Re: Proposal: Conflict log history table for Logical Replication

On Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM Dilip Kumar <dilipbalaut(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
>
> On Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 2:43 AM Amit Kapila <amit(dot)kapila16(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
> >
>
> > I agree that option-2 is useful and IIUC, we are already working on
> > something similar in thread [1]. However, it is better to use option-1
> > here because we are using non-user specified mechanism to skip changes
> > during replication, so following the same during other times is
> > preferable. Once we have that other feature [1], we can probably
> > optimize this code to use it without taking input from the user. The
> > other reason of not going with the option-2 in the way you are
> > proposing is that it doesn't seem like a good idea to have multiple
> > ways to specify skipping tables from publishing. I find the approach
> > being discussed in thread [1] a generic and better than a new
> > table-level option.
> >
> > [1] - https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/CANhcyEVt2CBnG7MOktaPPV4rYapHR-VHe5%3DqoziTZh1L9SVc6w%40mail.gmail.com
>
> I understand the current discussion revolves around using an EXCEPT
> clause (for tables/schemas/columns) during publication creation. But
> what we want is to mark some table which will be excluded permanently
> from publication, because we can not expect users to explicitly
> exclude them while creating publication.
>
> So, I propose we add a "non-publishable" property to tables
> themselves. This is a more valuable option for users who are certain
> that certain tables should never be replicated.
>
> By marking a table as non-publishable, we save users the effort of
> repeatedly listing it in the EXCEPT option for every new publication.
> Both methods have merit, but the proposed table property addresses the
> need for a permanent, system-wide exclusion.
>
> See below test with a quick hack, what I am referring to.
>
> postgres[2730657]=# CREATE TABLE test(a int) WITH
> (NON_PUBLISHABLE_TABLE = true);
> CREATE TABLE
> postgres[2730657]=# CREATE PUBLICATION pub FOR ALL TABLES ;
> CREATE PUBLICATION
> postgres[2730657]=# select pg_get_publication_tables('pub');
> pg_get_publication_tables
> ---------------------------
> (0 rows)
>
>
> But I agree this is an additional table option which might need
> consensus, so meanwhile we can proceed with option2, I will prepare
> patches with option-2 and as a add on patch I will propose option-1.
> And this option-1 patch can be discussed in a separate thread as well.

So here is the patch set using option-2, with this when alltable
option is used and we get pg_get_publication_tables(), this will check
the relid against the conflict history tables in the subscribers and
those tables will not be added to the list. I will start a separate
thread for proposing the patch I sent in previous email.

--
Regards,
Dilip Kumar
Google