cat_tools

Overview

Promoted from a source-only universe row to PIGSTY RPM and DEB packages at 0.3.0; control fixes schema cat_tools and META declares the plpgsql runtime dependency.

Version

Build

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

pig build pkg cat_tools         # build RPM / DEB packages

Install

You can install cat_tools 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 cat_tools;          # Install for current active PG version

pig ext install -y cat_tools -v 18  # PG 18
pig ext install -y cat_tools -v 17  # PG 17
pig ext install -y cat_tools -v 16  # PG 16
pig ext install -y cat_tools -v 15  # PG 15
pig ext install -y cat_tools -v 14  # PG 14

dnf install -y cat_tools_18       # PG 18
dnf install -y cat_tools_17       # PG 17
dnf install -y cat_tools_16       # PG 16
dnf install -y cat_tools_15       # PG 15
dnf install -y cat_tools_14       # PG 14

apt install -y postgresql-18-cat-tools   # PG 18
apt install -y postgresql-17-cat-tools   # PG 17
apt install -y postgresql-16-cat-tools   # PG 16
apt install -y postgresql-15-cat-tools   # PG 15
apt install -y postgresql-14-cat-tools   # PG 14

Create Extension:

CREATE EXTENSION cat_tools CASCADE;  -- requires: plpgsql

Usage

Sources:

• cat_tools 0.3.0 README
• cat_tools 0.3.0 history
• cat_tools 0.3.0 control file
• cat_tools 0.3.0 install SQL

cat_tools provides typed views, enums, and helper functions for PostgreSQL catalog introspection. It is designed for database code that needs a more stable and readable interface than repeatedly decoding raw pg_catalog fields; the views still track PostgreSQL’s catalogs and must be reviewed across major-version upgrades.

Install and Grant Access

CREATE EXTENSION cat_tools;
GRANT cat_tools__usage TO app_introspection;

The extension installs in the fixed cat_tools schema, requires plpgsql, and is not relocatable. Grant the cat_tools__usage role rather than exposing internal _cat_tools helpers directly.

Inspect Relations and Columns

SELECT cat_tools.relation__kind(c.relkind::text)
FROM pg_catalog.pg_class AS c
WHERE c.oid = 'public.orders'::regclass;

SELECT cat_tools.relation__column_names('public.orders'::regclass);
SELECT cat_tools.pg_attribute__get('public.orders'::regclass, 'id');

Useful relation helpers include pg_class(regclass), relation__is_catalog, relation__is_temp, relation__kind, and relation__relkind. Typed mapping functions make the one-character catalog codes explicit.

Inspect Routines

Version 0.3 adds functions and types that cover both functions and procedures:

SELECT cat_tools.routine__arg_types(
  'public.calculate_total(integer, numeric)'::regprocedure
);

SELECT cat_tools.routine__parse_arg_names(
  'IN account_id integer, INOUT total numeric'
);

The routine surface includes routine__parse_arg_types, routine__parse_arg_names, routine__arg_types, routine__arg_names, their text variants, and mappings for routine kind, argument mode, volatility, and parallel safety. function__arg_types and function__arg_types_text are deprecated; use the routine parsers.

Version 0.3.0 and Caveats

• Version 0.3.0 supports PostgreSQL 12-18+ upstream; current Pigsty packages cover PostgreSQL 14-18.
• The release corrects the c, f, and m mappings for composite types, foreign tables, and materialized views. Re-test any code that worked around the old mapping.
• Internal _cat_tools helpers now revoke EXECUTE from PUBLIC; callers should inherit cat_tools__usage and use the supported surface.
• The 0.2.3-to-0.3.0 update adds enum values and therefore cannot run on PostgreSQL 11 or earlier. Upgrade the database major version and extension in the order documented upstream.
• PostgreSQL does not promise catalog compatibility across major releases. Pin tests to every supported PostgreSQL major even when using these wrappers.