Re: BUG #17085: Should be able to create an index without referential checking when ON DELETE NO ACTION

On 7/7/21 2:32 AM, David G. Johnston wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 6, 2021 at 3:29 PM PG Bug reporting form
> <noreply(at)postgresql(dot)org <mailto:noreply(at)postgresql(dot)org>> wrote:
>
> The following bug has been logged on the website:
>
> Bug reference:      17085
> Logged by:          Victor Porton
> Email address: porton(at)narod(dot)ru <mailto:porton(at)narod(dot)ru>
> PostgreSQL version: 13.3
> Operating system:   Linux
> Description:
>
> When there is either ON DELETE NO ACTION or ON UPDATE NO ACTION for a
> foreign key, referential integrity is not preserved anyway.
>
>
> Yes, it is preserved, the delete or update is prevented.
>
>
> Thereforein this case ALTER TABLE should  be able to create an index
>
> without referential checking.
>
>
> Indexes are single table only and thus do not care about referential
> integrity or perform any referential checking.
That's a typo, I meant foreign keys, not indexes.
>
>
> It is especially useful for removing superfluous data like:
>
> delete from tags using transactions where not exists(select * from
> transactions where tags.tx_id=transactions.id
> <http://transactions.id>);
>
> I've got into a trouble: This command runs too long because of no
> foreign
> key, but I can't create a foreign key because this command didn't
> run yet to
> make referntial integrity working.
>
>
> Foreign keys likewise don't affect performance...they are strictly
> concerned with data updates.  Now, a FK column is not indexed by
> default so depending on how queries are written, and the data in for
> the FK, there may be a performance gain from adding an index.
>
> All that is to say if you want to turn a non-FK column into an FK you
> may find it helpful to add the index first, fix the data, then add the FK.

Anyway, after following my advice PostgreSQL would become more "logical"
and more convenient for users.

There is no reason to have different rules for ALTER TABLE and for
DELETE/UPDATE.