pg 0.21.0 → 1.2.3

data/ext/pg_binary_encoder.c

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 /*
  * pg_column_map.c - PG::ColumnMap class extension
- * $Id: pg_binary_encoder.c,v e61a06f1f5ed 2015/12/25 21:14:21 lars $
+ * $Id$
  *
  */
 
 #include "pg.h"
-#include "util.h"
+#include "pg_util.h"
 #ifdef HAVE_INTTYPES_H
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #endif
@@ -25,11 +25,12 @@ static int
 pg_bin_enc_boolean(t_pg_coder *conv, VALUE value, char *out, VALUE *intermediate, int enc_idx)
 {
 	char mybool;
-	switch(value){
-		case Qtrue : mybool = 1; break;
-		case Qfalse : mybool = 0; break;
-		default :
-			rb_raise( rb_eTypeError, "wrong data for binary boolean converter" );
+    if (value == Qtrue) {
+      mybool = 1;
+    } else if (value == Qfalse) {
+      mybool = 0;
+    } else {
+      rb_raise( rb_eTypeError, "wrong data for binary boolean converter" );
 	}
 	if(out) *out = mybool;
 	return 1;
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ pg_bin_enc_boolean(t_pg_coder *conv, VALUE value, char *out, VALUE *intermediate
 /*
  * Document-class: PG::BinaryEncoder::Int2 < PG::SimpleEncoder
  *
- * This is the encoder class for the PostgreSQL int2 type.
+ * This is the encoder class for the PostgreSQL +int2+ (alias +smallint+) type.
  *
  * Non-Number values are expected to have method +to_i+ defined.
  *
@@ -55,9 +56,9 @@ pg_bin_enc_int2(t_pg_coder *conv, VALUE value, char *out, VALUE *intermediate, i
 }
 
 /*
- * Document-class: PG::BinaryEncoder::Int2 < PG::SimpleEncoder
+ * Document-class: PG::BinaryEncoder::Int4 < PG::SimpleEncoder
  *
- * This is the encoder class for the PostgreSQL int4 type.
+ * This is the encoder class for the PostgreSQL +int4+ (alias +integer+) type.
  *
  * Non-Number values are expected to have method +to_i+ defined.
  *
@@ -74,9 +75,9 @@ pg_bin_enc_int4(t_pg_coder *conv, VALUE value, char *out, VALUE *intermediate, i
 }
 
 /*
- * Document-class: PG::BinaryEncoder::Int2 < PG::SimpleEncoder
+ * Document-class: PG::BinaryEncoder::Int8 < PG::SimpleEncoder
  *
- * This is the encoder class for the PostgreSQL int8 type.
+ * This is the encoder class for the PostgreSQL +int8+ (alias +bigint+) type.
  *
  * Non-Number values are expected to have method +to_i+ defined.
  *

data/ext/pg_coder.c

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pg_coder_init_encoder( VALUE self )
 	this->coder_obj = self;
 	this->oid = 0;
 	this->format = 0;
+	this->flags = 0;
 	rb_iv_set( self, "@name", Qnil );
 }
 
@@ -56,14 +57,27 @@ pg_coder_init_decoder( VALUE self )
 	this->coder_obj = self;
 	this->oid = 0;
 	this->format = 0;
+	this->flags = 0;
 	rb_iv_set( self, "@name", Qnil );
 }
 
+void
+pg_coder_mark(t_pg_coder *this)
+{
+	rb_gc_mark(this->coder_obj);
+}
+
+static void
+pg_composite_coder_mark(t_pg_composite_coder *this)
+{
+	pg_coder_mark(&this->comp);
+}
+
 static VALUE
 pg_simple_encoder_allocate( VALUE klass )
 {
 	t_pg_coder *this;
-	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_coder, NULL, -1, this );
+	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_coder, pg_coder_mark, -1, this );
 	pg_coder_init_encoder( self );
 	return self;
 }
@@ -72,7 +86,7 @@ static VALUE
 pg_composite_encoder_allocate( VALUE klass )
 {
 	t_pg_composite_coder *this;
-	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_composite_coder, NULL, -1, this );
+	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_composite_coder, pg_composite_coder_mark, -1, this );
 	pg_coder_init_encoder( self );
 	this->elem = NULL;
 	this->needs_quotation = 1;
@@ -85,7 +99,7 @@ static VALUE
 pg_simple_decoder_allocate( VALUE klass )
 {
 	t_pg_coder *this;
-	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_coder, NULL, -1, this );
+	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_coder, pg_coder_mark, -1, this );
 	pg_coder_init_decoder( self );
 	return self;
 }
@@ -94,7 +108,7 @@ static VALUE
 pg_composite_decoder_allocate( VALUE klass )
 {
 	t_pg_composite_coder *this;
-	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_composite_coder, NULL, -1, this );
+	VALUE self = Data_Make_Struct( klass, t_pg_composite_coder, pg_composite_coder_mark, -1, this );
 	pg_coder_init_decoder( self );
 	this->elem = NULL;
 	this->needs_quotation = 1;
@@ -143,7 +157,6 @@ pg_coder_encode(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 
 	if( len == -1 ){
 		/* The intermediate value is a String that can be used directly. */
-		OBJ_INFECT(intermediate, value);
 		return intermediate;
 	}
 
@@ -155,7 +168,6 @@ pg_coder_encode(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 			rb_obj_classname( self ), len, len2 );
 	}
 	rb_str_set_len( res, len2 );
-	OBJ_INFECT(res, value);
 
 	RB_GC_GUARD(intermediate);
 
@@ -192,13 +204,16 @@ pg_coder_decode(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	if( NIL_P(argv[0]) )
 		return Qnil;
 
-	val = StringValuePtr(argv[0]);
+	if( this->format == 0 ){
+		val = StringValueCStr(argv[0]);
+	}else{
+		val = StringValuePtr(argv[0]);
+	}
 	if( !this->dec_func ){
 		rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "no decoder function defined");
 	}
 
 	res = this->dec_func(this, val, RSTRING_LEN(argv[0]), tuple, field, ENCODING_GET(argv[0]));
-	OBJ_INFECT(res, argv[0]);
 
 	return res;
 }
@@ -265,6 +280,36 @@ pg_coder_format_get(VALUE self)
 	return INT2NUM(this->format);
 }
 
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    coder.flags = Integer
+ *
+ * Set coder specific bitwise OR-ed flags.
+ * See the particular en- or decoder description for available flags.
+ *
+ * The default is +0+.
+ */
+static VALUE
+pg_coder_flags_set(VALUE self, VALUE flags)
+{
+	t_pg_coder *this = DATA_PTR(self);
+	this->flags = NUM2INT(flags);
+	return flags;
+}
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    coder.flags -> Integer
+ *
+ * Get current bitwise OR-ed coder flags.
+ */
+static VALUE
+pg_coder_flags_get(VALUE self)
+{
+	t_pg_coder *this = DATA_PTR(self);
+	return INT2NUM(this->flags);
+}
+
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    coder.needs_quotation = Boolean
@@ -364,6 +409,11 @@ pg_define_coder( const char *name, void *func, VALUE base_klass, VALUE nsp )
 	if( nsp==rb_mPG_BinaryEncoder || nsp==rb_mPG_BinaryDecoder )
 		rb_include_module( coder_klass, rb_mPG_BinaryFormatting );
 
+	if( nsp==rb_mPG_BinaryEncoder || nsp==rb_mPG_TextEncoder )
+		rb_define_method( coder_klass, "encode", pg_coder_encode, -1 );
+	if( nsp==rb_mPG_BinaryDecoder || nsp==rb_mPG_TextDecoder )
+		rb_define_method( coder_klass, "decode", pg_coder_decode, -1 );
+
 	rb_define_const( coder_klass, "CFUNC", cfunc_obj );
 
 	RB_GC_GUARD(cfunc_obj);
@@ -403,14 +453,14 @@ pg_coder_enc_func(t_pg_coder *this)
 }
 
 static VALUE
-pg_text_dec_in_ruby(t_pg_coder *this, char *val, int len, int tuple, int field, int enc_idx)
+pg_text_dec_in_ruby(t_pg_coder *this, const char *val, int len, int tuple, int field, int enc_idx)
 {
 	VALUE string = pg_text_dec_string(this, val, len, tuple, field, enc_idx);
 	return rb_funcall( this->coder_obj, s_id_decode, 3, string, INT2NUM(tuple), INT2NUM(field) );
 }
 
 static VALUE
-pg_bin_dec_in_ruby(t_pg_coder *this, char *val, int len, int tuple, int field, int enc_idx)
+pg_bin_dec_in_ruby(t_pg_coder *this, const char *val, int len, int tuple, int field, int enc_idx)
 {
 	VALUE string = pg_bin_dec_bytea(this, val, len, tuple, field, enc_idx);
 	return rb_funcall( this->coder_obj, s_id_decode, 3, string, INT2NUM(tuple), INT2NUM(field) );
@@ -457,14 +507,25 @@ init_pg_coder()
 	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "oid", pg_coder_oid_get, 0 );
 	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "format=", pg_coder_format_set, 1 );
 	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "format", pg_coder_format_get, 0 );
+	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "flags=", pg_coder_flags_set, 1 );
+	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "flags", pg_coder_flags_get, 0 );
+
+	/* define flags to be used with PG::Coder#flags= */
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "TIMESTAMP_DB_UTC", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_TIMESTAMP_DB_UTC));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "TIMESTAMP_DB_LOCAL", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_TIMESTAMP_DB_LOCAL));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "TIMESTAMP_APP_UTC", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_TIMESTAMP_APP_UTC));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "TIMESTAMP_APP_LOCAL", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_TIMESTAMP_APP_LOCAL));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "FORMAT_ERROR_MASK", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_FORMAT_ERROR_MASK));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "FORMAT_ERROR_TO_RAISE", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_FORMAT_ERROR_TO_RAISE));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "FORMAT_ERROR_TO_STRING", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_FORMAT_ERROR_TO_STRING));
+	rb_define_const( rb_cPG_Coder, "FORMAT_ERROR_TO_PARTIAL", INT2NUM(PG_CODER_FORMAT_ERROR_TO_PARTIAL));
+
 	/*
 	 * Name of the coder or the corresponding data type.
 	 *
 	 * This accessor is only used in PG::Coder#inspect .
 	 */
 	rb_define_attr(   rb_cPG_Coder, "name", 1, 1 );
-	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "encode", pg_coder_encode, -1 );
-	rb_define_method( rb_cPG_Coder, "decode", pg_coder_decode, -1 );
 
 	/* Document-class: PG::SimpleCoder < PG::Coder */
 	rb_cPG_SimpleCoder = rb_define_class_under( rb_mPG, "SimpleCoder", rb_cPG_Coder );

data/ext/pg_connection.c

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * pg_connection.c - PG::Connection class extension
- * $Id: pg_connection.c,v 2e17f315848e 2017/01/14 20:05:06 lars $
+ * $Id$
  *
  */
 
@@ -13,24 +13,14 @@
 VALUE rb_cPGconn;
 static ID s_id_encode;
 static VALUE sym_type, sym_format, sym_value;
+static VALUE sym_symbol, sym_string, sym_static_symbol;
 
 static PQnoticeReceiver default_notice_receiver = NULL;
 static PQnoticeProcessor default_notice_processor = NULL;
 
 static VALUE pgconn_finish( VALUE );
-#ifdef M17N_SUPPORTED
 static VALUE pgconn_set_default_encoding( VALUE self );
-void pgconn_set_internal_encoding_index( VALUE );
-#endif
-
-#ifndef HAVE_RB_THREAD_FD_SELECT
-#define rb_fdset_t fd_set
-#define rb_fd_init(f)
-#define rb_fd_zero(f)  FD_ZERO(f)
-#define rb_fd_set(n, f)  FD_SET(n, f)
-#define rb_fd_term(f)
-#define rb_thread_fd_select rb_thread_select
-#endif
+static void pgconn_set_internal_encoding_index( VALUE );
 
