Re: Calling PL functions with named parameters

Peter Eisentraut wrote:

>Josh Berkus wrote:
>  
>
>>>Dennis has pointed out that mixing the call-with-named-parameter
>>>interface with call-by-order-of-parameters one would cause
>>>confusion, and I think it would be OK to disallow this type mixing,
>>>so
>>>      
>>>
>>As we've discussed on IRC, this should be the difference between a
>>FUNCTION and a PROCEDURE.
>>    
>>
>
>Huh?  As far as I can tell, the difference between a function and a 
>procedure is precisely that the latter doesn't return a value.  A 
>consistent way to specify the parameters of either one would certainly 
>be highly desirable.
>
>  
>
>>b) Procedures are not automatically transactional; that is,
>>transactions within procedures must/can be explicit.  Among other
>>things, this would allow procedures to run maintainence tasks.
>>    
>>
>
>I certainly want all my maintenance tasks to be transactional.  Being 
>nontransactional is a fuzzy idea anyway.  You can't really run anything 
>without a transaction in PostgreSQL.
>
>  
>

I think you're right on both counts.

ISTM we need a more strategic discussion of where we want to go with 
procedural code.

some other ideas to consider:
- it would be nice to be able to say PERFORM 'string with plcode' 
language plname;
- OUT / INOUT parameters

I think we need an idea of where we are going with all this stuff, 
rather than approaching the area piecemeal in a way that might preclude 
other decisions we might want to make later.

cheers

andrew