SQL API Call

IRC log

[13:28:43] <wboykinm> tokumine: This is getting a bit down the PostGIS rabbit hole, but is it possible to make a call to the SQL API that:
[13:28:51] <wboykinm> tokumine: 1.) selects a single polygon feature
[13:29:02] <wboykinm> 2.) buffers out from that feature by x distance
[13:29:25] <wboykinm> 3.) "Differences" the buffer and the feature
[13:29:47] <wboykinm> 4.) returns the geometry of the buffer outside the feature
[13:29:48] <wboykinm> ?
[13:31:13] <wboykinm> tokumine: i.e. the API call would return this sort of geometry: http://flic.kr/p/d9umR3
[14:09:15] <wboykinm> tokumine: A better way of phrasing the above:
[14:09:42] <wboykinm> tokumine: Does the SQL API support using both ST_Buffer() and ST_Difference() in one call?
[15:14:16] <strk> yes :)
[15:14:30] <strk> wboykinm: the SQL API supports using whatever SQL call
[15:15:04] <wboykinm> strk: Damn! That's great! Time to tinker!
[15:15:06] <strk> so, SELECT ST_Difference(ST_Buffer(the_geom, x), the_geom) as the_geom FROM ...
[15:15:10] <wboykinm> Thanks!
[15:15:15] <strk> welcome