Blogmark

This is an intriguing simplification of how to think about what Postgres is and what it does:

At its core, postgres is simply a program that turns SQL queries into filesystem operations. A CREATE TABLE becomes a mkdir. An UPDATE eventually becomes: open a file, write to it, close it. It’s a complex and powerful system—but fundamentally, it’s just an executable that manipulates files.

Making the case for lifting the “veil of ignorance” and building up a mental model for how Postgres works:

Understanding how PostgreSQL actually works—how it’s started, where the files live, what the key binaries do—puts real power in your hands. It removes the mystery. It means you’re no longer just reacting when something breaks; you’re diagnosing, tweaking, even optimizing.