PostgreSQL Conference Germany 2026

Schema and data changes are a normal part of development, but in PostgreSQL they can easily affect performance and availability if executed carelessly. This talk focuses on practical considerations developers should keep in mind when applying DDL and DML changes in production.

We’ll look at how schema changes can impact running workloads, why certain operations lead to blocking, and how to reduce risk when introducing structural changes. The session also touches on common issues around large data modifications, such as long-running transactions and excessive locking.

With many examples, the talk highlights safer ways to approach DDL and DML changes and what to watch for during execution to ensure system stability.