Re: proposal: alternative psql commands quit and exit

On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 12:01:37PM +0100, Daniel Verite wrote:
> Bruce Momjian wrote:
>
> > One open issue is the existing help display is inaccurate on Windows:
> >
> > Use \\? for help or press control-C to clear the input buffer.
>
> ! #ifndef WIN32
> ! puts(_("Use control-D to quit."));
> ! #else
> ! puts(_("Use control-C to quit."));
> ! #endif
>
> But Control-C exiting on Windows is a bug, isn't it?
> Shouldn't we try to fix it to behave like in Unix
> rather than documenting it?
>
> Also, the fact that Control-D can quit in the middle of a
> multiline query without any confirmation is a usability problem, because
> you can always fat-finger a Ctrl+key. By comparison, bash doesn't
> accept it and emits the same error as if a script was improperly
> terminated. Example:
>
> $ cat '
> > [Hit Ctrl+D here] bash: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
> bash: syntax error: unexpected end of file
> $
>
> There's also the issue that, in general, communicating different hints
> and advice depending on the host operating system is not ideal.
> Because people ask "how do I do such and such in psql?",
> they do not ask "how do I do such and such in psql in Windows?".

Well, the exit/quit API is just for users to get things done quickly,
for typing portability. I don't think it is something that has to have
a consistent API.

--
Bruce Momjian <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us> http://momjian.us
EnterpriseDB http://enterprisedb.com

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