Re: MSVC build system

Added to TODO for Win32:
       o Convert MSVC build system to remove most batch files
        http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2007-08/msg00961.php


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andrew Dunstan wrote:
> 
> I want to overhaul the MSVC build system somewhat and want to discuss my 
> plans.
> 
> The first thing I want to do is get rid of at least most of the .bat 
> files in it altogether and make a single coherent perl-based system. The 
> reasons are:
> 
> . the XP_EXIT_FIX hack we built in to cater for the XP command processor 
> doesn't actually work on XP - if it's turned on it fails too often (e.g. 
> on build warnings) and if it's turned off if doesn't fail often enough 
> (e.g. on build errors).
> . it's unnecessarily complex. For example, the vcregress.bat file calls 
> a perl script to create a temporary .bat file which it then calls.
> . we need perl anyway, so why not write  it all in perl? I venture to 
> suggest that the majority of our developers are more at home in perl 
> than in the arcane syntax of the Windows command processor, so we might 
> be less reliant on a tiny group of people (Magnus and Dave, basically) 
> to maintain the build system.Writing it all in perl would give us a 
> chance to make the whole system more coherent and data driven.
> . the .bat files have serious (from my POV) limitations / errors anyway. 
> e.g. vcregress.bat has a hardcoded temp port (a definite nono for a 
> machine running buildfarm and a departure from the regression make file) 
> and also does not at all honor the MAX_CONNECTIONS  environment setting. 
> It also hardcodes the use of the parallel schedule for installcheck, 
> unlike the same named test on Unix.
> 
> In the longer run I want to make the whole system more data driven, so 
> that it's comparatively easy for someone to add stuff.
> 
> The whole thing needs proper documentation for developers too. Right 
> now, discovering where to add a new installation file, for example, 
> requires you to dig into the code which can be rather bewildering, I 
> suspect.
> 
> Anyway, the first part of what I want to achieve is to replace the 
> build.bat and vcregress.bat files with perl equivalents, with the 
> errors/omissions fixed. Along the way, getregress.pl would become 
> redundant. Apart from fixing the issue with using the systems "dir" 
> command rather than using File::Find, which I will revisit, I think 
> that's all I would do now, given how close we are to Beta. The rest can 
> wait until after we release.
> 
> I should add that some at least of this is my fault - Magnus showed me 
> at least parts of the system and asked my advice, and I didn't pay close 
> enough attention. It was only when (much later) I started to try to use 
> it seriously that I understood how much work was still needed.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> cheers
> 
> andrew
> 
>  
> 
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 9: In versions below 8.0, the planner will ignore your desire to
>        choose an index scan if your joining column's datatypes do not
>        match

--  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        http://momjian.us EnterpriseDB
http://postgres.enterprisedb.com
 + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +