Re: BUG #1083: Insert query reordering interacts badly with NEXTVAL()/CURRVAL()

"PostgreSQL Bugs List" <pgsql-bugs(at)postgresql(dot)org> writes:
> /* this statement will reverse the order of CURRVAL()/NEXTVAL() to match the
> column order of the table */
> INSERT INTO testing (col_b, col_a) VALUES (NEXTVAL('seq'), CURRVAL('seq'));

This is not a bug. The order of evaluation of select-lists and
values-lists is not defined anywhere in the SQL standard, nor promised
anywhere in the Postgres documentation. In fact, we specifically say
here:
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/7.4/static/sql-expressions.html#SYNTAX-EXPRESS-EVAL
that "The order of evaluation of subexpressions is not defined." To do
otherwise would put horrible crimps in our ability to optimize query plans.

regards, tom lane