Re: Show VIRTUAL keyword for virtual generated columns in pg_dump and psql

From: "David G(dot) Johnston" <david(dot)g(dot)johnston(at)gmail(dot)com>
To: Lakshmi N <lakshmin(dot)jhs(at)gmail(dot)com>
Cc: "pgsql-hackers(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org" <pgsql-hackers(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org>, "dean(dot)a(dot)rasheed(at)gmail(dot)com" <dean(dot)a(dot)rasheed(at)gmail(dot)com>, "peter(at)eisentraut(dot)org" <peter(at)eisentraut(dot)org>
Subject: Re: Show VIRTUAL keyword for virtual generated columns in pg_dump and psql
Date: 2026-04-13 12:27:06
Message-ID: CAKFQuwan3J1WdqtiXr4u9Lmj+5Z7r+hYOKfy_A1g23_8f90LWw@mail.gmail.com
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On Monday, April 13, 2026, Lakshmi N <lakshmin(dot)jhs(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
>
> pg_dump and psql's \d currently display stored and virtual generated
> columns asymmetrically:
>

>
> s_total integer GENERATED ALWAYS AS ((a + b)) STORED
> v_total integer GENERATED ALWAYS AS ((a + b))
>
> Since VIRTUAL is default most likely this was omitted but with this
>
puts the burden on the reader to identify whether it is STORED or
> VIRTUAL since both kinds coexist in v19.
>

The output follows existing conventions of not printing extraneous text.
Additionally, storage itself is non-standard so the absence of a modifier
is producing standard-compliant output. I would -1 changing pg_dump on
this basis. I’d be inclined to go with the symmetry/readability argument
for psql \d though.

David J.

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