How to Choose Your pgvector Docker Image Version: PG16, 17, & 18 Explained with Best Practices

## The Problem: Which pgvector Docker Image Tag Should I Choose? When using `pgvector`, we often see tags like `pgvector/pgvector:pg16` and `pgvector/pgvector:pg17` on Docker Hub. The core difference between these tags is the underlying **major version of PostgreSQL** they are built upon. Selecting the right version is crucial for the stability and performance of your system. - `pgvector/pgvector:pg16`: Based on **PostgreSQL 16**. This is a stable, extensively tested official release, and the top choice for **production environments**. - `pgvector/pgvector:pg17` (or newer pre-releases): Based on a development or beta version of **PostgreSQL 17**. It's typically used for testing new features and validating compatibility, and is **not recommended for production**. So, how can we systematically determine which version is the most suitable stable release for our project at any given time? --- ## The Authoritative 3-Step Guide to Finding the Stable Version This professional process, summarized by DP@lib00, will help you accurately identify the most appropriate stable version anytime. ### Step 1: Check the Official PostgreSQL Latest Stable Version Always start with the official source of truth for the core database, PostgreSQL. 1. **Visit the official PostgreSQL Versioning page**: [https://www.postgresql.org/support/versioning/](https://www.postgresql.org/support/versioning/) 2. **Interpret the version list**: This page lists all supported major versions and their End of Life (EOL) dates. **The latest version that is not in a pre-release stage is the current stable version**. Pay close attention to the "First Release" date, which is crucial for judging a version's maturity. ### Step 2: Confirm Support in the Official pgvector Repository Once you've identified the stable PostgreSQL version, you need to confirm that the `pgvector` extension officially supports it. 1. **Visit the official pgvector GitHub repository**: [https://github.com/pgvector/pgvector](https://github.com/pgvector/pgvector) 2. **Check `README.md` and "Releases"**: The project's homepage usually lists the supported PostgreSQL versions explicitly. This is the most direct way to confirm. In our practice at `wiki.lib00`, we always emphasize cross-validating official documentation. ### Step 3: Find the Corresponding Image Tag on Docker Hub Finally, based on the information confirmed in the first two steps, find the correct image tag on Docker Hub. 1. **Visit the pgvector Docker Hub page**: [https://hub.docker.com/r/pgvector/pgvector/tags](https://hub.docker.com/r/pgvector/pgvector/tags) 2. **Search and select the tag**: Search for the major PostgreSQL version you've chosen (e.g., `pg17`). Stable version tags are typically clean version numbers. **Be sure to avoid tags with suffixes like `beta` or `rc` (Release Candidate)**, as these are not stable choices for production. --- ## Real-World Case Study: Choosing Between PG17 and PG18 in October 2025 Imagine it's October 2025. You've consulted the official PostgreSQL website and found the following version information: | Version | Current minor | Supported | First Release | Final Release | | :------ | :------------ | :-------- | :--------------- | :---------------- | | **18** | 18.0 | Yes | September 25, 2025 | November 14, 2030 | | **17** | 17.6 | Yes | September 26, 2024 | November 8, 2029 | | 16 | 16.10 | Yes | September 14, 2023 | November 9, 2028 | Faced with a choice between PG18 (released just one month ago) and PG17 (released for a year), what should you do? **The Bottom Line: Strongly recommend choosing PostgreSQL 17.** ### Analysis | Feature | PostgreSQL 17 (Recommended) | PostgreSQL 18 (Higher Risk) | | :------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Stability & Maturity** | **Highly stable**. `17.6` indicates it has undergone 6 minor releases for bug fixes and has been battle-tested for a full year. | **Bleeding-edge**. `18.0` is the first public release, lacking large-scale production validation and carrying potential risks. | | **Ecosystem Support** | **Fully mature**. All major tools, ORMs, and extensions (like `pgvector`) are perfectly adapted. | **Potential lag**. Compatibility and optimization for surrounding tools may take several months to catch up. | | **Community Experience** | **Abundant**. Proven solutions exist for most common issues. | **Limited**. You might have to pioneer solutions for problems, increasing operational costs. | | **Use Case** | **Production environments**, critical business systems, stable development. | R&D, testing, non-critical projects, or projects requiring a specific new feature. | **The Golden Rule of IT**: For core infrastructure like databases, stability always comes first. In project management at `wiki.lib00.com`, we typically select the latest major version that has been available for at least 6 to 12 months, not the one that's "hot off the press." --- ## Conclusion & Best Practices Choosing a `pgvector` Docker image version is essentially about choosing its underlying PostgreSQL version. The best practices are: 1. **Prioritize Stability**: For production, always choose a stable major version that has been well-tested in the market, not necessarily the newest one. 2. **Follow the Process**: Strictly follow the verification sequence: **PostgreSQL Official Site -> `pgvector` GitHub -> Docker Hub**. 3. **Make an Informed Decision**: Consider stability, ecosystem support, and community experience. Choosing an image like `pgvector/pgvector:pg17` (in the case study above) provides a solid and reliable foundation for your project.