Posthereum

Posthereum — an expansion prototype for integration full-function DBMS PostgreSQL with blockchain- the platform Ethereum.

Features

• Receiving analytics according to a blockchain in the online mode — administrators or users of the database will be able to learn, for example, what number of transactions and for what amount it was executed in a blockchain in a month with what frequency this type of "smart contract", what geography of the most popular objects and many other parts was made.
• Function call of "smart contracts" of Ethereum from the SQL code which is executed in the PostgreSQL database — changes of data in PostgreSQL and a blockchain come at the same time (the principle of so-called heterogeneous transactions).

For start of solutions on the basis of a blockchain it is necessary to come into contact between separate database management systems and the general distributed system. As envisioned by Postgres Professional, the created expansion the blockchain systems on the basis of Ethereum will allow numerous Russian users of PostgreSQL to implement projects on creation, without worrying about data loss in interaction between systems.

2017: Announcement

On September 14, 2017 the Russian company Postgres Professional announced creation of a prototype of the Posthereum expansion for integration of full-function DBMS PostgreSQL with blockchain- the platform Ethereum intended for registration of transactions with any kinds of assets on the basis of the system of "smart contracts". As envisioned by the company, the large Russian banks, corporations and state structures working with PostgreSQL DBMS using this development will be able to integrate databases with blockchains-applications on the basis of Ethereum.^[1]

Development

As explained CNews in Postgres Professional, on development of a prototype two months left, three employees of the company — one were engaged in development in design. Now responses from clients after whose receiving terms of development and start of expansion will be determined are expected. The company is going to release two versions of expansion: free with basic opportunities, available to all users of PostgreSQL, and the version for commercial Postgres Pro Enterprise DBMS.^[2]

Appointment

According to developers, Posthereum allows to receive analytics according to a blockchain online. Administrators or users of a DB will be able to trace, for example, what number of transactions and for what amount it was executed in a blockchain in a month with what frequency this type of "smart contract", what geography of the most popular objects and many other parts was made. It turns sharing of the database on PostgreSQL and a blockchain into the full-fledged business tool.

At the same time, the Posthereum expansion allows to cause functions of "smart contracts" Ethereum from the SQL code which is executed in the PostgreSQL database. At the same time changes of data in PostgreSQL and a blockchain happen at the same time - it is the principle of so-called heterogeneous transactions, explained in the company. For example, in service of sale of air tickets based on a blockchain of the transaction on acquisition of tickets are made through the Ethereum application which contains only basic data on tickets, purchases and a transaction amount in cryptocurrency. The airline stores the detailed database on all runs at itself in the full-function DBMS available to the limited group of people. The Posthereum expansion for PostgreSQL allows to solve a problem of transfer of changes in the basis for data in a blockchain for the purpose of ensuring integrity of information: data in both systems change or at the same time, or changes do not happen absolutely. Thus, the situation when in the basis time of a departure of run exchanged is excluded, and in data of a blockchain-application remained old and vice versa.

Scopes of application

According to representatives of Postgres Professional, expansion can be useful:

• To the financial sphere, insurance business, retail, logistics, services for booking, various registers where applications on the basis of the system of "smart contracts" Ethereum find applications;
• In state structures which are interested in creation of the decentralized databases for elimination of bureaucratic red tape and convenience of information exchange;
• To the large corporations and banks considering the possibility of application of single distributed system and estimating its advantages over full control of own diverse databases.

Objectives

In plans of Postgres Professional — development of the mechanism of the cryptographic audit of transactions for Postgres Pro DBMS ensuring safety of data at the level comparable with reliability of a blockchain.

Many domestic companies would like to take advantage of blockchain technologies without binding to cryptocurrency. Registers with the digital signature of transactions and hashing of blocks can give such opportunity. Despite the lack of decentralization of the database, the system administrator will not be able to change once the made transactions as all subsequent blocks contain information on previous. Thus, the Russian Postgres Pro DBMS will provide the mechanism for creation of the protected registers — emphasized in Postgres Professional.

Notes