Re: [doc] pg_ctl: fix wrong description for -l

Andreas Karlsson <andreas@proxel.se>

From: Andreas Karlsson <andreas@proxel.se>
To: Kuroda, Hayato/黒田 隼人 <kuroda.hayato@fujitsu.com>, "'pgsql-hackers@lists.postgresql.org'" <pgsql-hackers@lists.postgresql.org>
Date: 2026-04-03T23:15:59Z
Lists: pgsql-hackers
On 3/23/26 11:55 AM, Kuroda, Hayato/黒田 隼人 wrote:
> ```
> -l filename
> --log=filename
> Append the server log output to filename. If the file does not exist, it is created. The umask is set to 077, so access to the log file is disallowed to other users by default.
> ```
> 
> But users who are in the same group can also see the log if group permissions are
> enabled on the data directory. It was extended by c37b3d0 but updating the doc seemed
> to be missed. Attached patch can fix the issue.

Thanks for the patch.

Nicely spotted, but I am not sure I am a fan of the new text. Shouldn't 
we still mention that "If the file does not exist, it is created."? Also 
I think the last sentence would flow better as:

Access to the log file is disallowed to other users by default, but 
users in the same group can also read it if group permissions are 
enabled on the data directory.

Best regards,
Andreas

-- 
Andreas Karlsson
Percona




Commits

Same data as JSON: GET /api/v1/messages/:b64id/commits the thread's linked commits as JSON, with link sources. API reference →
  1. doc: Improve description of pg_ctl -l log file permissions