Re: Alter index rename concurrently to

Robert Haas <robertmhaas(at)gmail(dot)com> writes:
> [ reasons why DDL under less than AEL sucks ]

Unfortunately, none of these problems are made to go away with an
AcceptInvalidationMessages at statement start. That just makes the
window smaller. But DDL effects could still be seen - or not -
partway through a statement, with just as much ensuing hilarity
as in your example. Maybe more.

The real issue here, and the reason why I'm very unhappy with the mad rush
in certain quarters to try to reduce locking levels for DDL, is exactly
that it generally results in uncertainty about when the effects will be
seen. I do not think your proposal does much more than put a fig leaf
over that problem.

Barring somebody having a great idea about resolving that, I think we
just need to be very clear that any DDL done with less than AEL has
exactly this issue. In the case at hand, couldn't we just document
that "the effects of RENAME CONCURRENTLY may not be seen in other
sessions right away; at worst, not till they begin a new transaction"?
If you don't like that, don't use CONCURRENTLY.

regards, tom lane