 /*
  * Global functions
@@ -95,9 +85,8 @@ pgconn_close_socket_io( VALUE self )
 	VALUE socket_io = this->socket_io;
 
 	if ( RTEST(socket_io) ) {
-#if defined(_WIN32) && defined(HAVE_RB_W32_WRAP_IO_HANDLE)
-		int ruby_sd = NUM2INT(rb_funcall( socket_io, rb_intern("fileno"), 0 ));
-		if( rb_w32_unwrap_io_handle(ruby_sd) ){
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+		if( rb_w32_unwrap_io_handle(this->ruby_sd) ){
 			rb_raise(rb_eConnectionBad, "Could not unwrap win32 socket handle");
 		}
 #endif
@@ -164,7 +153,6 @@ pgconn_gc_mark( t_pg_connection *this )
 	rb_gc_mark( this->type_map_for_queries );
 	rb_gc_mark( this->type_map_for_results );
 	rb_gc_mark( this->trace_stream );
-	rb_gc_mark( this->external_encoding );
 	rb_gc_mark( this->encoder_for_put_copy_data );
 	rb_gc_mark( this->decoder_for_get_copy_data );
 }
@@ -176,6 +164,10 @@ pgconn_gc_mark( t_pg_connection *this )
 static void
 pgconn_gc_free( t_pg_connection *this )
 {
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+	if ( RTEST(this->socket_io) )
+		rb_w32_unwrap_io_handle( this->ruby_sd );
+#endif
 	if (this->pgconn != NULL)
 		PQfinish( this->pgconn );
 
@@ -208,7 +200,6 @@ pgconn_s_allocate( VALUE klass )
 	this->encoder_for_put_copy_data = Qnil;
 	this->decoder_for_get_copy_data = Qnil;
 	this->trace_stream = Qnil;
-	this->external_encoding = Qnil;
 
 	return self;
 }
@@ -225,32 +216,27 @@ pgconn_s_allocate( VALUE klass )
  *
  * Create a connection to the specified server.
  *
+ * +connection_hash+ must be a ruby Hash with connection parameters.
+ * See the {list of valid parameters}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-connect.html#LIBPQ-PARAMKEYWORDS] in the PostgreSQL documentation.
+ *
+ * There are two accepted formats for +connection_string+: plain <code>keyword = value</code> strings and URIs.
+ * See the documentation of {connection strings}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-connect.html#LIBPQ-CONNSTRING].
+ *
+ * The positional parameter form has the same functionality except that the missing parameters will always take on default values. The parameters are:
  * [+host+]
  *   server hostname
- * [+hostaddr+]
- *   server address (avoids hostname lookup, overrides +host+)
  * [+port+]
  *   server port number
+ * [+options+]
+ *   backend options
+ * [+tty+]
+ *   (ignored in newer versions of PostgreSQL)
  * [+dbname+]
  *   connecting database name
  * [+user+]
  *   login user name
  * [+password+]
  *   login password
- * [+connect_timeout+]
- *   maximum time to wait for connection to succeed
- * [+options+]
- *   backend options
- * [+tty+]
- *   (ignored in newer versions of PostgreSQL)
- * [+sslmode+]
- *   (disable|allow|prefer|require)
- * [+krbsrvname+]
- *   kerberos service name
- * [+gsslib+]
- *   GSS library to use for GSSAPI authentication
- * [+service+]
- *   service name to use for additional parameters
  *
  * Examples:
  *
@@ -266,7 +252,7 @@ pgconn_s_allocate( VALUE klass )
  *   # As an Array
  *   PG::Connection.new( nil, 5432, nil, nil, 'test', nil, nil )
  *
- * If the Ruby default internal encoding is set (i.e., Encoding.default_internal != nil), the
+ * If the Ruby default internal encoding is set (i.e., <code>Encoding.default_internal != nil</code>), the
  * connection will have its +client_encoding+ set accordingly.
  *
  * Raises a PG::Error if the connection fails.
@@ -291,9 +277,7 @@ pgconn_init(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
 
-#ifdef M17N_SUPPORTED
 	pgconn_set_default_encoding( self );
-#endif
 
 	if (rb_block_given_p()) {
 		return rb_ensure(rb_yield, self, pgconn_finish, self);
@@ -307,14 +291,16 @@ pgconn_init(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
  *    PG::Connection.connect_start(connection_string)     -> conn
  *    PG::Connection.connect_start(host, port, options, tty, dbname, login, password) ->  conn
  *
- * This is an asynchronous version of PG::Connection.connect().
+ * This is an asynchronous version of PG::Connection.new.
  *
  * Use #connect_poll to poll the status of the connection.
  *
  * NOTE: this does *not* set the connection's +client_encoding+ for you if
- * Encoding.default_internal is set. To set it after the connection is established,
+ * +Encoding.default_internal+ is set. To set it after the connection is established,
  * call #internal_encoding=. You can also set it automatically by setting
- * ENV['PGCLIENTENCODING'], or include the 'options' connection parameter.
+ * <code>ENV['PGCLIENTENCODING']</code>, or include the 'options' connection parameter.
+ *
+ * See also the 'sample' directory of this gem and the corresponding {libpq functions}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-connect.html#LIBPQ-PQCONNECTSTARTPARAMS].
  *
  */
 static VALUE
@@ -349,7 +335,6 @@ pgconn_s_connect_start( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass )
 	return rb_conn;
 }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_PQPING
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    PG::Connection.ping(connection_hash)       -> Integer
@@ -358,6 +343,8 @@ pgconn_s_connect_start( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass )
  *
  * Check server status.
  *
+ * See PG::Connection.new for a description of the parameters.
+ *
  * Returns one of:
  * [+PQPING_OK+]
  *   server is accepting connections
@@ -379,7 +366,6 @@ pgconn_s_ping( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE klass )
 
 	return INT2FIX((int)ping);
 }
-#endif
 
 
 /*
@@ -418,16 +404,62 @@ pgconn_s_conndefaults(VALUE self)
 }
 
 
+#ifdef HAVE_PQENCRYPTPASSWORDCONN
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    PG::Connection.encrypt_password( password, username ) -> String
+ *    conn.encrypt_password( password, username, algorithm=nil ) -> String
+ *
+ * This function is intended to be used by client applications that wish to send commands like <tt>ALTER USER joe PASSWORD 'pwd'</tt>.
+ * It is good practice not to send the original cleartext password in such a command, because it might be exposed in command logs, activity displays, and so on.
+ * Instead, use this function to convert the password to encrypted form before it is sent.
  *
- * This function is intended to be used by client applications that
- * send commands like: +ALTER USER joe PASSWORD 'pwd'+.
- * The arguments are the cleartext password, and the SQL name
- * of the user it is for.
+ * The +password+ and +username+ arguments are the cleartext password, and the SQL name of the user it is for.
+ * +algorithm+ specifies the encryption algorithm to use to encrypt the password.
+ * Currently supported algorithms are +md5+ and +scram-sha-256+ (+on+ and +off+ are also accepted as aliases for +md5+, for compatibility with older server versions).
+ * Note that support for +scram-sha-256+ was introduced in PostgreSQL version 10, and will not work correctly with older server versions.
+ * If algorithm is omitted or +nil+, this function will query the server for the current value of the +password_encryption+ setting.
+ * That can block, and will fail if the current transaction is aborted, or if the connection is busy executing another query.
+ * If you wish to use the default algorithm for the server but want to avoid blocking, query +password_encryption+ yourself before calling #encrypt_password, and pass that value as the algorithm.
  *
  * Return value is the encrypted password.
+ * The caller can assume the string doesn't contain any special characters that would require escaping.
+ *
+ * Available since PostgreSQL-10.
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-misc.html#LIBPQ-PQENCRYPTPASSWORDCONN].
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_encrypt_password(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
+{
+	char *encrypted = NULL;
+	VALUE rval = Qnil;
+	VALUE password, username, algorithm;
+	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+
+	rb_scan_args( argc, argv, "21", &password, &username, &algorithm );
+
+	Check_Type(password, T_STRING);
+	Check_Type(username, T_STRING);
+
+	encrypted = gvl_PQencryptPasswordConn(conn, StringValueCStr(password), StringValueCStr(username), RTEST(algorithm) ? StringValueCStr(algorithm) : NULL);
+	if ( encrypted ) {
+		rval = rb_str_new2( encrypted );
+		PQfreemem( encrypted );
+	} else {
+		rb_raise(rb_ePGerror, "%s", PQerrorMessage(conn));
+	}
+
+	return rval;
+}
+#endif
+
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    PG::Connection.encrypt_password( password, username ) -> String
+ *
+ * This is an older, deprecated version of #encrypt_password.
+ * The difference is that this function always uses +md5+ as the encryption algorithm.
+ *
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_s_encrypt_password(VALUE self, VALUE password, VALUE username)
@@ -444,9 +476,6 @@ pgconn_s_encrypt_password(VALUE self, VALUE password, VALUE username)
 	rval = rb_str_new2( encrypted );
 	PQfreemem( encrypted );
 
-	OBJ_INFECT( rval, password );
-	OBJ_INFECT( rval, username );
-
 	return rval;
 }
 
@@ -592,7 +621,7 @@ pgconn_db(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *db = PQdb(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!db) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(db);
+	return rb_str_new2(db);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -606,21 +635,21 @@ pgconn_user(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *user = PQuser(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!user) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(user);
+	return rb_str_new2(user);
 }
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.pass()
  *
- * Returns the authenticated user name.
+ * Returns the authenticated password.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_pass(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *user = PQpass(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!user) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(user);
+	return rb_str_new2(user);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -634,7 +663,7 @@ pgconn_host(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *host = PQhost(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!host) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(host);
+	return rb_str_new2(host);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -661,7 +690,7 @@ pgconn_tty(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *tty = PQtty(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!tty) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(tty);
+	return rb_str_new2(tty);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -675,7 +704,7 @@ pgconn_options(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *options = PQoptions(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!options) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(options);
+	return rb_str_new2(options);
 }
 
 
@@ -686,6 +715,7 @@ pgconn_options(VALUE self)
  *
  * Returns the connection options used by a live connection.
  *
+ * Available since PostgreSQL-9.3
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_conninfo( VALUE self )
@@ -755,7 +785,7 @@ pgconn_parameter_status(VALUE self, VALUE param_name)
 	if(ret == NULL)
 		return Qnil;
 	else
-		return rb_tainted_str_new2(ret);
+		return rb_str_new2(ret);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -800,13 +830,15 @@ pgconn_error_message(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *error = PQerrorMessage(pg_get_pgconn(self));
 	if (!error) return Qnil;
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(error);
+	return rb_str_new2(error);
 }
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.socket() -> Integer
  *
+ * This method is deprecated. Please use the more portable method #socket_io .
+ *
  * Returns the socket's file descriptor for this connection.
  * <tt>IO.for_fd()</tt> can be used to build a proper IO object to the socket.
  * If you do so, you will likely also want to set <tt>autoclose=false</tt>
@@ -815,34 +847,31 @@ pgconn_error_message(VALUE self)
  * creates an IO that's associated with the connection object itself,
  * and so won't go out of scope until the connection does.
  *
- * *Note:* On Windows the file descriptor is not really usable,
+ * *Note:* On Windows the file descriptor is not usable,
  * since it can not be used to build a Ruby IO object.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_socket(VALUE self)
 {
 	int sd;
+	pg_deprecated(4, ("conn.socket is deprecated and should be replaced by conn.socket_io"));
+
 	if( (sd = PQsocket(pg_get_pgconn(self))) < 0)
 		rb_raise(rb_eConnectionBad, "PQsocket() can't get socket descriptor");
 	return INT2NUM(sd);
 }
 
-
-#if !defined(_WIN32) || defined(HAVE_RB_W32_WRAP_IO_HANDLE)
-
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.socket_io() -> IO
  *
- * Fetch a memoized IO object created from the Connection's underlying socket.
+ * Fetch a memorized IO object created from the Connection's underlying socket.
  * This object can be used for IO.select to wait for events while running
  * asynchronous API calls.
  *
  * Using this instead of #socket avoids the problem of the underlying connection
  * being closed by Ruby when an IO created using <tt>IO.for_fd(conn.socket)</tt>
- * goes out of scope.
- *
- * This method can also be used on Windows but requires Ruby-2.0+.
+ * goes out of scope. In contrast to #socket, it also works on Windows.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_socket_io(VALUE self)
@@ -859,16 +888,15 @@ pgconn_socket_io(VALUE self)
 
 		#ifdef _WIN32
 			ruby_sd = rb_w32_wrap_io_handle((HANDLE)(intptr_t)sd, O_RDWR|O_BINARY|O_NOINHERIT);
+			this->ruby_sd = ruby_sd;
 		#else
 			ruby_sd = sd;
 		#endif
 
 		socket_io = rb_funcall( rb_cIO, rb_intern("for_fd"), 1, INT2NUM(ruby_sd) );
 
-		/* Disable autoclose feature, when supported */
-		if( rb_respond_to(socket_io, id_autoclose) ){
-			rb_funcall( socket_io, id_autoclose, 1, Qfalse );
-		}
+		/* Disable autoclose feature */
+		rb_funcall( socket_io, id_autoclose, 1, Qfalse );
 
 		this->socket_io = socket_io;
 	}
@@ -876,8 +904,6 @@ pgconn_socket_io(VALUE self)
 	return socket_io;
 }
 
-#endif
-
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.backend_pid() -> Integer
@@ -926,40 +952,31 @@ static VALUE pgconn_exec_params( int, VALUE *, VALUE );
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.exec(sql) -> PG::Result
- *    conn.exec(sql) {|pg_result| block }
- *
- * Sends SQL query request specified by _sql_ to PostgreSQL.
- * Returns a PG::Result instance on success.
- * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
+ *    conn.sync_exec(sql) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.sync_exec(sql) {|pg_result| block }
  *
- * For backward compatibility, if you pass more than one parameter to this method,
- * it will call #exec_params for you. New code should explicitly use #exec_params if
- * argument placeholders are used.
+ * This function has the same behavior as #async_exec, but is implemented using the synchronous command processing API of libpq.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #exec instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
  *
- * If the optional code block is given, it will be passed <i>result</i> as an argument,
- * and the PG::Result object will  automatically be cleared when the block terminates.
- * In this instance, <code>conn.exec</code> returns the value of the block.
+ * Both #sync_exec and #async_exec release the GVL while waiting for server response, so that concurrent threads will get executed.
+ * However #async_exec has two advantages:
  *
- * #exec is implemented on the synchronous command processing API of libpq, whereas
- * #async_exec is implemented on the asynchronous API.
- * #exec is somewhat faster that #async_exec, but blocks any signals to be processed until
- * the query is finished. This is most notably visible by a delayed reaction to Control+C.
- * Both methods ensure that other threads can process while waiting for the server to
- * complete the request.
+ * 1. #async_exec can be aborted by signals (like Ctrl-C), while #exec blocks signal processing until the query is answered.
+ * 2. Ruby VM gets notified about IO blocked operations.
+ *    It can therefore schedule things like garbage collection, while queries are running like in this proposal: https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/14723
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_exec(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	PGresult *result = NULL;
 	VALUE rb_pgresult;
 
-	/* If called with no parameters, use PQexec */
-	if ( argc == 1 ) {
+	/* If called with no or nil parameters, use PQexec for compatibility */
+	if ( argc == 1 || (argc >= 2 && argc <= 4 && NIL_P(argv[1]) )) {
 		VALUE query_str = argv[0];
 
-		result = gvl_PQexec(conn, pg_cstr_enc(query_str, ENCODING_GET(self)));
+		result = gvl_PQexec(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(query_str, this->enc_idx));
 		rb_pgresult = pg_new_result(result, self);
 		pg_result_check(rb_pgresult);
 		if (rb_block_given_p()) {
@@ -967,11 +984,10 @@ pgconn_exec(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 		}
 		return rb_pgresult;
 	}
+	pg_deprecated(0, ("forwarding exec to exec_params is deprecated"));
 
 	/* Otherwise, just call #exec_params instead for backward-compatibility */
-	else {
-		return pgconn_exec_params( argc, argv, self );
-	}
+	return pgconn_exec_params( argc, argv, self );
 
 }
 
@@ -1222,66 +1238,34 @@ pgconn_query_assign_typemap( VALUE self, struct query_params_data *paramsData )
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.exec_params(sql, params[, result_format[, type_map]] ) -> PG::Result
- *    conn.exec_params(sql, params[, result_format[, type_map]] ) {|pg_result| block }
- *
- * Sends SQL query request specified by +sql+ to PostgreSQL using placeholders
- * for parameters.
- *
- * Returns a PG::Result instance on success. On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
- *
- * +params+ is an array of the bind parameters for the SQL query.
- * Each element of the +params+ array may be either:
- *   a hash of the form:
- *     {:value  => String (value of bind parameter)
- *      :type   => Integer (oid of type of bind parameter)
- *      :format => Integer (0 for text, 1 for binary)
- *     }
- *   or, it may be a String. If it is a string, that is equivalent to the hash:
- *     { :value => <string value>, :type => 0, :format => 0 }
- *
- * PostgreSQL bind parameters are represented as $1, $1, $2, etc.,
- * inside the SQL query. The 0th element of the +params+ array is bound
- * to $1, the 1st element is bound to $2, etc. +nil+ is treated as +NULL+.
- *
- * If the types are not specified, they will be inferred by PostgreSQL.
- * Instead of specifying type oids, it's recommended to simply add
- * explicit casts in the query to ensure that the right type is used.
+ *    conn.sync_exec_params(sql, params[, result_format[, type_map]] ) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.sync_exec_params(sql, params[, result_format[, type_map]] ) {|pg_result| block }
  *
- * For example: "SELECT $1::int"
- *
- * The optional +result_format+ should be 0 for text results, 1
- * for binary.
- *
- * type_map can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
- * This will type cast the params form various Ruby types before transmission
- * based on the encoders defined by the type map. When a type encoder is used
- * the format and oid of a given bind parameter are retrieved from the encoder
- * instead out of the hash form described above.
- *
- * If the optional code block is given, it will be passed <i>result</i> as an argument,
- * and the PG::Result object will  automatically be cleared when the block terminates.
- * In this instance, <code>conn.exec</code> returns the value of the block.
+ * This function has the same behavior as #async_exec_params, but is implemented using the synchronous command processing API of libpq.
+ * See #async_exec for the differences between the two API variants.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #exec_params instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_exec_params( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self )
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	PGresult *result = NULL;
 	VALUE rb_pgresult;
 	VALUE command, in_res_fmt;
 	int nParams;
 	int resultFormat;
-	struct query_params_data paramsData = { ENCODING_GET(self) };
+	struct query_params_data paramsData = { this->enc_idx };
 
+	/* For compatibility we accept 1 to 4 parameters */
 	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "13", &command, &paramsData.params, &in_res_fmt, &paramsData.typemap);
 	paramsData.with_types = 1;
 
 	/*
-	 * Handle the edge-case where the caller is coming from #exec, but passed an explict +nil+
-	 * for the second parameter.
+	 * For backward compatibility no or +nil+ for the second parameter
+	 * is passed to #exec
 	 */
 	if ( NIL_P(paramsData.params) ) {
+		pg_deprecated(1, ("forwarding exec_params to exec is deprecated"));
 		return pgconn_exec( 1, argv, self );
 	}
 	pgconn_query_assign_typemap( self, &paramsData );
@@ -1289,7 +1273,7 @@ pgconn_exec_params( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self )
 	resultFormat = NIL_P(in_res_fmt) ? 0 : NUM2INT(in_res_fmt);
 	nParams = alloc_query_params( &paramsData );
 
-	result = gvl_PQexecParams(conn, pg_cstr_enc(command, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams, paramsData.types,
+	result = gvl_PQexecParams(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(command, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams, paramsData.types,
 		(const char * const *)paramsData.values, paramsData.lengths, paramsData.formats, resultFormat);
 
 	free_query_params( &paramsData );
@@ -1306,28 +1290,16 @@ pgconn_exec_params( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self )
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.prepare(stmt_name, sql [, param_types ] ) -> PG::Result
- *
- * Prepares statement _sql_ with name _name_ to be executed later.
- * Returns a PG::Result instance on success.
- * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
- *
- * +param_types+ is an optional parameter to specify the Oids of the
- * types of the parameters.
- *
- * If the types are not specified, they will be inferred by PostgreSQL.
- * Instead of specifying type oids, it's recommended to simply add
- * explicit casts in the query to ensure that the right type is used.
- *
- * For example: "SELECT $1::int"
+ *    conn.sync_prepare(stmt_name, sql [, param_types ] ) -> PG::Result
  *
- * PostgreSQL bind parameters are represented as $1, $1, $2, etc.,
- * inside the SQL query.
+ * This function has the same behavior as #async_prepare, but is implemented using the synchronous command processing API of libpq.
+ * See #async_exec for the differences between the two API variants.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #prepare instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	PGresult *result = NULL;
 	VALUE rb_pgresult;
 	VALUE name, command, in_paramtypes;
@@ -1337,7 +1309,7 @@ pgconn_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	Oid *paramTypes = NULL;
 	const char *name_cstr;
 	const char *command_cstr;
-	int enc_idx = ENCODING_GET(self);
+	int enc_idx = this->enc_idx;
 
 	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "21", &name, &command, &in_paramtypes);
 	name_cstr = pg_cstr_enc(name, enc_idx);
@@ -1355,7 +1327,7 @@ pgconn_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 				paramTypes[i] = NUM2UINT(param);
 		}
 	}
-	result = gvl_PQprepare(conn, name_cstr, command_cstr, nParams, paramTypes);
+	result = gvl_PQprepare(this->pgconn, name_cstr, command_cstr, nParams, paramTypes);
 
 	xfree(paramTypes);
 
@@ -1366,49 +1338,23 @@ pgconn_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.exec_prepared(statement_name [, params, result_format[, type_map]] ) -> PG::Result
- *    conn.exec_prepared(statement_name [, params, result_format[, type_map]] ) {|pg_result| block }
- *
- * Execute prepared named statement specified by _statement_name_.
- * Returns a PG::Result instance on success.
- * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
- *
- * +params+ is an array of the optional bind parameters for the
- * SQL query. Each element of the +params+ array may be either:
- *   a hash of the form:
- *     {:value  => String (value of bind parameter)
- *      :format => Integer (0 for text, 1 for binary)
- *     }
- *   or, it may be a String. If it is a string, that is equivalent to the hash:
- *     { :value => <string value>, :format => 0 }
- *
- * PostgreSQL bind parameters are represented as $1, $1, $2, etc.,
- * inside the SQL query. The 0th element of the +params+ array is bound
- * to $1, the 1st element is bound to $2, etc. +nil+ is treated as +NULL+.
- *
- * The optional +result_format+ should be 0 for text results, 1
- * for binary.
- *
- * type_map can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
- * This will type cast the params form various Ruby types before transmission
- * based on the encoders defined by the type map. When a type encoder is used
- * the format and oid of a given bind parameter are retrieved from the encoder
- * instead out of the hash form described above.
+ *    conn.sync_exec_prepared(statement_name [, params, result_format[, type_map]] ) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.sync_exec_prepared(statement_name [, params, result_format[, type_map]] ) {|pg_result| block }
  *
- * If the optional code block is given, it will be passed <i>result</i> as an argument,
- * and the PG::Result object will  automatically be cleared when the block terminates.
- * In this instance, <code>conn.exec_prepared</code> returns the value of the block.
+ * This function has the same behavior as #async_exec_prepared, but is implemented using the synchronous command processing API of libpq.
+ * See #async_exec for the differences between the two API variants.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #exec_prepared instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_exec_prepared(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	PGresult *result = NULL;
 	VALUE rb_pgresult;
 	VALUE name, in_res_fmt;
 	int nParams;
 	int resultFormat;
-	struct query_params_data paramsData = { ENCODING_GET(self) };
+	struct query_params_data paramsData = { this->enc_idx };
 
