Add Configuration Option to Include Generated Columns

[n2em]

Add Configuration Option to Include Generated Columns

Overview

Added a new configuration key include-generated-columns (or environment variable DB_DUMP_INCLUDE_GENERATED_COLUMNS) to allow users to control whether generated columns should be included in database dumps.

Problem

Previously, the code would always exclude columns marked as VIRTUAL or GENERATED in the "Extra" field of MySQL's SHOW COLUMNS output. This was hardcoded behavior with no way to override it.

Solution

Implemented a configurable option to control this behavior by:

1. Adding a new IncludeGeneratedColumns boolean field throughout the configuration chain
2. Modifying the column filtering logic to respect this setting

Files Modified

1. pkg/database/mysql/dump.go

• Added IncludeGeneratedColumns bool field to the Data struct
• This field controls whether generated columns should be included in dumps

2. pkg/database/mysql/table.go

• Modified initColumnData() function to use IncludeGeneratedColumns setting
• Before: Columns with GENERATED or VIRTUAL were always excluded
• After:
  • Columns with VIRTUAL are always excluded (computed columns that can't be stored)
  • Columns with GENERATED are excluded UNLESS IncludeGeneratedColumns is true

3. pkg/database/dump.go

• Added IncludeGeneratedColumns bool to DumpOpts struct
• Updated the Dump() function to pass this setting to mysql.Data

4. pkg/core/dumpoptions.go

• Added IncludeGeneratedColumns bool to DumpOptions struct
• This carries the setting from CLI/config through to the database layer

5. pkg/core/dump.go

• Updated Dump() function to include IncludeGeneratedColumns when creating database.DumpOpts

6. cmd/dump.go

• Added --include-generated-columns CLI flag (boolean, defaults to false)
• Added parsing logic to read the flag value
• Added includeGeneratedColumns variable to the command execution path
• Passed the setting to core.DumpOptions struct

Usage

Command Line

# Enable inclusion of generated columns in dump
db-backup dump --server myhost --target file:///backups --include-generated-columns

# Or using environment variable
export DB_DUMP_INCLUDE_GENERATED_COLUMNS=true
db-backup dump --server myhost --target file:///backups

Default Behavior

By default (--include-generated-columns is not set), the behavior is unchanged:

• VIRTUAL columns are excluded
• GENERATED columns are excluded

With the Flag

When --include-generated-columns is set:

• VIRTUAL columns are still excluded (they cannot be restored)
• GENERATED columns are included in the dump

Environment Variable

The setting can also be controlled via environment variable:

• Variable name: DB_DUMP_INCLUDE_GENERATED_COLUMNS
• Values: true or false
• Example: export DB_DUMP_INCLUDE_GENERATED_COLUMNS=true

Notes

• Config file support would require updates to the external api.Dump type in the databacker/api repository
• The change maintains backward compatibility; existing behavior is preserved when the flag is not used
• VIRTUAL columns are always excluded as they cannot be dumped and restored

[deitch]

Wow, that is one comprehensive PR comment.

This looks good in principle, happy to include it as an option.

There are a few change you need to make:

1. Update configuration.md
2. Remove the file CHANGES_GENERATED_COLUMNS.md
3. Include it in the config file. You already commented on it, so you know it needs to be there. The definition of SkipExtendedInsert is here, so I would open a PR adding that (don't forget to regenerate everything), we can get that in, and then include it here.

[deitch]

See previous comment

[n2em]

Thanks — really useful review and great guidance.

I’ve implemented of your requested repo-side changes and documented