Subject: [PATCH v5] Log a note at program start when running in dry-run mode

From: Álvaro Herrera <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:54:19 +0100

Users might get some peace of mind knowing their data is not being
destroyed or whatever.

Author: Peter Smith <[email-masked]>
Reviewed-by: Álvaro Herrera <[email-masked]>
Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/[email-masked]
---
 src/bin/pg_archivecleanup/pg_archivecleanup.c |  4 ++++
 src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_createsubscriber.c   |  5 +++++
 src/bin/pg_combinebackup/pg_combinebackup.c   |  4 ++++
 src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c             |  4 ++++
 src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c                 | 10 ++++++----
 5 files changed, 23 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/bin/pg_archivecleanup/pg_archivecleanup.c b/src/bin/pg_archivecleanup/pg_archivecleanup.c
index c25348bcb85..ab686b4748c 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_archivecleanup/pg_archivecleanup.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_archivecleanup/pg_archivecleanup.c
@@ -375,6 +375,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(2);
 	}
 
+	if (dryrun)
+		pg_log_info("Executing in dry-run mode.\n"
+					"No files will be removed.");
+
 	/*
 	 * Check archive exists and other initialization if required.
 	 */
diff --git a/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_createsubscriber.c b/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_createsubscriber.c
index df41836e70f..cc4be5d6ef4 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_createsubscriber.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_createsubscriber.c
@@ -2305,6 +2305,11 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		pg_log_error_hint("Try \"%s --help\" for more information.", progname);
 		exit(1);
 	}
+
+	if (dry_run)
+		pg_log_info("Executing in dry-run mode.\n"
+					"The target directory will not be modified.");
+
 	pg_log_info("validating publisher connection string");
 	pub_base_conninfo = get_base_conninfo(opt.pub_conninfo_str,
 										  &dbname_conninfo);
diff --git a/src/bin/pg_combinebackup/pg_combinebackup.c b/src/bin/pg_combinebackup/pg_combinebackup.c
index 3a325127209..c9bf0a9e105 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_combinebackup/pg_combinebackup.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_combinebackup/pg_combinebackup.c
@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (opt.no_manifest)
 		opt.manifest_checksums = CHECKSUM_TYPE_NONE;
 
+	if (opt.dry_run)
+		pg_log_info("Executing in dry-run mode.\n"
+					"The target directory will not be modified.");
+
 	/* Check that the platform supports the requested copy method. */
 	if (opt.copy_method == COPY_METHOD_CLONE)
 	{
diff --git a/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c b/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c
index a89d72fc5cf..dd5d279521e 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c
@@ -397,6 +397,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
+	if (noupdate)
+		pg_log_info("Executing in dry-run mode.\n"
+					"Nothing will be modified.");
+
 	/*
 	 * Attempt to read the existing pg_control file
 	 */
diff --git a/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c b/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c
index 27c514f934a..e9364d04f76 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c
@@ -300,10 +300,12 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	atexit(disconnect_atexit);
 
-	/*
-	 * Ok, we have all the options and we're ready to start. First, connect to
-	 * remote server.
-	 */
+	/* Ok, we have all the options and we're ready to start. */
+	if (dry_run)
+		pg_log_info("Executing in dry-run mode.\n"
+					"The target directory will not be modified.");
+
+	/* First, connect to remote server. */
 	if (connstr_source)
 	{
 		conn = PQconnectdb(connstr_source);
-- 
2.47.3

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