Re: ALTER TABLE lock strength reduction patch is unsafe

Simon Riggs <simon@2ndQuadrant.com> writes:
> On 3 March 2014 15:19, Robert Haas <robertmhaas@gmail.com> wrote:
>> What I'm
>> really concerned about is whether there are other things like the
>> SnapshotNow issues that can cause stuff to halt and catch fire.  I
>> don't know whether there are or are not, but that's my concern.

> Of course its a concern, I feel it also. But that's why we have beta
> period to handle the unknowns.

I have exactly zero faith that beta testing would catch low-probability
problems in this area.  What's needed, and hasn't happened AFAIK, is
detailed study of the patch by assorted senior hackers.

> The question is are there any specific areas of concern here? If not,
> then we commit because we've done a lot of work on it and at the
> moment the balance is high benefit to users against a non-specific
> feeling of risk.

This is backwards.  The default decision around here has never been
to commit when in doubt.
        regards, tom lane