The hottest Substack posts of Database Engineering by Sort

And their main takeaways
15 implied HN points 27 Jan 25
  1. Preparation is key for a successful launch. It helps to choose the right day and have a strong online presence ready.
  2. Engaging with your community can make a big difference. Personal messages and social media can help gather support and votes.
  3. A clear value proposition shows how your product solves real problems. Highlighting what makes your product unique is important for attracting attention.
23 implied HN points 28 Oct 24
  1. Sort is now on the AWS Marketplace, making it easier for businesses to manage data changes. This means users can quickly add Sort to their systems.
  2. Sort helps streamline data change management with a simple process for proposing and approving changes. It makes it easy for teams to fix errors or update records without hassle.
  3. Every data change is logged by Sort, creating a clear history of what changes were made and why. This feature ensures full transparency and helps maintain high data quality.
7 implied HN points 18 Dec 24
  1. Sort helps you manage database changes easily and safely, like how GitHub handles changes. You can propose changes without altering the data right away.
  2. Creating a Change Request is simple. Just suggest what you want to change and set it up for review by others in your organization.
  3. Once a Change Request is approved, it can be applied without hassle. If anything goes wrong during the process, Sort can automatically roll back the changes.
7 implied HN points 20 Nov 24
  1. Sort is a platform that helps manage and change data easily without much hassle. It makes sure your database is accurate and up to date.
  2. With the new Zapier app, you can connect Sort to many other applications to automate tasks. This saves a lot of time and reduces errors since you don't have to do everything manually.
  3. Setting up automations is simple and requires no coding skills. You can start using it right away to improve your workflows.
7 implied HN points 03 Sep 24
  1. The Sort API is now live and allows users to manage their data workflows completely online. You can access all the features you find in the Sort web app through the API.
  2. There’s a new feature called the Sort Playground that makes it easier for users to try out and request data changes. It’s user-friendly and allows anyone to add or edit data easily.
  3. Sort is open to feedback and suggestions from users. If you have ideas for improvements, you can reach out to them directly.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:
34 HN points 01 Nov 23
  1. Open data must create value to remain viable
  2. Platforms face pressure to monetize and limit open data access
  3. Open data needs to create value for groups or businesses to survive
15 implied HN points 27 Mar 24
  1. Fine-tuning an open source language model is now super easy and can be done in just five minutes. This makes it accessible for more people to customize LLMs for their needs.
  2. You can use data from a Postgres database to create a product catalog that the fine-tuned LLM can answer questions about. This can help with tasks like customer support and product information.
  3. With tools like Together.ai, you can quickly set up fine-tuning and chat with your customized LLM. It's great for building chatbots and enhancing user interactions.
15 implied HN points 01 Mar 24
  1. Data quality is crucial for businesses as it influences customer experience, decision-making, and AI outcomes.
  2. Collaboration is key for improving data quality, as automated tools can only address a portion of data issues.
  3. Sort provides a platform for transparent collaboration on databases, allowing for public and private database sharing, issue tracking, proposing and reviewing database changes.
7 implied HN points 01 Jul 24
  1. Sort now has a Change Requests feature that lets users propose fixes to their data, similar to GitHub's Pull Requests. It's designed to help teams review and apply changes easily.
  2. Users can safely make changes to their Postgres databases using this new feature, which is great for managers and tech leads.
  3. The Sort platform has also seen improvements, including bug fixes and updated pricing to reflect its features better.
7 implied HN points 03 Jun 24
  1. Sort is offering $5,000 in bounties to help encourage community members to improve database contributions.
  2. They have launched a new public database for Ethereum, which includes a variety of data related to NFTs and transactions.
  3. New features like Change Requests are on the way, along with bug fixes and a refreshed landing page for better user experience.
7 implied HN points 16 Apr 24
  1. Sort makes it easier for teams to work together on databases without the usual complicated processes. This helps everyone stay productive and reduces security risks.
  2. You can connect Sort to major database providers and use it on your mobile phone. This means you can collaborate on data from anywhere you go.