 	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "13", &name, &paramsData.params, &in_res_fmt, &paramsData.typemap);
 	paramsData.with_types = 0;
@@ -1421,7 +1367,7 @@ pgconn_exec_prepared(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	resultFormat = NIL_P(in_res_fmt) ? 0 : NUM2INT(in_res_fmt);
 	nParams = alloc_query_params( &paramsData );
 
-	result = gvl_PQexecPrepared(conn, pg_cstr_enc(name, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams,
+	result = gvl_PQexecPrepared(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(name, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams,
 		(const char * const *)paramsData.values, paramsData.lengths, paramsData.formats,
 		resultFormat);
 
@@ -1438,25 +1384,26 @@ pgconn_exec_prepared(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.describe_prepared( statement_name ) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.sync_describe_prepared( statement_name ) -> PG::Result
  *
- * Retrieve information about the prepared statement
- * _statement_name_.
+ * This function has the same behavior as #async_describe_prepared, but is implemented using the synchronous command processing API of libpq.
+ * See #async_exec for the differences between the two API variants.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #describe_prepared instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_describe_prepared(VALUE self, VALUE stmt_name)
 {
 	PGresult *result;
 	VALUE rb_pgresult;
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	const char *stmt;
 	if(NIL_P(stmt_name)) {
 		stmt = NULL;
 	}
 	else {
-		stmt = pg_cstr_enc(stmt_name, ENCODING_GET(self));
+		stmt = pg_cstr_enc(stmt_name, this->enc_idx);
 	}
-	result = gvl_PQdescribePrepared(conn, stmt);
+	result = gvl_PQdescribePrepared(this->pgconn, stmt);
 	rb_pgresult = pg_new_result(result, self);
 	pg_result_check(rb_pgresult);
 	return rb_pgresult;
@@ -1465,9 +1412,11 @@ pgconn_describe_prepared(VALUE self, VALUE stmt_name)
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.describe_portal( portal_name ) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.sync_describe_portal( portal_name ) -> PG::Result
  *
- * Retrieve information about the portal _portal_name_.
+ * This function has the same behavior as #async_describe_portal, but is implemented using the synchronous command processing API of libpq.
+ * See #async_exec for the differences between the two API variants.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #describe_portal instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_describe_portal(self, stmt_name)
@@ -1475,15 +1424,15 @@ pgconn_describe_portal(self, stmt_name)
 {
 	PGresult *result;
 	VALUE rb_pgresult;
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	const char *stmt;
 	if(NIL_P(stmt_name)) {
 		stmt = NULL;
 	}
 	else {
-		stmt = pg_cstr_enc(stmt_name, ENCODING_GET(self));
+		stmt = pg_cstr_enc(stmt_name, this->enc_idx);
 	}
-	result = gvl_PQdescribePortal(conn, stmt);
+	result = gvl_PQdescribePortal(this->pgconn, stmt);
 	rb_pgresult = pg_new_result(result, self);
 	pg_result_check(rb_pgresult);
 	return rb_pgresult;
@@ -1530,13 +1479,15 @@ pgconn_make_empty_pgresult(VALUE self, VALUE status)
  * Consider using exec_params, which avoids the need for passing values
  * inside of SQL commands.
  *
- * Encoding of escaped string will be equal to client encoding of connection.
+ * Character encoding of escaped string will be equal to client encoding of connection.
  *
  * NOTE: This class version of this method can only be used safely in client
  * programs that use a single PostgreSQL connection at a time (in this case it can
  * find out what it needs to know "behind the scenes"). It might give the wrong
  * results if used in programs that use multiple database connections; use the
  * same method on the connection object in such cases.
+ *
+ * See also convenience functions #escape_literal and #escape_identifier which also add proper quotes around the string.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_s_escape(VALUE self, VALUE string)
@@ -1547,8 +1498,8 @@ pgconn_s_escape(VALUE self, VALUE string)
 	int enc_idx;
 	int singleton = !rb_obj_is_kind_of(self, rb_cPGconn);
 
-	Check_Type(string, T_STRING);
-	enc_idx = ENCODING_GET( singleton ? string : self );
+	StringValueCStr(string);
+	enc_idx = singleton ? ENCODING_GET(string) : pg_get_connection(self)->enc_idx;
 	if( ENCODING_GET(string) != enc_idx ){
 		string = rb_str_export_to_enc(string, rb_enc_from_index(enc_idx));
 	}
@@ -1565,7 +1516,6 @@ pgconn_s_escape(VALUE self, VALUE string)
 		size = PQescapeString(RSTRING_PTR(result), RSTRING_PTR(string), RSTRING_LEN(string));
 	}
 	rb_str_set_len(result, size);
-	OBJ_INFECT(result, string);
 
 	return result;
 }
@@ -1611,7 +1561,6 @@ pgconn_s_escape_bytea(VALUE self, VALUE str)
 	}
 
 	ret = rb_str_new((char*)to, to_len - 1);
-	OBJ_INFECT(ret, str);
 	PQfreemem(to);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1641,50 +1590,47 @@ pgconn_s_unescape_bytea(VALUE self, VALUE str)
 	to = PQunescapeBytea(from, &to_len);
 
 	ret = rb_str_new((char*)to, to_len);
-	OBJ_INFECT(ret, str);
 	PQfreemem(to);
 	return ret;
 }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_PQESCAPELITERAL
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.escape_literal( str ) -> String
  *
  * Escape an arbitrary String +str+ as a literal.
+ *
+ * See also PG::TextEncoder::QuotedLiteral for a type cast integrated version of this function.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_escape_literal(VALUE self, VALUE string)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	char *escaped = NULL;
 	VALUE error;
 	VALUE result = Qnil;
-	int enc_idx = ENCODING_GET(self);
+	int enc_idx = this->enc_idx;
 
-	Check_Type(string, T_STRING);
+	StringValueCStr(string);
 	if( ENCODING_GET(string) != enc_idx ){
 		string = rb_str_export_to_enc(string, rb_enc_from_index(enc_idx));
 	}
 
-	escaped = PQescapeLiteral(conn, RSTRING_PTR(string), RSTRING_LEN(string));
+	escaped = PQescapeLiteral(this->pgconn, RSTRING_PTR(string), RSTRING_LEN(string));
 	if (escaped == NULL)
 	{
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_ePGerror, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_ePGerror, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 		return Qnil;
 	}
 	result = rb_str_new2(escaped);
 	PQfreemem(escaped);
-	OBJ_INFECT(result, string);
 	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK(result, enc_idx);
 
 	return result;
 }
-#endif
 
-#ifdef HAVE_PQESCAPEIDENTIFIER
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.escape_identifier( str ) -> String
@@ -1698,35 +1644,32 @@ pgconn_escape_literal(VALUE self, VALUE string)
 static VALUE
 pgconn_escape_identifier(VALUE self, VALUE string)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	char *escaped = NULL;
 	VALUE error;
 	VALUE result = Qnil;
-	int enc_idx = ENCODING_GET(self);
+	int enc_idx = this->enc_idx;
 
-	Check_Type(string, T_STRING);
+	StringValueCStr(string);
 	if( ENCODING_GET(string) != enc_idx ){
 		string = rb_str_export_to_enc(string, rb_enc_from_index(enc_idx));
 	}
 
-	escaped = PQescapeIdentifier(conn, RSTRING_PTR(string), RSTRING_LEN(string));
+	escaped = PQescapeIdentifier(this->pgconn, RSTRING_PTR(string), RSTRING_LEN(string));
 	if (escaped == NULL)
 	{
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_ePGerror, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_ePGerror, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 		return Qnil;
 	}
 	result = rb_str_new2(escaped);
 	PQfreemem(escaped);
-	OBJ_INFECT(result, string);
 	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK(result, enc_idx);
 
 	return result;
 }
-#endif
 
-#ifdef HAVE_PQSETSINGLEROWMODE
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.set_single_row_mode -> self
@@ -1762,7 +1705,6 @@ pgconn_escape_identifier(VALUE self, VALUE string)
  *       # do something with the received row
  *     end
  *   end
- *
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_set_single_row_mode(VALUE self)
@@ -1779,17 +1721,55 @@ pgconn_set_single_row_mode(VALUE self)
 
 	return self;
 }
-#endif
+
+static VALUE pgconn_send_query_params(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self);
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.send_query(sql) -> nil
+ *
+ * Sends SQL query request specified by _sql_ to PostgreSQL for
+ * asynchronous processing, and immediately returns.
+ * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
+ *
+ * For backward compatibility, if you pass more than one parameter to this method,
+ * it will call #send_query_params for you. New code should explicitly use #send_query_params if
+ * argument placeholders are used.
+ *
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_send_query(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
+{
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
+	VALUE error;
+
+	/* If called with no or nil parameters, use PQexec for compatibility */
+	if ( argc == 1 || (argc >= 2 && argc <= 4 && NIL_P(argv[1]) )) {
+		if(gvl_PQsendQuery(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(argv[0], this->enc_idx)) == 0) {
+			error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
+			rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
+			rb_exc_raise(error);
+		}
+		return Qnil;
+	}
+
+	pg_deprecated(2, ("forwarding async_exec to async_exec_params and send_query to send_query_params is deprecated"));
+
+	/* If called with parameters, and optionally result_format,
+	 * use PQsendQueryParams
+	 */
+	return pgconn_send_query_params( argc, argv, self);
+}
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.send_query(sql [, params, result_format[, type_map ]] ) -> nil
+ *    conn.send_query_params(sql, params [, result_format [, type_map ]] ) -> nil
  *
  * Sends SQL query request specified by _sql_ to PostgreSQL for
  * asynchronous processing, and immediately returns.
  * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
  *
- * +params+ is an optional array of the bind parameters for the SQL query.
+ * +params+ is an array of the bind parameters for the SQL query.
  * Each element of the +params+ array may be either:
  *   a hash of the form:
  *     {:value  => String (value of bind parameter)
@@ -1812,52 +1792,38 @@ pgconn_set_single_row_mode(VALUE self)
  * The optional +result_format+ should be 0 for text results, 1
  * for binary.
  *
- * type_map can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
- * This will type cast the params form various Ruby types before transmission
+ * +type_map+ can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
+ * This will type cast the params from various Ruby types before transmission
  * based on the encoders defined by the type map. When a type encoder is used
  * the format and oid of a given bind parameter are retrieved from the encoder
  * instead out of the hash form described above.
  *
  */
 static VALUE
-pgconn_send_query(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
+pgconn_send_query_params(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	int result;
 	VALUE command, in_res_fmt;
 	VALUE error;
 	int nParams;
 	int resultFormat;
-	struct query_params_data paramsData = { ENCODING_GET(self) };
+	struct query_params_data paramsData = { this->enc_idx };
 
-	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "13", &command, &paramsData.params, &in_res_fmt, &paramsData.typemap);
+	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "22", &command, &paramsData.params, &in_res_fmt, &paramsData.typemap);
 	paramsData.with_types = 1;
 
-	/* If called with no parameters, use PQsendQuery */
-	if(NIL_P(paramsData.params)) {
-		if(gvl_PQsendQuery(conn, pg_cstr_enc(command, paramsData.enc_idx)) == 0) {
-			error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(conn));
-			rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
-			rb_exc_raise(error);
-		}
-		return Qnil;
-	}
-
-	/* If called with parameters, and optionally result_format,
-	 * use PQsendQueryParams
-	 */
-
 	pgconn_query_assign_typemap( self, &paramsData );
 	resultFormat = NIL_P(in_res_fmt) ? 0 : NUM2INT(in_res_fmt);
 	nParams = alloc_query_params( &paramsData );
 
