hi,

i am wondering what you think about including evgen potemkin's patch for recursive SQL in the next postgres version:
http://gppl.terminal.ru/

cons:
- its not standard SQL (uses oracle style syntax)

pros:
- it would add a feature that many people miss already for ages. all existing workarounds are a pain in the ass, and are too slow for realistic applications.
- full SQL99 compliant recursive queries are much more complex, i.e. i think it is even unlikely that they will find their way into 7.6. 
- Evgen DID publish this patch under GPL, see:
http://gppl.terminal.ru/README.html
- the code doesnt look too bad (although im not the right person to judge such things), and it seems the developer takes care of bugfixes (and possibly also feature requests like sql99 compliance?), i.e. this might be a realistic startingpoint for SQL99 compliant recursive queries.

i am aware of the fact that tom lane pointed to the fact that Andrew Overholt did work towards SQL99 compliant recursive queries. it would be interesting to know andrews opinion how much more work would be needed to get a SQL99 compliant version out based on the work he has done so far, and what he thinks about Evgen potemkin's patch (i cced this mail to Andrew and Evgen).

in summary, i think Evgens patch would cover 95% of all user needs, and releasing it with 7.5 would be a realistic step towards a feature that many users like me are missing for a long time already... 

regards,
jacob koehler

Sat, 26 Jun 2004 20:20:51 +0100
"jacob koehler (RRes-Roth)" <jacob.koehler@bbsrc.ac.uk>
recursive SQL


jacob koehler (RRes-Roth) wrote:

>hi,
>
>i am wondering what you think about including evgen potemkin's patch for recursive SQL in the next postgres version:
>http://gppl.terminal.ru/
>
>[snip]
>

>- Evgen DID publish this patch under GPL, see:
>http://gppl.terminal.ru/README.html
>
>  
>

It would first have to be relicensed ...

cheers

andrew

Sat, 26 Jun 2004 15:41:33 -0400
Andrew Dunstan <andrew@dunslane.net>
Re: recursive SQL
> - Evgen DID publish this patch under GPL, see:
> http://gppl.terminal.ru/README.html

We cannot use GPL code in PostgreSQL.  PostgreSQL is BSD licensed.  As 
to why on earth he GPL'd - I have no idea...

Chris

Sun, 27 Jun 2004 12:26:51 +0800
Christopher Kings-Lynne <chriskl@familyhealth.com.au>
Re: recursive SQL
* jacob koehler (RRes-Roth) <jacob.koehler@bbsrc.ac.uk> [2004-06-27 20:58]:
> 
> cons:
> - its not standard SQL (uses oracle style syntax)

Besides the GPL issue, this is my biggest problem.

> i am aware of the fact that tom lane pointed to the fact that Andrew
> Overholt did work towards SQL99 compliant recursive queries. it would be
> interesting to know andrews opinion how much more work would be needed to
> get a SQL99 compliant version out based on the work he has done so far,
> and what he thinks about Evgen potemkin's patch (i cced this mail to
> Andrew and Evgen).

My work towards SQL-standard recursive queries is nowhere near complete and
I'm sure any patches I had are severely rotten by now.  I'll try to grab
what I had and see if I can get a patch from which people can maybe pick
up.

Sorry for dropping the ball on this one.  I was back finishing up my
degree this past year and my current work isn't database-related :( .  I'll
see what I can do.  This would be a great feature for PostgreSQL.

Andrew

Mon, 28 Jun 2004 11:44:31 -0400
Andrew Overholt <overholt@redhat.com>
Re: recursive SQL