Re: Hash index creation warning

On 18 October 2014 at 02:36, Bruce Momjian <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us> wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 12:56:52PM -0400, Tom Lane wrote:
>> David G Johnston <david(dot)g(dot)johnston(at)gmail(dot)com> writes:
>> > The question is whether we explain the implications of not being WAL-logged
>> > in an error message or simply state the fact and let the documentation
>> > explain the hazards - basically just output:
>> > "hash indexes are not WAL-logged and their use is discouraged"
>>
>> +1. The warning message is not the place to be trying to explain all the
>> details.

While I don't think it should explain all the details, "WAL-logged"
will mean *nothing* to most users, including most of those who're
using streaming replication, PITR, etc.

I would strongly prefer to see something that conveys some meaning to
a user who doesn't know PostgreSQL's innards, since by the time "WAL
logged" means much to you, you've got a good chance of having already
learned that hash indexes aren't crash-safe. Or of reading the manual.

Perhaps:

WARNING: hash indexes are not crash-safe, not replicated, and their
use is discouraged

?

--
Craig Ringer http://www.2ndQuadrant.com/
PostgreSQL Development, 24x7 Support, Training & Services