-	result = gvl_PQsendQueryParams(conn, pg_cstr_enc(command, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams, paramsData.types,
+	result = gvl_PQsendQueryParams(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(command, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams, paramsData.types,
 		(const char * const *)paramsData.values, paramsData.lengths, paramsData.formats, resultFormat);
 
 	free_query_params( &paramsData );
 
 	if(result == 0) {
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
@@ -1887,7 +1853,7 @@ pgconn_send_query(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 static VALUE
 pgconn_send_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	int result;
 	VALUE name, command, in_paramtypes;
 	VALUE param;
@@ -1897,7 +1863,7 @@ pgconn_send_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	Oid *paramTypes = NULL;
 	const char *name_cstr;
 	const char *command_cstr;
-	int enc_idx = ENCODING_GET(self);
+	int enc_idx = this->enc_idx;
 
 	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "21", &name, &command, &in_paramtypes);
 	name_cstr = pg_cstr_enc(name, enc_idx);
@@ -1915,12 +1881,12 @@ pgconn_send_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 				paramTypes[i] = NUM2UINT(param);
 		}
 	}
-	result = gvl_PQsendPrepare(conn, name_cstr, command_cstr, nParams, paramTypes);
+	result = gvl_PQsendPrepare(this->pgconn, name_cstr, command_cstr, nParams, paramTypes);
 
 	xfree(paramTypes);
 
 	if(result == 0) {
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
@@ -1952,8 +1918,8 @@ pgconn_send_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
  * The optional +result_format+ should be 0 for text results, 1
  * for binary.
  *
- * type_map can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
- * This will type cast the params form various Ruby types before transmission
+ * +type_map+ can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
+ * This will type cast the params from various Ruby types before transmission
  * based on the encoders defined by the type map. When a type encoder is used
  * the format and oid of a given bind parameter are retrieved from the encoder
  * instead out of the hash form described above.
@@ -1962,13 +1928,13 @@ pgconn_send_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 static VALUE
 pgconn_send_query_prepared(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	int result;
 	VALUE name, in_res_fmt;
 	VALUE error;
 	int nParams;
 	int resultFormat;
-	struct query_params_data paramsData = { ENCODING_GET(self) };
+	struct query_params_data paramsData = { this->enc_idx };
 
 	rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "13", &name, &paramsData.params, &in_res_fmt, &paramsData.typemap);
 	paramsData.with_types = 0;
@@ -1982,14 +1948,14 @@ pgconn_send_query_prepared(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	resultFormat = NIL_P(in_res_fmt) ? 0 : NUM2INT(in_res_fmt);
 	nParams = alloc_query_params( &paramsData );
 
-	result = gvl_PQsendQueryPrepared(conn, pg_cstr_enc(name, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams,
+	result = gvl_PQsendQueryPrepared(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(name, paramsData.enc_idx), nParams,
 		(const char * const *)paramsData.values, paramsData.lengths, paramsData.formats,
 		resultFormat);
 
 	free_query_params( &paramsData );
 
 	if(result == 0) {
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
@@ -2007,10 +1973,10 @@ static VALUE
 pgconn_send_describe_prepared(VALUE self, VALUE stmt_name)
 {
 	VALUE error;
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	/* returns 0 on failure */
-	if(gvl_PQsendDescribePrepared(conn, pg_cstr_enc(stmt_name, ENCODING_GET(self))) == 0) {
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+	if(gvl_PQsendDescribePrepared(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(stmt_name, this->enc_idx)) == 0) {
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
@@ -2029,10 +1995,10 @@ static VALUE
 pgconn_send_describe_portal(VALUE self, VALUE portal)
 {
 	VALUE error;
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	/* returns 0 on failure */
-	if(gvl_PQsendDescribePortal(conn, pg_cstr_enc(portal, ENCODING_GET(self))) == 0) {
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+	if(gvl_PQsendDescribePortal(this->pgconn, pg_cstr_enc(portal, this->enc_idx)) == 0) {
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_eUnableToSend, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
@@ -2203,7 +2169,6 @@ pgconn_flush(self)
 static VALUE
 pgconn_cancel(VALUE self)
 {
-#ifdef HAVE_PQGETCANCEL
 	char errbuf[256];
 	PGcancel *cancel;
 	VALUE retval;
@@ -2221,9 +2186,6 @@ pgconn_cancel(VALUE self)
 
 	PQfreeCancel(cancel);
 	return retval;
-#else
-	rb_notimplement();
-#endif
 }
 
 
@@ -2237,7 +2199,7 @@ pgconn_cancel(VALUE self)
 static VALUE
 pgconn_notifies(VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn* conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	PGnotify *notification;
 	VALUE hash;
 	VALUE sym_relname, sym_be_pid, sym_extra;
@@ -2247,17 +2209,17 @@ pgconn_notifies(VALUE self)
 	sym_be_pid = ID2SYM(rb_intern("be_pid"));
 	sym_extra = ID2SYM(rb_intern("extra"));
 
-	notification = gvl_PQnotifies(conn);
+	notification = gvl_PQnotifies(this->pgconn);
 	if (notification == NULL) {
 		return Qnil;
 	}
 
 	hash = rb_hash_new();
-	relname = rb_tainted_str_new2(notification->relname);
+	relname = rb_str_new2(notification->relname);
 	be_pid = INT2NUM(notification->be_pid);
-	extra = rb_tainted_str_new2(notification->extra);
-	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( relname, ENCODING_GET(self) );
-	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( extra, ENCODING_GET(self) );
+	extra = rb_str_new2(notification->extra);
+	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( relname, this->enc_idx );
+	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( extra, this->enc_idx );
 
 	rb_hash_aset(hash, sym_relname, relname);
 	rb_hash_aset(hash, sym_be_pid, be_pid);
@@ -2267,56 +2229,15 @@ pgconn_notifies(VALUE self)
 	return hash;
 }
 
-/* Win32 + Ruby 1.8 */
-#if !defined( HAVE_RUBY_VM_H ) && defined( _WIN32 )
-
-/*
- * Duplicate the sockets from libpq and create temporary CRT FDs
- */
-void create_crt_fd(fd_set *os_set, fd_set *crt_set)
-{
-	int i;
-	crt_set->fd_count = os_set->fd_count;
-	for (i = 0; i < os_set->fd_count; i++) {
-		WSAPROTOCOL_INFO wsa_pi;
-		/* dupicate the SOCKET */
-		int r = WSADuplicateSocket(os_set->fd_array[i], GetCurrentProcessId(), &wsa_pi);
-		SOCKET s = WSASocket(wsa_pi.iAddressFamily, wsa_pi.iSocketType, wsa_pi.iProtocol, &wsa_pi, 0, 0);
-		/* create the CRT fd so ruby can get back to the SOCKET */
-		int fd = _open_osfhandle(s, O_RDWR|O_BINARY);
-		os_set->fd_array[i] = s;
-		crt_set->fd_array[i] = fd;
-	}
-}
-
-/*
- * Clean up the CRT FDs from create_crt_fd()
- */
-void cleanup_crt_fd(fd_set *os_set, fd_set *crt_set)
-{
-	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < os_set->fd_count; i++) {
-		/* cleanup the CRT fd */
-		_close(crt_set->fd_array[i]);
-		/* cleanup the duplicated SOCKET */
-		closesocket(os_set->fd_array[i]);
-	}
-}
-#endif
-
 /* Win32 + Ruby 1.9+ */
-#if defined( HAVE_RUBY_VM_H ) && defined( _WIN32 )
+#if defined( _WIN32 )
 /*
  * On Windows, use platform-specific strategies to wait for the socket
- * instead of rb_thread_select().
+ * instead of rb_wait_for_single_fd().
  */
 
 int rb_w32_wait_events( HANDLE *events, int num, DWORD timeout );
 
-/* If WIN32 and Ruby 1.9 do not use rb_thread_select() which sometimes hangs
- * and does not wait (nor sleep) any time even if timeout is given.
- * Instead use the Winsock events and rb_w32_wait_events(). */
-
 static void *
 wait_socket_readable( PGconn *conn, struct timeval *ptimeout, void *(*is_readable)(PGconn *) )
 {
@@ -2393,7 +2314,7 @@ wait_socket_readable( PGconn *conn, struct timeval *ptimeout, void *(*is_readabl
 
 #else
 
-/* non Win32 or Win32+Ruby-1.8 */
+/* non Win32 */
 
 static void *
 wait_socket_readable( PGconn *conn, struct timeval *ptimeout, void *(*is_readable)(PGconn *))
@@ -2401,11 +2322,7 @@ wait_socket_readable( PGconn *conn, struct timeval *ptimeout, void *(*is_readabl
 	int sd = PQsocket( conn );
 	int ret;
 	void *retval;
-	rb_fdset_t sd_rset;
 	struct timeval aborttime={0,0}, currtime, waittime;
-#ifdef _WIN32
-	rb_fdset_t crt_sd_rset;
-#endif
 
 	if ( sd < 0 )
 		rb_raise(rb_eConnectionBad, "PQsocket() can't get socket descriptor");
@@ -2414,25 +2331,12 @@ wait_socket_readable( PGconn *conn, struct timeval *ptimeout, void *(*is_readabl
 	if ( PQconsumeInput(conn) == 0 )
 		rb_raise( rb_eConnectionBad, "PQconsumeInput() %s", PQerrorMessage(conn) );
 
-	rb_fd_init( &sd_rset );
-
 	if ( ptimeout ) {
 		gettimeofday(&currtime, NULL);
 		timeradd(&currtime, ptimeout, &aborttime);
 	}
 
 	while ( !(retval=is_readable(conn)) ) {
-		rb_fd_zero( &sd_rset );
-		rb_fd_set( sd, &sd_rset );
-
-#ifdef _WIN32
-		/* Ruby's FD_SET is modified on win32 to convert a file descriptor
-		 * to osfhandle, but we already get a osfhandle from PQsocket().
-		 * Therefore it's overwritten here. */
-		sd_rset.fd_array[0] = sd;
-		create_crt_fd(&sd_rset, &crt_sd_rset);
-#endif
-
 		if ( ptimeout ) {
 			gettimeofday(&currtime, NULL);
 			timersub(&aborttime, &currtime, &waittime);
@@ -2441,35 +2345,26 @@ wait_socket_readable( PGconn *conn, struct timeval *ptimeout, void *(*is_readabl
 		/* Is the given timeout valid? */
 		if( !ptimeout || (waittime.tv_sec >= 0 && waittime.tv_usec >= 0) ){
 			/* Wait for the socket to become readable before checking again */
-			ret = rb_thread_fd_select( sd+1, &sd_rset, NULL, NULL, ptimeout ? &waittime : NULL );
+			ret = rb_wait_for_single_fd( sd, RB_WAITFD_IN, ptimeout ? &waittime : NULL );
 		} else {
 			ret = 0;
 		}
 
-
-#ifdef _WIN32
-		cleanup_crt_fd(&sd_rset, &crt_sd_rset);
-#endif
-
 		if ( ret < 0 ){
-			rb_fd_term( &sd_rset );
-			rb_sys_fail( "rb_thread_select()" );
+			rb_sys_fail( "rb_wait_for_single_fd()" );
 		}
 
 		/* Return false if the select() timed out */
 		if ( ret == 0 ){
-			rb_fd_term( &sd_rset );
 			return NULL;
 		}
 
 		/* Check for connection errors (PQisBusy is true on connection errors) */
 		if ( PQconsumeInput(conn) == 0 ){
-			rb_fd_term( &sd_rset );
 			rb_raise( rb_eConnectionBad, "PQconsumeInput() %s", PQerrorMessage(conn) );
 		}
 	}
 
-	rb_fd_term( &sd_rset );
 	return retval;
 }
 
@@ -2484,27 +2379,20 @@ notify_readable(PGconn *conn)
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.wait_for_notify( [ timeout ] ) -> String
- *    conn.wait_for_notify( [ timeout ] ) { |event, pid| block }
- *    conn.wait_for_notify( [ timeout ] ) { |event, pid, payload| block } # PostgreSQL 9.0
+ *    conn.wait_for_notify( [ timeout ] ) { |event, pid, payload| block } -> String
  *
  * Blocks while waiting for notification(s), or until the optional
  * _timeout_ is reached, whichever comes first.  _timeout_ is
  * measured in seconds and can be fractional.
  *
- * Returns +nil+ if _timeout_ is reached, the name of the NOTIFY
- * event otherwise.  If used in block form, passes the name of the
- * NOTIFY +event+ and the generating +pid+ into the block.
- *
- * Under PostgreSQL 9.0 and later, if the notification is sent with
- * the optional +payload+ string, it will be given to the block as the
- * third argument.
- *
+ * Returns +nil+ if _timeout_ is reached, the name of the NOTIFY event otherwise.
+ * If used in block form, passes the name of the NOTIFY +event+, the generating
+ * +pid+ and the optional +payload+ string into the block.
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_wait_for_notify(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn( self );
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 	PGnotify *pnotification;
 	struct timeval timeout;
 	struct timeval *ptimeout = NULL;
@@ -2520,20 +2408,18 @@ pgconn_wait_for_notify(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 		ptimeout = &timeout;
 	}
 
