Re: a contrib function to query current locale values

Tom Lane wrote:
>
> Hannu Krosing <hannu(at)tm(dot)ee> writes:
> > BTW, does anyone know if setlocale() is an expensive function ?
>
> The variant where you're just querying the current setting should not be
> too expensive. I'd expect the variant where you are changing the
> setting to be very expensive, however; most likely, it goes out and
> reads/parses the locale definition files.
>
> > I.e. would it be a huge performance hog if called before each and every
> > compare of each and every VARCHAR() or TEXT field that has COLLATE defined.
>
> I do not think we will be able to get away with that in standard
> implementations of the locale functions. We will need to roll our own
> implementation that caches and reuses pre-loaded locale information for
> multiple locales at once.
>
> Doesn't seem like an appetizing prospect, but I think there's no other
> way to support per-column locales...
>
> regards, tom lane

There seems to be a library released by IBM that we could use, see at:

http://oss.software.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/icu/project/

could someone review its license :

http://oss.software.ibm.com/developer/opensource/license10.html

for compatibility with postgres.

At cursory reading it seems to have the same flaws that GPL :
---8<--------8<-------8<-------8<-------8<----
When the Program is made available in source code form:

a) it must be made available under this Agreement; and

b) a copy of this Agreement must be included with each copy of
the Program.
---8<--------8<-------8<-------8<-------8<----
i.e. forcing its own license.

OTOH it

1) allows distribution in object-code form under other licenses

2) is in fact a library not a "Program" ;)

3) it claims commercial distribution to be ok.
---8<--------8<-------8<-------8<-------8<----
4. COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION

Commercial distributors of software may accept certain
responsibilities with
respect to end users, business partners and the like. While this
license is
intended to facilitate the commercial use of the Program, the
Contributor
who includes the Program in a commercial product offering should do so
in a
manner which does not create potential liability for other
Contributors.
Therefore, if a Contributor includes the Program in a commercial
product
offering, such Contributor ("Commercial Contributor") hereby agrees to
defend
and indemnify every other Contributor ("Indemnified Contributor")
against any
losses, damages and costs (collectively "Losses") arising from claims,
lawsuits
and other legal actions brought by a third party against the
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Contributor to the extent caused by the acts or omissions of such
Commercial
Contributor in connection with its distribution of the Program in a
commercial
product offering. The obligations in this section do not apply to any
claims or
Losses relating to any actual or alleged intellectual property
infringement.
In order to qualify, an Indemnified Contributor must: a) promptly
notify the
Commercial Contributor in writing of such claim, and b) allow the
Commercial
Contributor to control, and cooperate with the Commercial Contributor
in, the
defense and any related settlement negotiations. The Indemnified
Contributor
may participate in any such claim at its own expense.

For example, a Contributor might include the Program in a commercial
product
offering, Product X. That Contributor is then a Commercial
Contributor. If
that Commercial Contributor then makes performance claims, or offers
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related to Product X, those performance claims and warranties are such
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---8<--------8<-------8<-------8<-------8<----
--------
Hannu