Robert Haas <robertmhaas@gmail.com> writes:
> I think this is way over-engineered. All we really need here is a
> command along the lines of RESET ALL AS CURRENT USER that gives every
> GUC the value it would have had if you logged in under the current
> user's account. Simple, clean, no new keywords.
Doesn't do anything for autovacuum though...
BTW, does pg_dumpall know to dump ALTER USER SET settings attached
to built-in roles (such as the proposed "autovacuum" role)? I'd bet
it doesn't do that. Even if it does, that seems like a more awkward
way to push settings over to a new installation than copying your
postgresql.conf file.
Simon's idea of "profiles" sounds worth pursuing to me, but clearly
it's not happening for 8.4.
regards, tom lane