In the past, the only way of running PostgreSQL on Windows was by using the Unix emulator Cygwin, which has reduced performance and limited the database's functionality.
Simon Riggs, a PostgreSQL developer, said being able to run the database natively on Windows is an important milestone.
"Over the last few years, one of the most common features that people have asked us for is a native Windows port," Riggs said. "We are expecting that within a year, half of our user base will run the database on Windows."
Riggs said being able to run the database natively will open up the home user market, which will then boost use in businesses.
"The hobby market is an important market," he said. "Home users are also employed and will take their opinions to work--if it's not being used at work, they'll ask why."
Future PostgreSQL releases will include extra data warehousing features and increased compatibility between databases in response to the new American National Standards Institute standard. But Riggs believes that PostgreSQL already contains enough features for the vast majority of applications.
"We aren't behind the other databases. After all, PostgreSQL was the first object-relational database," he said.
Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.
The PostgreSQL team announced the release of the 8.0 beta, for both *NIX and Win32, on August 9, 2004. The story ran August 20.
http://developer.postgresql.org/beta.php