-	pnotification = (PGnotify*) wait_socket_readable( conn, ptimeout, notify_readable);
+	pnotification = (PGnotify*) wait_socket_readable( this->pgconn, ptimeout, notify_readable);
 
 	/* Return nil if the select timed out */
 	if ( !pnotification ) return Qnil;
 
-	relname = rb_tainted_str_new2( pnotification->relname );
-	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( relname, ENCODING_GET(self) );
+	relname = rb_str_new2( pnotification->relname );
+	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( relname, this->enc_idx );
 	be_pid = INT2NUM( pnotification->be_pid );
-#ifdef HAVE_ST_NOTIFY_EXTRA
 	if ( *pnotification->extra ) {
-		extra = rb_tainted_str_new2( pnotification->extra );
-		PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( extra, ENCODING_GET(self) );
+		extra = rb_str_new2( pnotification->extra );
+		PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( extra, this->enc_idx );
 	}
-#endif
 	PQfreemem( pnotification );
 
 	if ( rb_block_given_p() )
@@ -2552,9 +2438,10 @@ pgconn_wait_for_notify(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
  * not sent (false is only possible if the connection
  * is in nonblocking mode, and this command would block).
  *
- * encoder can be a PG::Coder derivation (typically PG::TextEncoder::CopyRow).
- * This encodes the received data fields from an Array of Strings. Optionally
- * the encoder can type cast the fields form various Ruby types in one step,
+ * _encoder_ can be a PG::Coder derivation (typically PG::TextEncoder::CopyRow).
+ * This encodes the data fields given as _buffer_ from an Array of Strings to
+ * PostgreSQL's COPY text format inclusive proper escaping. Optionally
+ * the encoder can type cast the fields from various Ruby types in one step,
  * if PG::TextEncoder::CopyRow#type_map is set accordingly.
  *
  * Raises an exception if an error occurs.
@@ -2591,7 +2478,7 @@ pgconn_put_copy_data(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 
 	if( p_coder ){
 		t_pg_coder_enc_func enc_func;
-		int enc_idx = ENCODING_GET(self);
+		int enc_idx = this->enc_idx;
 
 		enc_func = pg_coder_enc_func( p_coder );
 		len = enc_func( p_coder, value, NULL, &intermediate, enc_idx);
@@ -2641,16 +2528,16 @@ pgconn_put_copy_end(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 	VALUE error;
 	int ret;
 	const char *error_message = NULL;
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 
 	if (rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "01", &str) == 0)
 		error_message = NULL;
 	else
-		error_message = pg_cstr_enc(str, ENCODING_GET(self));
+		error_message = pg_cstr_enc(str, this->enc_idx);
 
-	ret = gvl_PQputCopyEnd(conn, error_message);
+	ret = gvl_PQputCopyEnd(this->pgconn, error_message);
 	if(ret == -1) {
-		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_ePGerror, PQerrorMessage(conn));
+		error = rb_exc_new2(rb_ePGerror, PQerrorMessage(this->pgconn));
 		rb_iv_set(error, "@connection", self);
 		rb_exc_raise(error);
 	}
@@ -2659,15 +2546,18 @@ pgconn_put_copy_end(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.get_copy_data( [ async = false [, decoder = nil ]] ) -> String
+ *    conn.get_copy_data( [ async = false [, decoder = nil ]] ) -> Object
  *
- * Return a string containing one row of data, +nil+
+ * Return one row of data, +nil+
  * if the copy is done, or +false+ if the call would
  * block (only possible if _async_ is true).
  *
- * decoder can be a PG::Coder derivation (typically PG::TextDecoder::CopyRow).
- * This decodes the received data fields as Array of Strings. Optionally
- * the decoder can type cast the fields to various Ruby types in one step,
+ * If _decoder_ is not set or +nil+, data is returned as binary string.
+ *
+ * If _decoder_ is set to a PG::Coder derivation, the return type depends on this decoder.
+ * PG::TextDecoder::CopyRow decodes the received data fields from one row of PostgreSQL's
+ * COPY text format to an Array of Strings.
+ * Optionally the decoder can type cast the single fields to various Ruby types in one step,
  * if PG::TextDecoder::CopyRow#type_map is set accordingly.
  *
  * See also #copy_data.
@@ -2713,9 +2603,9 @@ pgconn_get_copy_data(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self )
 
 	if( p_coder ){
 		t_pg_coder_dec_func dec_func = pg_coder_dec_func( p_coder, p_coder->format );
-		result =  dec_func( p_coder, buffer, ret, 0, 0, ENCODING_GET(self) );
+		result =  dec_func( p_coder, buffer, ret, 0, 0, this->enc_idx );
 	} else {
-		result = rb_tainted_str_new(buffer, ret);
+		result = rb_str_new(buffer, ret);
 	}
 
 	PQfreemem(buffer);
@@ -2728,9 +2618,16 @@ pgconn_get_copy_data(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self )
  *
  * Sets connection's verbosity to _verbosity_ and returns
  * the previous setting. Available settings are:
+ *
  * * PQERRORS_TERSE
  * * PQERRORS_DEFAULT
  * * PQERRORS_VERBOSE
+ * * PQERRORS_SQLSTATE
+ *
+ * Changing the verbosity does not affect the messages available from already-existing PG::Result objects, only subsequently-created ones.
+ * (But see PG::Result#verbose_error_message if you want to print a previous error with a different verbosity.)
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-control.html#LIBPQ-PQSETERRORVERBOSITY].
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_set_error_verbosity(VALUE self, VALUE in_verbosity)
@@ -2740,6 +2637,37 @@ pgconn_set_error_verbosity(VALUE self, VALUE in_verbosity)
 	return INT2FIX(PQsetErrorVerbosity(conn, verbosity));
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_PQRESULTVERBOSEERRORMESSAGE
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.set_error_context_visibility( context_visibility ) -> Integer
+ *
+ * Sets connection's context display mode to _context_visibility_ and returns
+ * the previous setting. Available settings are:
+ * * PQSHOW_CONTEXT_NEVER
+ * * PQSHOW_CONTEXT_ERRORS
+ * * PQSHOW_CONTEXT_ALWAYS
+ *
+ * This mode controls whether the CONTEXT field is included in messages (unless the verbosity setting is TERSE, in which case CONTEXT is never shown).
+ * The NEVER mode never includes CONTEXT, while ALWAYS always includes it if available.
+ * In ERRORS mode (the default), CONTEXT fields are included only for error messages, not for notices and warnings.
+ *
+ * Changing this mode does not affect the messages available from already-existing PG::Result objects, only subsequently-created ones.
+ * (But see PG::Result#verbose_error_message if you want to print a previous error with a different display mode.)
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-control.html#LIBPQ-PQSETERRORCONTEXTVISIBILITY].
+ *
+ * Available since PostgreSQL-9.6
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_set_error_context_visibility(VALUE self, VALUE in_context_visibility)
+{
+	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+	PGContextVisibility context_visibility = NUM2INT(in_context_visibility);
+	return INT2FIX(PQsetErrorContextVisibility(conn, context_visibility));
+}
+#endif
+
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.trace( stream ) -> nil
@@ -2758,7 +2686,7 @@ pgconn_trace(VALUE self, VALUE stream)
 	VALUE new_file;
 	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
 
-	if(rb_respond_to(stream,rb_intern("fileno")) == Qfalse)
+	if(!rb_respond_to(stream,rb_intern("fileno")))
 		rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "stream does not respond to method: fileno");
 
 	fileno = rb_funcall(stream, rb_intern("fileno"), 0);
@@ -2891,8 +2819,8 @@ notice_processor_proxy(void *arg, const char *message)
 	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection( self );
 
 	if (this->notice_receiver != Qnil) {
-		VALUE message_str = rb_tainted_str_new2(message);
-		PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( message_str, ENCODING_GET(self) );
+		VALUE message_str = rb_str_new2(message);
+		PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( message_str, this->enc_idx );
 		rb_funcall(this->notice_receiver, rb_intern("call"), 1, message_str);
 	}
 	return;
@@ -2950,7 +2878,7 @@ static VALUE
 pgconn_get_client_encoding(VALUE self)
 {
 	char *encoding = (char *)pg_encoding_to_char(PQclientEncoding(pg_get_pgconn(self)));
-	return rb_tainted_str_new2(encoding);
+	return rb_str_new2(encoding);
 }
 
 
@@ -2968,11 +2896,9 @@ pgconn_set_client_encoding(VALUE self, VALUE str)
 	Check_Type(str, T_STRING);
 
 	if ( (gvl_PQsetClientEncoding(conn, StringValueCStr(str))) == -1 ) {
-		rb_raise(rb_ePGerror, "invalid encoding name: %s",StringValueCStr(str));
+		rb_raise(rb_ePGerror, "%s", PQerrorMessage(conn));
 	}
-#ifdef M17N_SUPPORTED
 	pgconn_set_internal_encoding_index( self );
-#endif
 
 	return Qnil;
 }
@@ -3064,14 +2990,12 @@ pgconn_s_quote_ident(VALUE self, VALUE str_or_array)
 	int enc_idx;
 
 	if( rb_obj_is_kind_of(self, rb_cPGconn) ){
-		enc_idx = ENCODING_GET( self );
+		enc_idx = pg_get_connection(self)->enc_idx;
 	}else{
 		enc_idx = RB_TYPE_P(str_or_array, T_STRING) ? ENCODING_GET( str_or_array ) : rb_ascii8bit_encindex();
 	}
 	pg_text_enc_identifier(NULL, str_or_array, NULL, &ret, enc_idx);
 
-	OBJ_INFECT(ret, str_or_array);
-
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -3100,10 +3024,6 @@ static VALUE
 pgconn_block( int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self ) {
 	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn( self );
 
-	/* If WIN32 and Ruby 1.9 do not use rb_thread_select() which sometimes hangs
-	 * and does not wait (nor sleep) any time even if timeout is given.
-	 * Instead use the Winsock events and rb_w32_wait_events(). */
-
 	struct timeval timeout;
 	struct timeval *ptimeout = NULL;
 	VALUE timeout_in;
@@ -3170,24 +3090,142 @@ pgconn_get_last_result(VALUE self)
 
