Databases like Postgres can be memory-hungry, with shared buffers being a major RAM segment. To optimize this, setting shared_buffers to 25% of available RAM is a solid starting point. Work memory, controlled by work_mem, is essential for query processing and tuning this parameter is key. Maintenance_work_mem, dedicated to operations like VACUUM, should be set based on available resources. Additionally, considering session pooling with PgBouncer can reduce memory consumption. Table bloat can impact shared buffer efficiency, and pgstattuple can help identify and address this issue. Ultimately, balancing shared buffers, work memory, maintenance work memory, and autovacuum work memory is crucial for efficient Postgres operation.
https://tembo.io/blog/optimizing-memory-usage