> The already-mentioned ALTER SYSTEM command provides a SQL-accessible means of changing global defaults; it is functionally equivalent to editing postgresql.conf
Should not it be ...to editing postgresql.auto.conf?.. I know user is not supposed to edit postgresql.auto.conf but this is what ALTER SYSTEM does, not touching the postgres.conf - isn't is confusing in manual?..
I think it is fine; but if being picky I'd probably say:
"[...] of changing global default as an alternative to editing postgres.conf"
It is functionally equivalent from the perspective of the runtime environment of the system. It is not mechanically equivalent since, as you say, the contents of postgres.conf are not actually changed.