 /*
  * call-seq:
- *    conn.async_exec(sql [, params, result_format ] ) -> PG::Result
- *    conn.async_exec(sql [, params, result_format ] ) {|pg_result| block }
+ *    conn.discard_results()
  *
- * This function has the same behavior as #exec,
- * but is implemented using the asynchronous command
- * processing API of libpq.
+ * Silently discard any prior query result that application didn't eat.
+ * This is done prior of Connection#exec and sibling methods and can
+ * be called explicitly when using the async API.
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_discard_results(VALUE self)
+{
+	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
+
+	PGresult *cur;
+	while ((cur = gvl_PQgetResult(conn)) != NULL) {
+		int status = PQresultStatus(cur);
+		PQclear(cur);
+		if (status == PGRES_COPY_IN){
+			gvl_PQputCopyEnd(conn, "COPY terminated by new PQexec");
+		}
+		if (status == PGRES_COPY_OUT){
+			char *buffer = NULL;
+			while( gvl_PQgetCopyData(conn, &buffer, 0) > 0)
+				PQfreemem(buffer);
+		}
+	}
+
+	return Qnil;
+}
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.exec(sql) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.exec(sql) {|pg_result| block }
+ *
+ * Sends SQL query request specified by _sql_ to PostgreSQL.
+ * On success, it returns a PG::Result instance with all result rows and columns.
+ * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
+ *
+ * For backward compatibility, if you pass more than one parameter to this method,
+ * it will call #exec_params for you. New code should explicitly use #exec_params if
+ * argument placeholders are used.
+ *
+ * If the optional code block is given, it will be passed <i>result</i> as an argument,
+ * and the PG::Result object will  automatically be cleared when the block terminates.
+ * In this instance, <code>conn.exec</code> returns the value of the block.
+ *
+ * #exec is an alias for #async_exec which is almost identical to #sync_exec .
+ * #sync_exec is implemented on the simpler synchronous command processing API of libpq, whereas
+ * #async_exec is implemented on the asynchronous API and on ruby's IO mechanisms.
+ * Both methods ensure that other threads can process while waiting for the server to
+ * complete the request, but #sync_exec blocks all signals to be processed until the query is finished.
+ * This is most notably visible by a delayed reaction to Control+C.
+ * It's not recommended to use explicit sync or async variants but #exec instead, unless you have a good reason to do so.
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-exec.html#LIBPQ-PQEXEC].
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_async_exec(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 {
 	VALUE rb_pgresult = Qnil;
 
-	/* remove any remaining results from the queue */
+	pgconn_discard_results( self );
+	pgconn_send_query( argc, argv, self );
 	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self ); /* wait for input (without blocking) before reading the last result */
-	pgconn_get_last_result( self );
+	rb_pgresult = pgconn_get_last_result( self );
 
-	pgconn_send_query( argc, argv, self );
-	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self );
+	if ( rb_block_given_p() ) {
+		return rb_ensure( rb_yield, rb_pgresult, pg_result_clear, rb_pgresult );
+	}
+	return rb_pgresult;
+}
+
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.exec_params(sql, params [, result_format [, type_map ]] ) -> nil
+ *    conn.exec_params(sql, params [, result_format [, type_map ]] ) {|pg_result| block }
+ *
+ * Sends SQL query request specified by +sql+ to PostgreSQL using placeholders
+ * for parameters.
+ *
+ * Returns a PG::Result instance on success. On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
+ *
+ * +params+ is an array of the bind parameters for the SQL query.
+ * Each element of the +params+ array may be either:
+ *   a hash of the form:
+ *     {:value  => String (value of bind parameter)
+ *      :type   => Integer (oid of type of bind parameter)
+ *      :format => Integer (0 for text, 1 for binary)
+ *     }
+ *   or, it may be a String. If it is a string, that is equivalent to the hash:
+ *     { :value => <string value>, :type => 0, :format => 0 }
+ *
+ * PostgreSQL bind parameters are represented as $1, $1, $2, etc.,
+ * inside the SQL query. The 0th element of the +params+ array is bound
+ * to $1, the 1st element is bound to $2, etc. +nil+ is treated as +NULL+.
+ *
+ * If the types are not specified, they will be inferred by PostgreSQL.
+ * Instead of specifying type oids, it's recommended to simply add
+ * explicit casts in the query to ensure that the right type is used.
+ *
+ * For example: "SELECT $1::int"
+ *
+ * The optional +result_format+ should be 0 for text results, 1
+ * for binary.
+ *
+ * +type_map+ can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
+ * This will type cast the params from various Ruby types before transmission
+ * based on the encoders defined by the type map. When a type encoder is used
+ * the format and oid of a given bind parameter are retrieved from the encoder
+ * instead out of the hash form described above.
+ *
+ * If the optional code block is given, it will be passed <i>result</i> as an argument,
+ * and the PG::Result object will  automatically be cleared when the block terminates.
+ * In this instance, <code>conn.exec</code> returns the value of the block.
+ *
+ * The primary advantage of #exec_params over #exec is that parameter values can be separated from the command string, thus avoiding the need for tedious and error-prone quoting and escaping.
+ * Unlike #exec, #exec_params allows at most one SQL command in the given string.
+ * (There can be semicolons in it, but not more than one nonempty command.)
+ * This is a limitation of the underlying protocol, but has some usefulness as an extra defense against SQL-injection attacks.
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-exec.html#LIBPQ-PQEXECPARAMS].
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_async_exec_params(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
+{
+	VALUE rb_pgresult = Qnil;
+
+	pgconn_discard_results( self );
+	/* If called with no or nil parameters, use PQsendQuery for compatibility */
+	if ( argc == 1 || (argc >= 2 && argc <= 4 && NIL_P(argv[1]) )) {
+		pg_deprecated(3, ("forwarding async_exec_params to async_exec is deprecated"));
+		pgconn_send_query( argc, argv, self );
+	} else {
+		pgconn_send_query_params( argc, argv, self );
+	}
+	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self ); /* wait for input (without blocking) before reading the last result */
 	rb_pgresult = pgconn_get_last_result( self );
 
 	if ( rb_block_given_p() ) {
@@ -3197,15 +3235,157 @@ pgconn_async_exec(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
 }
 
 
-#ifdef HAVE_PQSSLATTRIBUTE
-/* Since PostgreSQL-9.5: */
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.prepare(stmt_name, sql [, param_types ] ) -> PG::Result
+ *
+ * Prepares statement _sql_ with name _name_ to be executed later.
+ * Returns a PG::Result instance on success.
+ * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
+ *
+ * +param_types+ is an optional parameter to specify the Oids of the
+ * types of the parameters.
+ *
+ * If the types are not specified, they will be inferred by PostgreSQL.
+ * Instead of specifying type oids, it's recommended to simply add
+ * explicit casts in the query to ensure that the right type is used.
+ *
+ * For example: "SELECT $1::int"
+ *
+ * PostgreSQL bind parameters are represented as $1, $1, $2, etc.,
+ * inside the SQL query.
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-exec.html#LIBPQ-PQPREPARE].
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_async_prepare(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
+{
+	VALUE rb_pgresult = Qnil;
 
+	pgconn_discard_results( self );
+	pgconn_send_prepare( argc, argv, self );
+	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self ); /* wait for input (without blocking) before reading the last result */
+	rb_pgresult = pgconn_get_last_result( self );
+
+	if ( rb_block_given_p() ) {
+		return rb_ensure( rb_yield, rb_pgresult, pg_result_clear, rb_pgresult );
+	}
+	return rb_pgresult;
+}
+
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.exec_prepared(statement_name [, params, result_format[, type_map]] ) -> PG::Result
+ *    conn.exec_prepared(statement_name [, params, result_format[, type_map]] ) {|pg_result| block }
+ *
+ * Execute prepared named statement specified by _statement_name_.
+ * Returns a PG::Result instance on success.
+ * On failure, it raises a PG::Error.
+ *
+ * +params+ is an array of the optional bind parameters for the
+ * SQL query. Each element of the +params+ array may be either:
+ *   a hash of the form:
+ *     {:value  => String (value of bind parameter)
+ *      :format => Integer (0 for text, 1 for binary)
+ *     }
+ *   or, it may be a String. If it is a string, that is equivalent to the hash:
+ *     { :value => <string value>, :format => 0 }
+ *
+ * PostgreSQL bind parameters are represented as $1, $1, $2, etc.,
+ * inside the SQL query. The 0th element of the +params+ array is bound
+ * to $1, the 1st element is bound to $2, etc. +nil+ is treated as +NULL+.
+ *
+ * The optional +result_format+ should be 0 for text results, 1
+ * for binary.
+ *
+ * +type_map+ can be a PG::TypeMap derivation (such as PG::BasicTypeMapForQueries).
+ * This will type cast the params from various Ruby types before transmission
+ * based on the encoders defined by the type map. When a type encoder is used
+ * the format and oid of a given bind parameter are retrieved from the encoder
+ * instead out of the hash form described above.
+ *
+ * If the optional code block is given, it will be passed <i>result</i> as an argument,
+ * and the PG::Result object will  automatically be cleared when the block terminates.
+ * In this instance, <code>conn.exec_prepared</code> returns the value of the block.
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-exec.html#LIBPQ-PQEXECPREPARED].
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_async_exec_prepared(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
+{
+	VALUE rb_pgresult = Qnil;
+
+	pgconn_discard_results( self );
+	pgconn_send_query_prepared( argc, argv, self );
+	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self ); /* wait for input (without blocking) before reading the last result */
+	rb_pgresult = pgconn_get_last_result( self );
+
+	if ( rb_block_given_p() ) {
+		return rb_ensure( rb_yield, rb_pgresult, pg_result_clear, rb_pgresult );
+	}
+	return rb_pgresult;
+}
+
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.describe_portal( portal_name ) -> PG::Result
+ *
+ * Retrieve information about the portal _portal_name_.
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-exec.html#LIBPQ-PQDESCRIBEPORTAL].
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_async_describe_portal(VALUE self, VALUE portal)
+{
+	VALUE rb_pgresult = Qnil;
+
+	pgconn_discard_results( self );
+	pgconn_send_describe_portal( self, portal );
+	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self ); /* wait for input (without blocking) before reading the last result */
+	rb_pgresult = pgconn_get_last_result( self );
+
+	if ( rb_block_given_p() ) {
+		return rb_ensure( rb_yield, rb_pgresult, pg_result_clear, rb_pgresult );
+	}
+	return rb_pgresult;
+}
+
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.describe_prepared( statement_name ) -> PG::Result
+ *
+ * Retrieve information about the prepared statement _statement_name_.
+ *
+ * See also corresponding {libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-exec.html#LIBPQ-PQDESCRIBEPREPARED].
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_async_describe_prepared(VALUE self, VALUE stmt_name)
+{
+	VALUE rb_pgresult = Qnil;
+
+	pgconn_discard_results( self );
+	pgconn_send_describe_prepared( self, stmt_name );
+	pgconn_block( 0, NULL, self ); /* wait for input (without blocking) before reading the last result */
+	rb_pgresult = pgconn_get_last_result( self );
+
+	if ( rb_block_given_p() ) {
+		return rb_ensure( rb_yield, rb_pgresult, pg_result_clear, rb_pgresult );
+	}
+	return rb_pgresult;
+}
+
+
+#ifdef HAVE_PQSSLATTRIBUTE
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    conn.ssl_in_use? -> Boolean
  *
- * Returns +true+ if the connection uses SSL, +false+ if not.
+ * Returns +true+ if the connection uses SSL/TLS, +false+ if not.
  *
+ * Available since PostgreSQL-9.5
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_ssl_in_use(VALUE self)
@@ -3237,7 +3417,9 @@ pgconn_ssl_in_use(VALUE self)
  *   If SSL compression is in use, returns the name of the compression algorithm, or "on" if compression is used but the algorithm is not known. If compression is not in use, returns "off".
  *
  *
- * See also #ssl_attribute_names and http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/interactive/libpq-status.html#LIBPQ-PQSSLATTRIBUTE
+ * See also #ssl_attribute_names and the {corresponding libpq function}[https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-status.html#LIBPQ-PQSSLATTRIBUTE].
+ *
+ * Available since PostgreSQL-9.5
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_ssl_attribute(VALUE self, VALUE attribute_name)
@@ -3256,6 +3438,7 @@ pgconn_ssl_attribute(VALUE self, VALUE attribute_name)
  *
  * See also #ssl_attribute
  *
+ * Available since PostgreSQL-9.5
  */
 static VALUE
 pgconn_ssl_attribute_names(VALUE self)
@@ -3462,7 +3645,7 @@ pgconn_loread(VALUE self, VALUE in_lo_desc, VALUE in_len)
 		return Qnil;
 	}
 
