Re: [PATCH] pg_autovacuum commandline password hiding.

Neil Conway <neilc(at)samurai(dot)com> writes:
> Tom Lane wrote:
>> I think that using -P for pg_autovacuum is just plain stupid, even on a
>> nominally secure single-user box.

> Assuming that command-line parameters are actually globally visible on
> your platform, which isn't necessarily the case.

I don't offhand know of any Unix platforms where they cannot be found
out --- you may have to use non-default ps arguments, but you can see
'em. I do know of platforms where they cannot be hidden (Solaris for
instance).

> Anyway, I basically agree that the legitimate use-case for this feature
> is pretty small, and it is probably worth removing. However, I don't
> think it is urgent (there are plenty of other ways to shoot yourself in
> the foot), and shouldn't be backpatched -- people may be using this
> functionality.

My inclination is to remove this from HEAD (where it may be moot anyway
by the time 8.1 freezes) and from 8.0.

regards, tom lane