PostgreSQL as a Practical Alternative to Kafka for Small-Scale Message Queuing
By
enether
7mo ago· 33 min readenInsight
100/100
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Summary
The article argues against the overuse of complex messaging systems like Kafka for small-scale applications, advocating instead for PostgreSQL as a simpler, more practical solution for message queuing and pub-sub patterns. It critiques 'resume-driven design' and buzzword-chasing in tech, presenting benchmarks and practical tests showing PostgreSQL can effectively handle many use cases where Kafka is often unnecessarily deployed. The author positions this as a pragmatic alternative to over-engineering, especially for smaller-scale applications.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledOne camp chases buzzwords. This camp tends to adopt whatever's popular without thinking hard about whether it's appropriate.
This phenomenon is sometimes known as resume-driven design. It can also be a scale cargo-cult.
Why you should just use Postgres instead of Kafka for small-scale message queuing and pub-sub patterns.
Modern practices actively encourage over-engineering with complex systems like Kafka when simpler solutions would suffice.
Benchmarks and practical tests included showing PostgreSQL's effectiveness for many messaging use cases.
Why you should just use Postgres instead of Kafka for small-scale message queuing and pub-sub patterns. Benchmarks and practical tests included.
