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values of column source in pg_settings
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* values of column source in pg_settings
@ 2025-09-10 19:21 [email protected]
  2025-09-10 19:39 ` Re: values of column source in pg_settings David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
  2025-09-10 19:55 ` Re: values of column source in pg_settings David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
  0 siblings, 2 replies; 4+ messages in thread

From: [email protected] @ 2025-09-10 19:21 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: [email protected]

Hi all,

 

I could find several distinct values for column "source" in pg_settings
view. Examples of these values are: client, environment variable,
configuration file, default, database, override, session.

Are there other values?

The documentation doesn't mention any thing (Any way I didn't find).

In some of my databases, I have this:

 

postgres# select name, source from pg_settings where source like 'environ%';

      name       |        source       

-----------------+----------------------

max_stack_depth | environment variable

 

What is the meaning of 'environment_variable' here?

For the other listed values, I have "almost" got it but I don't see anything
for "environment variable".

 

Thanks in advance

 

Michel SALAIS



^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread

* Re: values of column source in pg_settings
  2025-09-10 19:21 values of column source in pg_settings [email protected]
@ 2025-09-10 19:39 ` David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
  2025-09-10 21:35   ` Re: values of column source in pg_settings Laurenz Albe <[email protected]>
  1 sibling, 1 reply; 4+ messages in thread

From: David G. Johnston @ 2025-09-10 19:39 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; +Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, <[email protected]> wrote:

> postgres# select name, source from pg_settings where source like
> 'environ%';
>
>       name       |        source
>
> -----------------+----------------------
>
> max_stack_depth | environment variable
>
>
>
> What is the meaning of ‘environment_variable’ here?
>
>
Operating system and/or shell variable.  Established in the parent
process’s environment before starting the server.

Think “home” and “path”.

David J.


^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread

* Re: values of column source in pg_settings
  2025-09-10 19:21 values of column source in pg_settings [email protected]
  2025-09-10 19:39 ` Re: values of column source in pg_settings David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
@ 2025-09-10 21:35   ` Laurenz Albe <[email protected]>
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 4+ messages in thread

From: Laurenz Albe @ 2025-09-10 21:35 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David G. Johnston <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; +Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>

On Wed, 2025-09-10 at 12:39 -0700, David G. Johnston wrote:
> > postgres# select name, source from pg_settings where source like 'environ%';
> >       name       |        source       
> > -----------------+----------------------
> >  max_stack_depth | environment variable
> >  
> > What is the meaning of ‘environment_variable’ here?
> 
> Operating system and/or shell variable.  Established in the parent process’s environment before starting the server.

Almost.  "src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c" has this comment:

    /*
     * rlimit isn't exactly an "environment variable", but it behaves about
     * the same.  If we can identify the platform stack depth rlimit, increase
     * default stack depth setting up to whatever is safe (but at most 2MB).
     * Report the value's source as PGC_S_DYNAMIC_DEFAULT if it's 2MB, or as
     * PGC_S_ENV_VAR if it's reflecting the rlimit limit.
     */

Looking at the code, you seem to get "environment variable" if "ulimit -s"
is less than 2560 and "default" when it is bigger...

Yours,
Laurenz Albe






^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread

* Re: values of column source in pg_settings
  2025-09-10 19:21 values of column source in pg_settings [email protected]
@ 2025-09-10 19:55 ` David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 4+ messages in thread

From: David G. Johnston @ 2025-09-10 19:55 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; +Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I could find several distinct values for column “source” in pg_settings
> view. Examples of these values are: client, environment variable,
> configuration file, default, database, override, session.
>
> Are there other values?
>
>

https://github.com/postgres/postgres/blob/9016fa7e3bcde8ae4c3d63c707143af147486a10/src/backend/utils...

David J.


^ permalink  raw  reply  [nested|flat] 4+ messages in thread


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2025-09-10 19:21 values of column source in pg_settings [email protected]
2025-09-10 19:39 ` David G. Johnston <[email protected]>
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2025-09-10 19:55 ` David G. Johnston <[email protected]>

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