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Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:33:13 +0200
From: Andreas Pflug <pgadmin@pse-consulting.de>
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To: Gregory Stark <stark@enterprisedb.com>
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Subject: Re: Overhauling GUCS
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Gregory Stark wrote:
>   
>> Text config files are NOT friendly for beginner and mediocre users. IMHO the
>> current restriction on GUC changes is a major obstacle towards pgsql tuning
>> tools, e.g. written as a Google SoC project. Graphic tools aren't too popular
>> at pgsql-hackers, but please contemplate a little how much pgadmin may have
>> contributed to the pgsql usage boost, esp. on windows.
>>     
>
> Like it or not computers actually have to store state when you're done
> entering it via the GUI. If you design around the GUI you end up with system
> that can *only* be used via a GUI and spend years trying to work around that
> (witness Windows which is only now with a lot of effort recovering from that
> mistake).
>   

I never advocated a file format that isn't editable any more; au 
contraire. And the statement that a GUI configuration contradicts manual 
editing is plain wrong, even with most windows software (if written 
nicely to the registry, you could dump the key, edit and reload it, or 
use regedit).
OTOH, you can't make most windows users happy with a text file version only.

Regards,
Andreas