Re: [GENERAL] Re: Trusted plperl

[Tom Lane]

Louis-David Mitterrand <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> Why not simply allow access to full perl functionality to postgres
> superusers (as with C functions)?

The correct way to do this would be to offer an alternative "untrusted
plperl" language, same as we now do for pltcl --- then the dbadmin has
a choice whether to take the risk of installing plperlu or not.

> If perl could reach the same level of integration with Pg that mod_perl
> has with Apache: full access to the SPI, no restrictions on what can be
> done, it would really help us make a quantum leap in productivity.

What plperl needs is some partisans who are actually willing to do some
work.  Mark Hollomon did a great job of building a proof-of-concept
implementation (which is all that it really is, at this point), but he
seems to have lost interest since then.  It's time for some other Perl
users to step up to the plate.

regards, tom lane

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[GENERAL] Re: Trusted plperl

[Louis-David Mitterrand]

On Fri, Apr 20, 2001 at 03:42:24PM -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> Hey folks, I sent out this question a while back without
> ever getting an answer, so here I go again :)
> 
> Has anyone managed to compile a trusted plperl interpreter
> into postgres? The Opcode stuff which blocks the use of
> external modules, and 99% of perl's built-in operators 
> really bugs me :(

Mark really has a point there.

Why not simply allow access to full perl functionality to postgres
superusers (as with C functions)?

A recent example on pgsql-general has shown that a 15-line pl/pgsql
script can be replaced by a one-line perl expression.

If perl could reach the same level of integration with Pg that mod_perl
has with Apache: full access to the SPI, no restrictions on what can be
done, it would really help us make a quantum leap in productivity.

Programming in pl/pgsql is nice and all, maybe mostly for oracle
refugees, but for most uses it's ridiculously limited and its syntax
reminds of BASIC. It's as far as a modern programming (or scripting)
language as can be. Again creating pl/pgsql was wonderful and
indispensable for oracle migration, but maybe it's the time to give Pg
its swiss-army chainsaw with PERL!

When one considers the power of mod_perl programming, the prospect of
that functionality inside Pg is awe-inspiring.

As a first, immediate step, please free pgperl from its sanbox.

-- 
ARICIE: Phèdre en vain s'honorait des soupirs de Thésée :
Pour moi, je suis plus fière, et fuis la gloire; aisée
D'arracher un hommage à mille autres offert,
Et d'entrer dans un coeur de toutes parts ouvert.
  (Phèdre, J-B Racine, acte 2, scène 1)

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