2012/1/27 Carlo Stonebanks <stonec.register@sympatico.ca>:
> Yes, I did test it - i.e. I ran the functions on their own as I had always
> noticed a minor difference between EXPLAIN ANALYZE results and direct query
> calls.
>
> Interesting, so sql functions DON'T cache plans? Will plan-caching be of any
> benefit to SQL that makes no reference to any tables? The SQL is emulating
> the straight non-set-oriented procedural logic of the original plpgsql.
>
It is not necessary usually - simple SQL functions are merged to outer
query - there are e few cases where this optimization cannot be
processed and then there are performance lost.
For example this optimization is not possible (sometimes) when some
parameter is volatile
Regards
Pavel Stehule