formats, including JSON and spatial data. The database's widespread adoption has led many startups to pursue PostgreSQL compatibility, and its infrastructure has been adapted by companies like AWS Aurora to enhance storage capabilities. In the midst of this, EdgeDB is rebranding to Gel, aiming to simplify and clarify its identity while maintaining its mission and team. Gel introduces compatibility with SQL and plans to enhance its integration with the PostgreSQL ecosystem, drawing parallels to TypeScript's incremental adoption success in the JavaScript community. As part of the rebranding, Gel will continue to provide the same tools and libraries, emphasizing its seamless integration capabilities for software and databases.