CockroachDB 19.2 has been released, enhancing the latency, reliability, and usability of the distributed SQL database while introducing Cockroach University, a free online learning platform. The update includes significant improvements such as reduced latency in distributed transactions through a new atomic commit protocol called Parallel Commits, which halves transaction latency by minimizing consensus rounds. Additionally, vectorized execution is enabled by default, boosting analytical query performance. The release also enhances ease-of-use for distributed clusters, allowing precise control over data backup locations to reduce costs and comply with regulations like GDPR. New features simplify geo-distributed database configuration, including more accessible zone configurations and improved partitioning table views. The announcement encourages users to explore detailed release notes, participate in a technical demo, engage on a new Slack channel, and watch an informative webinar.