Threads vs Processes (was: NuSphere and PostgreSQL for windows)

Tom Lane writes:
> BTW, I've been wondering lately if we'd not be better off to look at
> using threading in the Windows port, if it'd help us get around the
> fork/exec data transfer problem. I'm not sure that it would,
> mind you, but if it would give an answer it might be a lot less painful
than
> solving the data transfer problem directly.

Some coincidence. Was just about to post a message to the hackers-win32
list, asking if anyone was considering using threads for the Windows port,
and why/if sub-processes were the preferred option (from the TODO items on
http://momjian.postgresql.org/main/writings/pgsql/win32.html mention
CreateProcess).

Having looked at the code for the first time over the past day and a half,
I'm quite sure that using threads is the easier option (and, generally,
replacing fork/exec with winthreads is easier than using CreateProcess).

FWIW, I've got a threaded version of the WIN32_DEV branch more or less
"running" (it is a terrible hack job, so NO, no patches... yet :-), as a
proof of concept. Still a work in progress (ok, I've qualified it enough),
but it is showing enough promise to convince me that threading is the way to
go for the Win32 port.

Anyone else experienced with the code base care to weigh in on this?

Cheers,
Claudio

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