Xuneng Zhou
Freelance Postgres Hacker
I am a data systems engineer focused on PostgreSQL internals, open-source databases, and hardware–software co-design. My work spans feature development, performance optimization, and patch review across core PostgreSQL subsystems.
I co-authored the WAIT FOR command, enabling precise read-your-writes consistency by waiting on WAL LSN write, flush, or replay. I have also diagnosed and fixed issues in WAL receiver, logical replication, and the checkpointer, and improved performance in various I/O paths.
I am an active contributor on PostgreSQL mailing lists, with 20+ patch reviews across replication, AIO, and extensions.
POSETTE 2026 Talk
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to PostgreSQL Hacking: Don’t Panic, Just Start Small
Hacking on PostgreSQL can feel overwhelming: a massive codebase, a rigorous review culture, and a patch queue that never seems to shrink. Many aspiring contributors ask the same questions: Where do I begin? What should I work on?
This talk offers a practical roadmap for entering PostgreSQL development. Rather than starting with large features or ambitious rewrites, we focus on a disciplined approach: reviewing patches, fixing small bugs, testing edge cases, and building intuition for the codebase.
We explore how small improvements—clarifying a review comment, or isolating a bug—compound into deeper understanding and meaningful contributions. We will also discuss the psychological side of hacking: navigating imposter syndrome, learning from reviews, and turning feedback into momentum.
PostgreSQL is not conquered in a single patch. It is learned incrementally. This talk demonstrates how sustained, focused effort transforms confusion into contribution.
What Attendees Will Learn
- How to choose a first patch
- How patch review builds architectural understanding
- How small changes lead to larger infrastructure work
- How to navigate PostgreSQL’s review culture effectively
- How to turn feedback into growth instead of frustration
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