Why Does Everyone Run Ancient Postgres Versions?

While Postgres 17 has introduced significant performance improvements and features, many users remain on older versions due to the inherent stability and robustness of Postgres, which meet most developers' needs without requiring frequent upgrades. Upgrading major Postgres versions can be challenging due to potential backward compatibility issues and the extensive effort required, particularly for large databases. Companies like Knock and Retool have successfully navigated such upgrades by meticulously planning and implementing strategies like logical replication and thorough testing. Despite the challenges, upgrading is encouraged to avoid future technical debt and to take advantage of new functionalities and performance enhancements. Tools like pgversions.com can help users identify what they are missing by not upgrading and guide them through the upgrade process. Neon aims to simplify upgrades by introducing features like one-click upgrades and providing robust support for Postgres 17, encouraging users to stay current and avoid the complications of leaping multiple versions at once.