Some of the pg_ctl modes do not require following options:
-m, -w, -t, -c, -l, -o, -p
However when one of this option is provided with any of the unsupported pg_ctl mode, misleading message is displayed:
$ pg_ctl status -D data -m
pg_ctl: option requires an argument -- 'm'
I believe that above command execution should give following message:
pg_ctl: invalid option -- 'm'
Also, when an argument is provided for that option, the command proceeds without any error.
$ pg_ctl status -D data/ -m fast
pg_ctl: server is running (PID: 28108)
/home/host1/bin/postgres "-D" "data"
It seems like a known pg_ctl anomaly. Is there a thought in the direction of changing/correcting this behaviour?