Why does log temp files are created twice when query is executed in PL/pgSQL function?
Would you please explain it to me?
PL/pgSQL materialize result internally.
Usually PostgreSQL operations are executed row by row. But some SRF functions like PLpgSQL functions doesn't support this mode, and returns tuplestore - materialized result.
Using this technique is comfortable, but with some performance risks. Unfortunately, you cannot to change this behave. Not in PL/pgSQL.
You can write C function with same functionality but with row by row returning result mode. It is not possible in PL/pgSQL.
On other hand - you can try to increase work_mem (if your server has enough RAM). Materialization are done when available memory (controlled by work_mem) is too less.
You can try
SET work_mem to '20MB';
SELECT test_tempfiles();
Regards
Pavel
As below test result. Log temp files are created twice when SELECT statement is put
into a PL/pgSQL function. It led a little of performance degradation.
Is there any way to define PL/pgSQL function to avoid this issue?
# I am using PostgreSQL 9.3.9
my test results
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[postgres@test]$ psql -c "select test_tempfiles();" > /dev/null
LOG: temporary file: path "base/pgsql_tmp/pgsql_tmp2223.0", size 3244032
CONTEXT: PL/pgSQL function test_cursor() line 3 at RETURN QUERY
LOG: temporary file: path "base/pgsql_tmp/pgsql_tmp23223.1", size 2828062
LOG: duration: 421.426 ms statement: select test_tempfiles();
[postgres@test]$ psql -c "select name from testtbl order by id" > /dev/null
LOG: temporary file: path "base/pgsql_tmp/pgsql_tmp25586.0", size 2850816
LOG: duration: 389.054 ms statement: select random from testtbl order by random
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test_tempfiles() function is defined as below
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CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.test_tempfiles()
RETURNS TABLE(name text)
LANGUAGE plpgsql
AS
$function$
begin
return query execute "select name from testtbl order by id ";
end;
$function$
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