Reduction of table sizes in Postgres - how to approach it?

The article discusses methods to shrink the size of tables in a PostgreSQL database, which is crucial for performance and space management. The author begins by explaining why shrinking table sizes is important, noting that over time databases can grow significantly larger than expected, potentially leading to slower performance of the system. Subsequently, various methods are reviewed, such as the use of the VACUUM command, which is intended to free up unused space. The author clarifies that VACUUM can be performed regularly, but he also points out scenarios where more drastic measures, such as REINDEX or CLUSTER, may be necessary. Towards the end of the article, John Nunemaker emphasizes that while these operations can require considerable resources, undertaking them can significantly enhance database performance and also free up valuable disk space. Thus, we see that proper database maintenance is key to its long-term success and efficiency.