Re: Configurable location for extension .control files

Hello

> I am working with the NixOS Linux Distribution [nixos], which has a
> fairly radical approach to package management. If you aren't familiar
> with it, essentially all packages are installed in isolation - such that
> packages cannot interfere with each other.

good.

> This is causing a bit of a problem with PostgreSQL extensions that are
> usually installed via CREATE EXTENSION. For extensions to be used, a
> .control file must be placed in SHAREDIR/extension, but this is not
> possible under NixOS as once PostgreSQL is installed that directory is
> essentially immutable.

What about shared objects, .sql files and documentation an extension may have
to install ?

> What wolud work best for us is to allow this path to be configurable,
> ideally through either an environment variable, command line switch, or
> (and this is the least desirable) a postgresql.conf option.

There is another point into allowing installation in different path : "make
check" and "make installcheck" targets...

> Would love to hear your thoughts. Once I get confirmation on the best
> approach to take, I can try my hand at providing a patch.

No idea on the best approach yet. But I am interested in this topic (for
debian packaging).

PS: I have a serie of bugfix and patches pending in the current commitfest
(http://commitfest.postgresql.org) to help build with VPATH. You may be
interested in them...
--
Cédric Villemain +33 (0)6 20 30 22 52
http://2ndQuadrant.fr/
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