I was found a bug in PostgreSQL 8.0.0beta3. It isn't in PostgreSQL 7.4.5. $ createdb test $ psql test
test=# SELECT version (); version ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PostgreSQL 8.0.0beta3 on i686-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by GCC gcc (GCC) 3.3.4 (1 row) test=# LISTEN a; test=# LISTEN b; test=# SELECT * FROM pg_listener l WHERE NOT EXISTS (select 1 from pg_stat_activity a where a.procpid=l.listenerpid); relname | listenerpid | notification ---------+-------------+-------------- b | 2020 | 0 (1 row) test=# LISTEN c; test=# LISTEN d; test=# LISTEN e; test=# LISTEN f; test=# SELECT * FROM pg_listener l WHERE NOT EXISTS (select 1 from pg_stat_activity a where a.procpid=l.listenerpid); relname | listenerpid | notification ---------+-------------+-------------- b | 2020 | 0 d | 2020 | 0 f | 2020 | 0 (3 rows) test=# SELECT * INTO temp_listener FROM pg_listener; SELECT test=# SELECT * FROM temp_listener l WHERE NOT EXISTS (select 1 from pg_stat_activity a where a.procpid=l.listenerpid); relname | listenerpid | notification ---------+-------------+-------------- b | 2020 | 0 d | 2020 | 0 f | 2020 | 0 (3 rows) (not a pg_listener bug) test=# SELECT * INTO temp_stat_activity FROM pg_stat_activity; SELECT test=# SELECT * FROM temp_listener l WHERE NOT EXISTS (select 1 from temp_stat_activity a where a.procpid=l.listenerpid); relname | listenerpid | notification ---------+-------------+-------------- (0 rows) (not an EXISTS bug) Note: If backend terminated abnormally or server powered down, the pg_listener's records cannot be deleted. I using a script at times: DELETE FROM pg_listener WHERE NOT EXISTS (select 1 from pg_stat_activity a where a.procpid=pg_listener.listenerpid); In PostgreSQL 7.4.5 it's working fine. "TODO: Allow LISTEN/NOTIFY to store info in memory rather than tables" is good idea. How soon may i expect this feature? :) -Sygma ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html