Re: Better auth errors from libpq

Joshua Drake <jd@commandprompt.com> writes:
> I think something like:

> psql: FATAL:  Ident authentication failed for user "root"
> HINT: http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/static/client-authentication.html

> Would be nice.

Do you really think that's helpful in the typical case where someone
fat-fingered their password?

I'm not averse to hint messages that are actually helpful, ie,
reasonably connected to the *specific* failure situation.  The problem
I've got with David's proposal is that it provides a one-size-fits-all
hint for every possible auth failure.  One size does not fit all here.

Or to put it even more baldly: this is not an area in which you can
improve matters significantly with five minutes' thought and a one-line
patch.  It would take some actual work.
        regards, tom lane