Just a Theory: PGAN Bikeshedding

PGAN Bikeshedding

I’ve put together a description of PGAN, the PostgreSQL extension distribution system I plan to develop later this year based on the Comprehensive Archive Perl Network or CPAN. Its primary features will be:

Extension distribution
Search site with extension documentation
Client for downloading, building, testing, and installing extensions.

I’ve never been thrilled with the name, though, so I’m asking for suggestions for a better one. I’ve used the term "extension" here because it seems to be the term that the PostgreSQL community has settled on, but other terms might work, since things other than extensions might be distributed.

What I’ve come up with so far is:

Name	Long Name	Pronounciation	Advantages	Disadvantages
PGAN	PostgreSQL Add-on Network	pee-gan	Short, similar to CPAN	Ugly
PGEX	PostgreSQL Extensions	pee-gee-ex or pee-gex	Short, easier to pronounce	Too similar to PGX)
PGCAN	PostgreSQL Comprehensive Archive Network	pee-gee-can	Similar to CPAN	Similar to CPAN
PGDAN	PostgreSQL Distribution Archive Network	pee-gee-dan	Short, easy to pronounce	Who’s “Dan”? Doesn’t distribute PostgreSQL itself.
PGEDAN	PostgreSQL Extension Distribution Archive Network	pee-gee-ee-dan	References extensions	Long, sounds stupid

Of these, I think I like “PGEX” best, but none are really great. So I’m opening up the bike shed to all. What’s a better name? Or if you can’t think of one, which of the above do you like best? Just leave a comment on this post. The only requirements for suggestions are that a .org domain be available and that it suck less than the alternatives.

Comments close in 2 weeks. Thanks!

Backtalk

wrote:

Seems like the "G" is holding us back. How about we just use a "P" for Postgres? That gives us things like "PAN" and "PCAN" (that last one should be easy to write a nutty logo for :)

Josh Berkus wrote:

Hmmmm ...

PostgreSQL Extensions Community Archive Network

PECAN

Which means, of course, we need it to be hosted at Rackspace in San Antonio. Unfortunately, pecan.org is not available.

Scott Peterson wrote:

Suggestion

How bout PostEx?

Michael Glaesemann wrote:

Postgres EXtension Archive Network = PEXAN?

Jay wrote:

I vote for PCAN, since it is what I always typo CPAN into anyway, at least it would go somewhere useful, heh.

Theory wrote:

Suggestions So Far

PCAN: .org taken

PECAN: .org taken

PostEx: .org taken

PEXAN: .org available

PCAN: .or taken

So only PEXAN is in the running of the new names so far. I'm not at all sure about it…

—Theory

Screwtape wrote:

"PGAN" at least rhymes with "pecan".

Ross Reedstrom wrote:

while pcan.org and pecan.org are both taken, they seem to be domain squatters. Might be worth seeing how little they're willing to take, then see if one of the PG friendly companies would arrange a donation.

Aristotle Pagaltzis wrote:

FWIW, my first thought upon seeing PGAN is “pagan”.

Andy Lester wrote:

Don't spend so much time trying to make it mean something. Does "Amazon" mean anything? Or "Google"? Make it pronouncable and memorable.

capn obvious wrote:

Bikeshedding indeed. Maybe just extensions.postgresql.org ?

Theory wrote:

A couple More

Some others I've thought of:

PGDN: PostgreSQL Distribution Network. .org taken, alas, but I've contact the owner.

PgExNet: PostgreSQL Extension Network. .org available, and so is pgex dot net, which is kind of cool.

PgDex: PostgreSQL Distribution of Extensions. .org and .net available. Pronounceable, but the backcronym sucks.

—Theory

Ricardo Signes wrote:

pgxn

PGXN. Pronounced "pigskin" or possibly pixin.

I do like the "lol elephants love nuts" nature of pecan, though.

Theory wrote:

Re: pgxn

I had settled on PgDEX last week and got everything set up, but I think, @Ricardo, that you might have a winner there. Thanks!

—Theory

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PGAN Bikeshedding

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Suggestion

Suggestions So Far

A couple More

pgxn

Re: pgxn

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