Re: Support for %TYPE in CREATE FUNCTION

Ian Lance Taylor wrote:
> [...]
> I propose this: if a table definition changes, alter the function to
> use the new type (choice 2).  If there is already a function with the
> new type, issue a NOTICE and drop the old function (choice 23b).  If
> something is using the old function, issue a NOTICE while dropping the
> old function (choice 2b).
   Altering  a  function  definition  in any language other than   PL/pgSQL really scares me. What do you expect a "C"
function  declared  to take a VARCHAR argument to do if you just change   the pg_proc entry telling it now takes a
NAME?I'd expect  it   to  generate  a  signal  11  most  of it's calls, and nothing   really useful the other times.
 
   And you have no chance of  limiting  your  implementation  to   functions  defined  in  PL/pgSQL.  It's  a loadable
PLso you   don't even know the languages  or  handlers  Oid  at  compile   time.
 

> If you agree with me on the meta-point, then this is just a quibble
> about my original patch (which made choice 1 above).  If you disagree
> with me, I'd like to understand why.
   The  possible SIGSEGV above. Please don't take it personally,   I'm talking tech here, but it seems you forgot that
PL/pgSQL  is just *one* of many possible languages.
 
   And  please  forget  about  a  chance  to  finally  track all   dependencies. You'll never be able to know if some
PL/Tcl or   PL/Python function/trigger uses that function. So not getting   your NOTICE doesn't tell if really nothing
broke.As soon  as   you  tell  me  you  can I'd implement PL/Forth or PL/Pascal -   maybe PL/COBOL or PL/RPL (using an
embedded HP48  emulator)   just to tell "you can't" again :-)
 


Jan

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