According to this thread, the standard_conforming_strings setting is readonly until Postgre 8.1, and it was read-write since Postgre 8.2

However, we claim that we support PostgreSQL 8.1 or later

Either we should update the version requirement to 8.2, or check during installation the value of that property and, if it's off, don't allow installation, instead of changing this setting on every connection.

Well, my last comment isn't really the cause of the problem, since the OP said they use PostgreSQL 8.4.1.

Elsewhere it says that the minimum supported version is 8.3 (https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:PostgreSQL). Perhaps we should increase it 9.0, as both 8.3 and 8.4 are now EOL.

In any event, I can't reproduce the problem. Maybe the OP meant 8.1.4, or maybe he is running some kind of custom build.

My modus operandi for updating https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:PostgreSQL is exactly what @Jjanes described: If a PostgreSQL version is EOL, I increase the requirement ("if PostgreSQL doesn't bother, …"). I wasn't aware of the page @Ciencia_Al_Poder mentioned and will update both requirements to 9.0.

In T88097#1006712, @scfc wrote:

My modus operandi for updating https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:PostgreSQL is exactly what @Jjanes described: If a PostgreSQL version is EOL, I increase the requirement ("if PostgreSQL doesn't bother, …"). I wasn't aware of the page @Ciencia_Al_Poder mentioned and will update both requirements to 9.0.

We're still supporting a minimum PHP version that is EOL ;)

Migrating from the old tracking task to a tag for PostgreSQL-related tasks.