Re: GUC with units, details

On Jul 27, 2006, at 9:16 AM, Bort, Paul wrote:
> Peter Eisentraut wrote:
>>
>> I have committed it using the 1024 multiplier, but if you want to
>> propose changing all uses of kB, MB, and GB in PostgreSQL to
>> the other
>> system, now would be the time to do it.
>>
>
> I think it would be a good idea. I know I don't have time to do it for
> 8.2.
>
> I get the feeling that there isn't enough interest on -hackers that
> anyone else is likely to do this, so I guess it waits until later.

First, when it comes to page values, perhaps we should allow pages/ 
blocks as a valid unit. That would allow people who want to to  
specify things in pages and still be explicit about what they mean.

Second, lack of interest or no, I feel forcing specific casing/SI  
units is a flat-out bad idea.

The truth is, virtually no one, even highly technical people, ever  
picks nits between kB vs KiB vs KB. People will sometimes use b for  
bits and B for bytes, but in the case of postgresql.conf it's very  
clear that everything is talking about bytes and not bits.

Forcing people to use a specific casing scheme is just going to lead  
to confusion and user frustration. If there's not a very solid  
*functional* argument for it, we shouldn't do it. Wanting to enforce  
a convention that people rarely use isn't a good reason.
--
Jim C. Nasby, Sr. Engineering Consultant      jnasby@pervasive.com
Pervasive Software      http://pervasive.com    work: 512-231-6117
vcard: http://jim.nasby.net/pervasive.vcf       cell: 512-569-9461