babelfishpg_tsql

Overview

special case: this extension only works on wiltondb kernel fork

Version

Build

You can build the RPM / DEB packages for babelfish using pig build:

pig build pkg babelfish         # build RPM / DEB packages

Install

You can install babelfish directly. First, make sure the PGDG and PIGSTY repositories are added and enabled:

pig repo add pgsql -u          # Add repo and update cache

Install the extension using pig or apt/yum/dnf:

• Install
• pig
• dnf
• apt

pig install babelfish;          # Install for current active PG version

pig ext install -y babelfish -v 17  # PG 17

dnf install -y babelfish_17       # PG 17

apt install -y babelfishpg-17-babelfish   # PG 17

Create Extension:

CREATE EXTENSION babelfishpg_tsql CASCADE;  -- requires: babelfishpg_common, uuid-ossp

Usage

babelfishpg_tsql: SQL Server Transact SQL compatibility

The babelfishpg_tsql extension provides Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL (T-SQL) compatibility for PostgreSQL as part of the Babelfish project. Applications written for SQL Server can connect and run queries against PostgreSQL with minimal changes.

Enabling

CREATE EXTENSION babelfishpg_tsql;

Key Features

• T-SQL Language Support: Understands T-SQL syntax including stored procedures, functions, triggers, and batches
• SQL Server Wire Protocol: Applications can connect using the TDS (Tabular Data Stream) protocol on port 1433
• System Procedures: Common sp_ system stored procedures are available
• System Views: SQL Server catalog views (e.g., sys.tables, sys.columns, sys.objects)
• Multi-Database Semantics: Supports SQL Server-style database/schema separation

Supported T-SQL Features

• BEGIN...END blocks, IF...ELSE, WHILE loops
• TRY...CATCH error handling
• Temporary tables (#temp, ##global_temp)
• Table variables (DECLARE @t TABLE (...))
• IDENTITY columns and @@IDENTITY / SCOPE_IDENTITY()
• TOP clause, OUTPUT clause
• MERGE statements
• Common Table Expressions (CTEs)
• Cross-database queries within the same instance
• EXEC / EXECUTE for dynamic SQL
• SQL Server-style string concatenation and NULL handling
• PRINT and RAISERROR statements

Connecting via TDS Protocol

Applications can connect using SQL Server drivers (JDBC, ODBC, ADO.NET) to the TDS listener port (default 1433):

Server: hostname
Port: 1433
Database: mydb

Notes

• Requires babelfishpg_common extension
• Part of the Babelfish for PostgreSQL project (Apache 2.0 / PostgreSQL license)
• Not all T-SQL features are supported; check the Babelfish compatibility reference