Re: why semicolon after begin is not allowed in postgresql? - Mailing list pgsql-hackers

From Andrew Dunstan
Subject Re: why semicolon after begin is not allowed in postgresql?
Date
Msg-id 5293BAB3.4010605@dunslane.net
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: why semicolon after begin is not allowed in postgresql?  (AK <alkuzo@gmail.com>)
List pgsql-hackers
On 11/25/2013 03:42 PM, AK wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> I do see your logic now, but this thing is a common mistake - it means that
> this seems counter-intuitive to some people. What would happen if we applied
> Occam's razor and just removed this rule?
>
> All existing code would continue to work as is, and we would have one less
> rule to memorize. That would make PostgreSql a slightly better product,
> right?
>
>
>


It would make it a worse product, being inconsistent and stupid. The 
rule is that you use semicolons to terminate statements. 'begin' on its 
own is not a complete statement. Therefore it should not be followed by 
a semicolon.

Several people have explained this basis of the rule. It's not 
counter-intuitive to me or lots of other people.

cheers

andrew



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