-	str = rb_tainted_str_new(buffer, ret);
+	str = rb_str_new(buffer, ret);
 	xfree(buffer);
 
 	return str;
@@ -3566,14 +3749,15 @@ pgconn_lounlink(VALUE self, VALUE in_oid)
 }
 
 
-#ifdef M17N_SUPPORTED
-
-void
+static void
 pgconn_set_internal_encoding_index( VALUE self )
 {
-	PGconn *conn = pg_get_pgconn(self);
-	rb_encoding *enc = pg_conn_enc_get( conn );
-	PG_ENCODING_SET_NOCHECK( self, rb_enc_to_index(enc));
+	int enc_idx;
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection_safe( self );
+	rb_encoding *enc = pg_conn_enc_get( this->pgconn );
+	enc_idx = rb_enc_to_index(enc);
+	if( enc_idx >= (1<<(PG_ENC_IDX_BITS-1)) ) rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "unsupported encoding index %d", enc_idx);
+	this->enc_idx = enc_idx;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -3616,7 +3800,6 @@ static VALUE pgconn_external_encoding(VALUE self);
 static VALUE
 pgconn_internal_encoding_set(VALUE self, VALUE enc)
 {
-	VALUE enc_inspect;
 	if (NIL_P(enc)) {
 		pgconn_set_client_encoding( self, rb_usascii_str_new_cstr("SQL_ASCII") );
 		return enc;
@@ -3637,11 +3820,6 @@ pgconn_internal_encoding_set(VALUE self, VALUE enc)
 		pgconn_set_internal_encoding_index( self );
 		return enc;
 	}
-
-	enc_inspect = rb_inspect(enc);
-	rb_raise( rb_ePGerror, "unknown encoding: %s", StringValueCStr(enc_inspect) );
-
-	return Qnil;
 }
 
 
@@ -3660,14 +3838,9 @@ pgconn_external_encoding(VALUE self)
 	rb_encoding *enc = NULL;
 	const char *pg_encname = NULL;
 
-	/* Use cached value if found */
-	if ( RTEST(this->external_encoding) ) return this->external_encoding;
-
 	pg_encname = PQparameterStatus( this->pgconn, "server_encoding" );
 	enc = pg_get_pg_encname_as_rb_encoding( pg_encname );
-	this->external_encoding = rb_enc_from_encoding( enc );
-
-	return this->external_encoding;
+	return rb_enc_from_encoding( enc );
 }
 
 
@@ -3685,9 +3858,10 @@ pgconn_set_client_encoding_async1( VALUE args )
 
 
 static VALUE
-pgconn_set_client_encoding_async2( VALUE arg )
+pgconn_set_client_encoding_async2( VALUE arg, VALUE ex )
 {
 	UNUSED(arg);
+	UNUSED(ex);
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -3718,7 +3892,7 @@ pgconn_set_default_encoding( VALUE self )
 	if (( enc = rb_default_internal_encoding() )) {
 		encname = pg_get_rb_encoding_as_pg_encoding( enc );
 		if ( pgconn_set_client_encoding_async(self, encname) != 0 )
-			rb_warn( "Failed to set the default_internal encoding to %s: '%s'",
+			rb_warning( "Failed to set the default_internal encoding to %s: '%s'",
 			         encname, PQerrorMessage(conn) );
 		pgconn_set_internal_encoding_index( self );
 		return rb_enc_from_encoding( enc );
@@ -3729,8 +3903,6 @@ pgconn_set_default_encoding( VALUE self )
 }
 
 
-#endif /* M17N_SUPPORTED */
-
 /*
  * call-seq:
  *    res.type_map_for_queries = typemap
@@ -3909,6 +4081,58 @@ pgconn_decoder_for_get_copy_data_get(VALUE self)
 	return this->decoder_for_get_copy_data;
 }
 
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.field_name_type = Symbol
+ *
+ * Set default type of field names of results retrieved by this connection.
+ * It can be set to one of:
+ * * +:string+ to use String based field names
+ * * +:symbol+ to use Symbol based field names
+ *
+ * The default is +:string+ .
+ *
+ * Settings the type of field names affects only future results.
+ *
+ * See further description at PG::Result#field_name_type=
+ *
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_field_name_type_set(VALUE self, VALUE sym)
+{
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection( self );
+
+	this->flags &= ~PG_RESULT_FIELD_NAMES_MASK;
+	if( sym == sym_symbol ) this->flags |= PG_RESULT_FIELD_NAMES_SYMBOL;
+	else if ( sym == sym_static_symbol ) this->flags |= PG_RESULT_FIELD_NAMES_STATIC_SYMBOL;
+	else if ( sym == sym_string );
+	else rb_raise(rb_eArgError, "invalid argument %+"PRIsVALUE, sym);
+
+	return sym;
+}
+
+/*
+ * call-seq:
+ *    conn.field_name_type -> Symbol
+ *
+ * Get type of field names.
+ *
+ * See description at #field_name_type=
+ */
+static VALUE
+pgconn_field_name_type_get(VALUE self)
+{
+	t_pg_connection *this = pg_get_connection( self );
+
+	if( this->flags & PG_RESULT_FIELD_NAMES_SYMBOL ){
+		return sym_symbol;
+	} else if( this->flags & PG_RESULT_FIELD_NAMES_STATIC_SYMBOL ){
+		return sym_static_symbol;
+	} else {
+		return sym_string;
+	}
+}
+
 
 /*
  * Document-class: PG::Connection
@@ -3920,8 +4144,13 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	sym_type = ID2SYM(rb_intern("type"));
 	sym_format = ID2SYM(rb_intern("format"));
 	sym_value = ID2SYM(rb_intern("value"));
+	sym_string = ID2SYM(rb_intern("string"));
+	sym_symbol = ID2SYM(rb_intern("symbol"));
+	sym_static_symbol = ID2SYM(rb_intern("static_symbol"));
 
 	rb_cPGconn = rb_define_class_under( rb_mPG, "Connection", rb_cObject );
+	/* Help rdoc to known the Constants module */
+	/* rb_mPGconstants = rb_define_module_under( rb_mPG, "Constants" ); */
 	rb_include_module(rb_cPGconn, rb_mPGconstants);
 
 	/******     PG::Connection CLASS METHODS     ******/
@@ -3939,9 +4168,7 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	rb_define_singleton_method(rb_cPGconn, "quote_ident", pgconn_s_quote_ident, 1);
 	rb_define_singleton_method(rb_cPGconn, "connect_start", pgconn_s_connect_start, -1);
 	rb_define_singleton_method(rb_cPGconn, "conndefaults", pgconn_s_conndefaults, 0);
-#ifdef HAVE_PQPING
 	rb_define_singleton_method(rb_cPGconn, "ping", pgconn_s_ping, -1);
-#endif
 
 	/******     PG::Connection INSTANCE METHODS: Connection Control     ******/
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "initialize", pgconn_init, -1);
@@ -3971,39 +4198,47 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "server_version", pgconn_server_version, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "error_message", pgconn_error_message, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "socket", pgconn_socket, 0);
-#if !defined(_WIN32) || defined(HAVE_RB_W32_WRAP_IO_HANDLE)
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "socket_io", pgconn_socket_io, 0);
-#endif
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "backend_pid", pgconn_backend_pid, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "connection_needs_password", pgconn_connection_needs_password, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "connection_used_password", pgconn_connection_used_password, 0);
 	/* rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "getssl", pgconn_getssl, 0); */
 
 	/******     PG::Connection INSTANCE METHODS: Command Execution     ******/
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "exec", pgconn_exec, -1);
-	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "query", "exec");
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "exec_params", pgconn_exec_params, -1);
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "prepare", pgconn_prepare, -1);
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "exec_prepared", pgconn_exec_prepared, -1);
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "describe_prepared", pgconn_describe_prepared, 1);
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "describe_portal", pgconn_describe_portal, 1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "sync_exec", pgconn_exec, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "sync_exec_params", pgconn_exec_params, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "sync_prepare", pgconn_prepare, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "sync_exec_prepared", pgconn_exec_prepared, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "sync_describe_prepared", pgconn_describe_prepared, 1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "sync_describe_portal", pgconn_describe_portal, 1);
+
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "exec", pgconn_async_exec, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "exec_params", pgconn_async_exec_params, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "prepare", pgconn_async_prepare, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "exec_prepared", pgconn_async_exec_prepared, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "describe_prepared", pgconn_async_describe_prepared, 1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "describe_portal", pgconn_async_describe_portal, 1);
+
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_exec", "exec");
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_query", "async_exec");
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_exec_params", "exec_params");
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_prepare", "prepare");
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_exec_prepared", "exec_prepared");
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_describe_prepared", "describe_prepared");
+	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_describe_portal", "describe_portal");
+
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "make_empty_pgresult", pgconn_make_empty_pgresult, 1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "escape_string", pgconn_s_escape, 1);
 	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "escape", "escape_string");
-#ifdef HAVE_PQESCAPELITERAL
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "escape_literal", pgconn_escape_literal, 1);
-#endif
-#ifdef HAVE_PQESCAPEIDENTIFIER
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "escape_identifier", pgconn_escape_identifier, 1);
-#endif
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "escape_bytea", pgconn_s_escape_bytea, 1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "unescape_bytea", pgconn_s_unescape_bytea, 1);
-#ifdef HAVE_PQSETSINGLEROWMODE
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "set_single_row_mode", pgconn_set_single_row_mode, 0);
-#endif
 
 	/******     PG::Connection INSTANCE METHODS: Asynchronous Command Processing     ******/
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "send_query", pgconn_send_query, -1);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "send_query_params", pgconn_send_query_params, -1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "send_prepare", pgconn_send_prepare, -1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "send_query_prepared", pgconn_send_query_prepared, -1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "send_describe_prepared", pgconn_send_describe_prepared, 1);
@@ -4015,6 +4250,7 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "isnonblocking", pgconn_isnonblocking, 0);
 	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "nonblocking?", "isnonblocking");
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "flush", pgconn_flush, 0);
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "discard_results", pgconn_discard_results, 0);
 
 	/******     PG::Connection INSTANCE METHODS: Cancelling Queries in Progress     ******/
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "cancel", pgconn_cancel, 0);
@@ -4029,6 +4265,9 @@ init_pg_connection()
 
 	/******     PG::Connection INSTANCE METHODS: Control Functions     ******/
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "set_error_verbosity", pgconn_set_error_verbosity, 1);
+#ifdef HAVE_PQRESULTVERBOSEERRORMESSAGE
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "set_error_context_visibility", pgconn_set_error_context_visibility, 1 );
+#endif
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "trace", pgconn_trace, 1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "untrace", pgconn_untrace, 0);
 
@@ -4045,9 +4284,10 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "wait_for_notify", pgconn_wait_for_notify, -1);
 	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "notifies_wait", "wait_for_notify");
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "quote_ident", pgconn_s_quote_ident, 1);
-	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "async_exec", pgconn_async_exec, -1);
-	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "async_query", "async_exec");
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "get_last_result", pgconn_get_last_result, 0);
+#ifdef HAVE_PQENCRYPTPASSWORDCONN
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "encrypt_password", pgconn_encrypt_password, -1);
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_PQSSLATTRIBUTE
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "ssl_in_use?", pgconn_ssl_in_use, 0);
@@ -4083,12 +4323,10 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "lo_unlink", pgconn_lounlink, 1);
 	rb_define_alias(rb_cPGconn, "lounlink", "lo_unlink");
 
-#ifdef M17N_SUPPORTED
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "internal_encoding", pgconn_internal_encoding, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "internal_encoding=", pgconn_internal_encoding_set, 1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "external_encoding", pgconn_external_encoding, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "set_default_encoding", pgconn_set_default_encoding, 0);
-#endif /* M17N_SUPPORTED */
 
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "type_map_for_queries=", pgconn_type_map_for_queries_set, 1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "type_map_for_queries", pgconn_type_map_for_queries_get, 0);
@@ -4098,5 +4336,7 @@ init_pg_connection()
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "encoder_for_put_copy_data", pgconn_encoder_for_put_copy_data_get, 0);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "decoder_for_get_copy_data=", pgconn_decoder_for_get_copy_data_set, 1);
 	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "decoder_for_get_copy_data", pgconn_decoder_for_get_copy_data_get, 0);
-}
 
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "field_name_type=", pgconn_field_name_type_set, 1 );
+	rb_define_method(rb_cPGconn, "field_name_type", pgconn_field_name_type_get, 0 );
+}