Re: XML ouput for psql

Bruce Momjian <pgman(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us> writes:
> Tom Lane wrote:
>> Not really; what of applications other than shell scripts that would
>> like to get XML-formatted output?

> Well, programs can run psql using popen. It seems overkill to get the
> protocol involved, specially since it is output-only. I can't imagine
> who would bother with the wire protocol messiness just to get xml.

Having to popen a psql isn't overkill? This seems like a far messier
solution than the other. Furthermore, it's just plain not an available
solution in many scenarios (think of a Java program running JDBC; it may
not have privileges to do popen, and may not have access to a copy of
psql anyway).

If we were not already opening up the protocol for changes, I'd be
resistant to the idea too. But since we are, I think it should be fixed
where it's cleanest to fix it.

regards, tom lane