Re: [PATCHES] default database creation with initdb

Tom Lane wrote:
> [ redirected back to hackers, since it seems this is far from a finished
>   discussion ]
> 
> Robert Treat <xzilla@users.sourceforge.net> writes:
> 
>>What is the purpose of this database? A generalized, shared resource for tool
>>makers and add-on packages to store information in PostgreSQL, or a working 
>>database that is usable (and to be used) out of the box for new users?  I 
>>really don't think we want the latter... I can see users connecting via psql 
>>and then playing around with different add/create type statements.  It is all
>>too common a question from newbies... "does postgresql have a default 
>>database to get started with?" They'll see this database and begin creating 
>>schema and using this as thier main database, and I think we ought to avoid 
>>that. If people don't like pg_system, pg_addons seem like a much safer name 
>>to go with imho. 
> 
> 
> pg_addons or pg_tools or something like that seems like a fine name *for
> the purpose of a tools-only database* ... but that is only one of the
> issues being tossed around here.  To me the much more interesting aspect
> of this is reducing the extent to which template1 is serving multiple
> not-very-compatible purposes.  I like the idea of a default database
> because it would eliminate two perennial issues:
>   * newbies mistakenly cluttering template1 with junk
>   * CREATE DATABASE failing because there are other connections to the
>     template database.
> 
> To be newbie-friendly, such a default database *should* be writable,
> I think.  The whole point is to let people play without having to learn
> how to create a database first.  If they clutter it up, so what?  They
> can always drop it and recreate it --- there won't be anything at all
> special about it.  (Thus, Andreas' desire to have it be considered a
> "system object" seems misplaced to me.)

This contradicts my intention to have users *not* to write to it, but 
reserve it for system like stuff. You  might take everything that's not 
in postgres binary as non-system, but the average user's perception is 
different.

Apparently we really need two initdb created databases for all purposes.

Regards,
Andreas