Re: Which parts of src/backend/nodes/print.c are used?

Peter Eisentraut <peter@eisentraut.org> writes:
> src/backend/nodes/print.c contains a number of functions that print node 
> types, mostly to stdout.  Most of these are not actually used anywhere 
> in the code.  Are they meant to be inserted into the code ad hoc for 
> debugging?  Is anyone using these?

Personally, I use pprint() a lot.  (I invoke it manually from gdb and
then look into the postmaster log for results.)  Its cousins such as
format_node_dump look like they were added by people with slightly
different tastes in output format, so they probably have a
constituency somewhere.

I tend to agree that print_rt() and the other tree-printing routines
below it (down to, but not including, print_slot) are not as useful
as invoking the outfuncs.c code; but others might think differently.
Sometimes you don't want all the gory detail.

            regards, tom lane