45e2544584
composite type capability makes it possible to create a system view
based on a table function in a way that is hopefully palatable to
everyone. The attached patch takes advantage of this, moving
show_all_settings() from contrib/tablefunc into the backend (renamed
all_settings(). It is defined as a builtin returning type RECORD. During
initdb a system view is created to expose the same information presently
available through SHOW ALL. For example:
test=# select * from pg_settings where name like '%debug%';
name | setting
-----------------------+---------
debug_assertions | on
debug_pretty_print | off
debug_print_parse | off
debug_print_plan | off
debug_print_query | off
debug_print_rewritten | off
wal_debug | 0
(7 rows)
Additionally during initdb two rules are created which make it possible
to change settings by updating the system view -- a "virtual table" as
Tom put it. Here's an example:
Joe Conway
PostgreSQL Database Management System ===================================== This directory contains the source code distribution of the PostgreSQL database management system. PostgreSQL is an advanced object-relational database management system that supports an extended subset of the SQL standard, including transactions, foreign keys, subqueries, triggers, user-defined types and functions. This distribution also contains several language bindings, including C, C++, Perl, Python, and Tcl, as well as drivers for JDBC and ODBC. See the file INSTALL for instructions on how to build and install PostgreSQL. That file also lists supported operating systems and hardware platforms and contains information regarding any other software packages that are required to build or run the PostgreSQL system. Changes between all PostgreSQL releases are recorded in the file HISTORY. Copyright and license information can be found in the file COPYRIGHT. A comprehensive documentation set is included in this distribution; it can be read as described in the installation instructions. The latest version of this software may be obtained at ftp://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/. For more information look at our web site located at http://www.postgresql.org/.