PGSimCity: PostgreSQL internals visualized in 3D
Original: PGSimCity - How PostgreSQL Works
Why This Matters
Visual tooling that lowers the barrier to understanding complex database internals can accelerate developer education and PostgreSQL adoption.
Developer Nikolay S. has released PGSimCity, an interactive 3D WebGL2-based simulation that visually models how the PostgreSQL database engine works internally. The project is an early prototype and is open to community corrections via GitHub issues or pull requests.
PGSimCity is an open-source educational project that renders the internal workings of the PostgreSQL database engine as an interactive 3D city-like simulation, running entirely in the browser using JavaScript and WebGL2. The project, hosted on GitHub Pages, aims to make PostgreSQL's architecture more accessible by mapping engine components to visual city elements — a metaphor designed to help developers intuitively understand query processing, memory management, and other internal mechanisms. The author explicitly notes this is an early, unreviewed prototype and acknowledges it 'almost certainly contains inaccuracies in both the model and explanations.' Community contributions are welcomed via GitHub issues or pull requests to improve accuracy. The project requires a WebGL2-capable browser to run.