Re: Best approach for a "gap-less" sequence - Mailing list pgsql-general

From Brad Nicholson
Subject Re: Best approach for a "gap-less" sequence
Date
Msg-id 1155843389.2593.1.camel@dba5.int.libertyrms.com
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: Best approach for a "gap-less" sequence  ("Merlin Moncure" <mmoncure@gmail.com>)
Responses Re: Best approach for a "gap-less" sequence
List pgsql-general
On Thu, 2006-08-17 at 12:12 -0400, Merlin Moncure wrote:
> On 8/17/06, Dawid Kuroczko <qnex42@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On 8/17/06, Merlin Moncure <mmoncure@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On 8/16/06, Dawid Kuroczko <qnex42@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > -- then create a function to retrieve the values:
> > > > CREATE FUNCTION gseq_nextval(t text) RETURNS integer AS $$
> > > >     DECLARE
> > > >        n integer;
> > > >     BEGIN
> > > >        SELECT INTO n gseq_value+1 FROM gapless_seq WHERE gseq_name = t
> > > > FOR UPDATE;
> > > >        UPDATE gapless_seq SET gapless_value = n WHERE gseq_name = t;
> > > >        RETURN n;
> > > >     END;
> > > > $$ STABLE LANGUAGE PLpgsql;
> > > >
> > >
> > > the problem here is if you have two concurrent transactions which call
> > > this funtion, it is possible for them both to return the same sequence
> > > number in read comitted mode.  Using this funtion outside of
> > > transactions is no different that using a sequence except that it is
> > > slower.
> >
> > Hmm, I think you are wrong.  There is a SELECT ... FOR UPDATE;
> > The first-to-obtain the gapless sequence transaction will establish
> > a lock onthe "tax_id" row.  The other transaction will block until
> > the first transaction finishes (and the row is updated) and will
> > establish the row lock on it.
>
> yes, you are right...i didnt think the problem through properly.

Lets just hope the performance on a concurrent system is not a
requirement of such a system...

Brad.


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