Postgres 18 is now available

Postgres 18 has been released on PlanetScale, now serving as the default version for new databases created on the platform, with an option to choose prior versions via a dropdown menu. This release coincides with PlanetScale's recent introduction of affordable $5 single-node and $50 Metal databases, enhancing its appeal for Postgres-backed applications. Key updates in Postgres 18 include a new asynchronous I/O system for improved query performance, built-in support for UUIDv7, and the Skip Scan optimization, which enhances the usage of multi-column indexes. While there is no automated upgrade path from Postgres 17, users can transition by creating a new Postgres 18 database and migrating data using PlanetScale's import guides. Benchmark comparisons showcase the performance advancements from version 17 to 18.