Study Shows PostgreSQL LISTEN/NOTIFY Can Scale Better Than Expected

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A technical analysis published on the DBOS blog examines the scalability characteristics of PostgreSQL's built-in LISTEN/NOTIFY messaging feature. The feature, often dismissed as unsuitable for high-load scenarios, is shown to perform better than commonly assumed. The article challenges the prevailing notion that developers must switch to dedicated message brokers when their applications grow. The findings suggest that LISTEN/NOTIFY can remain a viable option for real-time event notification at meaningful scale. The post has gained traction in developer communities, sparking discussion about when native database features can replace external messaging infrastructure.

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