Re: Idea: cross-check versions during initdb

Added to TODO:

* Prevent initdb from running wrong version of postmaster/postgres

> While answering the n'th why-is-initdb-failing question that looked like
> a version mismatch problem, it occurred to me to wonder why we don't
> make initdb verify that the executable and library files it's using
> are all from the same release it is.  I think this would eliminate an
> installation mistake that's practically reached FAQ status.
> 
> A sketch of a way to do this is:
> 
> 1. Add a --version switch to postgres or postmaster to print its version
> and exit.  Then initdb could check the executable's version against its
> own.  (Alternatively we could rely on pg_config, but at a minimum that
> would mean checking to make sure that pg_config is found in the same
> directory that postgres is in.  A direct check on the key executable
> seems a lot safer.)
> 
> 2. During "make install", generate a PGVERSION file and store it in the
> same directory that global.bki etc are stored in (the .../share install
> directory).  initdb could look for this to ensure that PGLIB is pointing
> to a compatible library directory.  Alternatively, add version info as
> a comment in the first line of global.bki.
> 
> I don't have time to pursue this right now, but maybe someone else would
> like to pick up on it.
> 
>             regards, tom lane
> 


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