Re: Allow ALTER SYSTEM SET on unrecognized custom GUCs - Mailing list pgsql-hackers

Andrei Lepikhov <a.lepikhov@postgrespro.ru> writes:
> "SET foo.bar TO 'smth'" can immediately alter the placeholder's value. 
> But what is the reason that "ALTER SYSTEM SET foo.bar TO 'smth'" doesn't 
> do the same?

Because it's not supposed to take effect until you issue a reload
command (and maybe not even then, depending on which GUC we're
talking about).  I certainly think it wouldn't make sense for your
own session to adopt the value ahead of others.

            regards, tom lane