  3. Sort simplifies permissions and access control, so you don’t have to worry about sharing connection details. You just add team members to your organization and they get access easily.
15 implied HN points 10 Oct 23
  1. Extreme database collaboration allows more people in your organization to access and work with databases, leading to faster issue resolution and query writing.
  2. Having direct database access raises concerns about security and reliability, as APIs are often used to manage database interactions.
  3. Increased database access leads to more ideas, fixes, and improvements, as seen in platforms like Dune where public SQL access fostered community collaboration.
4 HN points 29 Sep 23
  1. Database changes are hard.
  2. Database changes become exponentially harder with a larger team.
  3. Even schema-less databases require central data management for application changes.
3 HN points 18 Oct 23
  1. Optimizing PostgreSQL queries includes avoiding sequential scans and using indexes.
  2. A sequential scan looks through all rows in a table, while an index allows for quicker access to specific data.
  3. Consider when sequential scans may be faster than using indexes, such as with large portions of data or with regular expressions.
0 implied HN points 07 Nov 24
  1. The Sort API helps automate and manage workflows in Postgres and Snowflake, making it easier for teams to work with their databases.
  2. With Change Requests, users can track, review, and execute changes to their data, which enhances collaboration and transparency.
  3. The API offers powerful querying capabilities, allowing users to define and run their own queries for better data retrieval in their workflows.
0 implied HN points 04 Nov 24
  1. Using Sort, Postgres, and Markdown together makes it easy to create a simple data catalog. This setup helps you organize and describe your data clearly.
  2. Markdown is great for writing human-readable documentation that explains your database tables, their columns, and how to use them. It helps everyone understand the data better, even without deep SQL knowledge.
  3. With this method, team members can quickly run queries and find the data they need. It's a flexible way to collaborate without complicated setups or high costs.
0 implied HN points 01 Nov 24
  1. Sort is working on getting SOC 2 Type 2 certification, which helps ensure user data is safe.
  2. There's a new Sort app for Zapier, allowing users to create easy workflows with their data.
  3. Improvements have been made to the Sort API documentation, making it simpler for users to suggest changes or report inaccuracies.
0 implied HN points 03 Feb 25
  1. Sort made it to the front page of Product Hunt, ranking #6, which helped it gain a lot of visibility among users.
  2. An on-premises version of Sort is now available, which is great for industries that need to keep their data secure, like healthcare and finance.
  3. Sort has achieved SOC 2 Type 2 Certification, showing they have good security practices in place to protect data.
0 implied HN points 14 Mar 24
  1. Managing a product catalog database is challenging due to constantly changing data and unique attributes for each product
  2. Description tools like Sort enable database teams to provide important details like table names, hints for querying, and change logs
  3. Collaborate effectively on database improvements using features like inviting contributors, using data explorer to pinpoint errors, creating issues for fixes, and utilizing change requests in Sort
0 implied HN points 19 Feb 25
  1. Using a crowdsourced database helps keep travel recommendations organized in one place. This way, you don't mix up suggestions from friends and online sources.
  2. With a tool like Sort, everyone can easily add or modify travel tips, and these changes can be approved quickly. This makes it simple to manage updates.
  3. Sort tracks all changes and approvals, so you can see who suggested what and why, making sure the information is clear and up to date.
0 implied HN points 06 Jan 25
  1. The new Data Explorer is designed to be user-friendly and looks similar to a spreadsheet, making it easier to manage data. You can filter rows and propose changes quickly with just a few clicks.
  2. A feature called 'Describe Changes' allows users to detail updates to data in simple language, like changing a customer’s address. The improvements also make it easier to view these described changes.
  3. The founders encourage user feedback and suggestions for future updates, highlighting their commitment to improving the platform.
0 implied HN points 29 Sep 23
  1. Upcoming content on database engineering is being teased.
  2. The link leads to a Substack profile for Jason Zucchetto.
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe for updates.
0 implied HN points 10 Dec 24
  1. Managing data manually can be really tricky and slow, especially when there are lots of people involved. Organizations need a better way to handle important data changes without the hassle.
