Re: [INTERFACES] libpq problem (really libpq feature request)

> Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 17:46:28 +0200
> From: "Jonathan davis" <haj@idianet.net>
> 
> >"Jonathan davis" <haj@idianet.net> writes:
> >> with libpq, i can't difference between bad password and server down !!
> >
> >Are you paying attention to PQerrorMessage?
> >
> > regards, tom lane
> >
> I means errors with code (int)

I think Jonathan is alluding (in a rather obtuse manner :-)) to an issue
that is on my wishlist also, namely a more systematic way of identifying
errors. Currently, libpq gives you an error state (no error, nonfatal
error, or fatal error) and an error message. What would be nice is if
there was also some sort of error code (eg an integer) that identified the
exact nature of the problem. And, of course, a published spec of what the
error codes mean. Then it would be much easier for one's program to know
what the error was, and, if possible, do something about it. From my point
of view, there are basically two classes of error - programmer error, and
resource limitation error (eg network problems, disk space problems). The
fundamental difference is that for the latter, the user might be able to
do something about it, whereas for the former, you need to modify the
code. It would be good if a program could deduce which it was without
having to do anything silly and dangerous like trying to parse the error
message.

Tim

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Tim Allen
Proximity Pty Ltd  http://www.proximity.com.au
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