GUCs that need restart

There are quite a few GUC parameters that need restart. Is there a way we can avoid some of them needing restart? I am specifically looking at archive_mode and the new wal_level.

From my limited understanding, these parameters need restart because in a running cluster we cannot safely change these GUCs and make sure that other/running backends will pick them up immediately so that they start behaving differently as required by the GUC.

Are there other reasons to have them set to PGC_POSTMASTER?

If the above is correct and the only reason, then can we have them assigned to a new PGC_ mode and have the SET commands somehow wait for all backends to pickup the value before returning? (specifically, wait for any running backends to exit the transaction).

I know there are genuine reasons behind having them depend on restart, but am just trying to eliminate that, at least for some parameters which a DBA might want to change on the fly, being fully aware of the consequences.

Regards,
--
gurjeet.singh
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