  2. Sort makes it super easy for anyone in a team to suggest data changes. This helps improve the quality of data without needing to know technical stuff like SQL.
  3. Sort keeps everything transparent by tracking every change made to the data. This means everyone knows who did what and when, which helps build trust in the process.
0 implied HN points 26 Nov 24
  1. You can easily collect data using Google Forms and automatically add it to a Postgres database using the Sort Zapier App. This makes your data collection process more efficient.
  2. Sort offers a clear way to manage data changes with transparency, keeping track of what was changed, when, and why. This helps maintain trust in the data management process.
  3. By using Sort, you can propose and review data changes easily, allowing admins to approve them quickly before they are applied. This makes handling sensitive data safe and reliable.
0 implied HN points 02 Dec 24
  1. There's a new organization dashboard that helps track important issues and change requests effectively. It makes it easier to see what needs action right away.
  2. The Sort website has been updated to showcase how their workflows operate. This should help users understand the product better.
  3. Several new blog posts detail various functionalities of Sort, including APIs and integrations, providing users with useful insights and tools.
0 implied HN points 21 Jan 25
  1. Sort is a database tool that helps operations teams manage their data better. It keeps everyone on the same page with up-to-date information.
  2. With Sort, teams can quickly track changes and resolve issues together, reducing confusion and improving teamwork.
  3. Using Sort can lead to faster decisions, fewer mistakes, and overall better efficiency in operations management.
0 implied HN points 28 Jan 25
  1. Good data management is key for startups to avoid confusion and bad decisions. When teams grow, data needs grow too, and simple spreadsheets won’t cut it anymore.
  2. Sort provides a single source of truth, helping teams work with the same up-to-date information. This reduces mistakes and boosts confidence in decision-making.
  3. As your business expands, Sort scales with you, making data management easier. It tracks changes and keeps everyone accountable, so you can focus on growing your startup instead of fixing data issues.
0 implied HN points 23 Jan 25
  1. Managing data is crucial for IT success today, and having good data management practices can help organizations thrive.
  2. Data silos, lack of change visibility, and compliance challenges are common problems for IT departments, making it harder to manage information effectively.
  3. Sort is a tool that helps break down data silos, improves tracking of data changes, and enhances security and compliance, making data management easier for IT teams.
0 implied HN points 21 Jan 25
  1. Sort has earned SOC 2 Type 2 certification, showing they take data security seriously. This means your data is protected and trustworthy.
  2. The certification ensures that Sort meets high standards for security and privacy. This helps businesses feel secure knowing their data is safe from breaches.
  3. With this certification, Sort simplifies compliance for businesses in regulated industries. It makes it easier to manage important data without extra worries.
0 implied HN points 14 Nov 24
  1. The Sort API helps you track and fix data issues in your Snowflake or PostgreSQL databases. It's like having a tool to keep your data clean and organized.
  2. You can log issues, submit change requests, and categorize them with custom labels. This makes it easier to manage and understand data problems.
  3. The API also allows automation of workflows, so you can streamline how you handle data issues and improve efficiency in your operations.
0 implied HN points 01 Oct 24
  1. Sort is now available on the AWS Marketplace, allowing users to easily use their AWS credits for services.
  2. They launched an AI demo that helps users propose data changes, making the process simpler and more efficient.
  3. The Sort API documentation has been improved for better navigation, making it easier for developers to use.
0 implied HN points 01 Aug 24
  1. Users can now link to specific rows in their database and create issues directly from them. This makes navigating and managing data much easier.
  2. There's a new feature that allows users to submit change requests smoothly, along with many UX improvements for a better experience.
  3. A new public database enables users to query Zillow listings in San Francisco using SQL, providing updated and useful data for housing insights.
0 implied HN points 01 May 24
  1. Sort is offering $5,000 in bounties to encourage community members to improve their databases. This is an exciting chance for feedback to be rewarded.
  2. There is a new Explore page and a popular public database now available for users to query salary information and other data.
  3. Sort has launched new features like faster query processing and a redesigned app interface, making the overall experience smoother and more efficient.