[postgis-devel] topology.sql distribution

[Mark Cave-Ayland]

strk wrote:

> What would you think about giving topology.sql
> more visibility chances starting with next release ?
> 
> At this time the file is not installed on 'make install',
> doesn't get the auto-comment and auto-garden threatment,
> doesn't provide any upgrade path.
> 
> It defines a bunch of pl/pgsql functions and 3 types:
> 2 meant to be only used as return types from functions
> and 1 being the topological equivalent of a GEOMETRY
> (ie: the spatial component of a topological feature).
> 
> Everything is defined under the 'topology' schema, so
> it's easy to make rid of everything when sick of it :P
> 
> So, do you think such a deviant file might be accepted
> in the destdir of a 'make install' ? Maybe renamed to
> postgis_topology.sql ?
> 
> I'm hoping such threatment would expose the code to more
> eyes and possible testers and eventually raising some
> interest in funding or contributing improvements in it.
> 
> --strk;

Maybe. FWIW I always included the topology.sql file in the Windows 
installers while I was maintaining them, just in case people were 
interested enough to experiment with the feature.

However I think the following issues need to be resolved before we can 
consider this:

i) Access to a specification (and no, I don't see paying for the 
specification as a valid option). Perhaps there are free drafts 
available, much like SQL/MM?

ii) Creating documentation for the PostGIS manual. I don't see how 
anyone can use it at the moment since it is entirely undocumented. We 
should probably mark it as beta quality too.

iii) Maintenance. Who will be responsible for maintaining this part of 
the code longer term?

Also, do TopoGeometries required their own PostgreSQL type in the longer 
term? Or is the specification simply a set of tables and joins?


ATB,

Mark.

-- 
Mark Cave-Ayland - Senior Technical Architect
PostgreSQL - PostGIS
Sirius Corporation plc - control through freedom
http://www.siriusit.co.uk
t: +44 870 608 0063

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