From: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
To: "Tristan Partin" <tristan@partin.io>
cc: "Andrew Dunstan" <andrew@dunslane.net>,
        "Zsolt Parragi" <zsolt.parragi@percona.com>,
        "PostgreSQL Hackers" <pgsql-hackers@lists.postgresql.org>,
        "Daniel Gustafsson" <daniel@yesql.se>
Subject: Re: Proposal: new file format for hba/ident/hosts configuration?
In-reply-to: <DJSO1SIMD260.1THBEIYVZ034A@partin.io>
References: 
 <CAN4CZFNXdKL4eb_GwT_h-vUuUV+CbPCk_8-+S3kV8iFmNmUw7A@mail.gmail.com>
 <DJSICZEWRJBC.XT5U5929XT0N@partin.io>
 <CAD5tBc+ki9ynMuFRkFCCXVtyOO7HaEU7EEdGKA1LWgofNgdNOQ@mail.gmail.com>
 <DJSO1SIMD260.1THBEIYVZ034A@partin.io>
Comments: In-reply-to "Tristan Partin" <tristan@partin.io>
	message dated "Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:44:46 -0000"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-ID: <1878370.1783461510.1@sss.pgh.pa.us>
Date: Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:58:30 -0400
Message-ID: <1878371.1783461510@sss.pgh.pa.us>
Archived-At: 
 <https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/1878371.1783461510%40sss.pgh.pa.us>
Precedence: bulk

I'm noticing a distinct lack of focus on what would be the benefits
to *end users* of Postgres.  I can't see proceeding with a project
like this unless there are strong benefits that would entice people
to convert their configuration files of their own accord [*].
And really I don't think any of the benefits enumerated at the top of
the thread are going to sell very many users on doing that.  It's
not their problem if we're having issues shoehorning new features
into the existing format.

			regards, tom lane

[*] If we try to force it, even by such weak means as not implementing
new features in the old format, we will have mobs of villagers with
pitchforks on our doorsteps.