Re: SELECT FOR UPDATE - Mailing list pgsql-general

From Jan Wieck
Subject Re: SELECT FOR UPDATE
Date
Msg-id 200108231409.f7NE9JL01456@jupiter.us.greatbridge.com
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: SELECT FOR UPDATE  ("Oliver Elphick" <olly@lfix.co.uk>)
Responses Re: SELECT FOR UPDATE
List pgsql-general
Oliver Elphick wrote:
> Jan Wieck wrote:
>   >    But the question itself tells that you're about to  implement
>   >    a  major  design  error in your application. Holding database
>   >    locks during user interaction IS A BAD  THING.  Never,  never
>   >    ever  do  it  that  way.   And  anybody telling you something
>   >    different is an overpaid idiot.
>
> I can see arguments to support this view, but consider this classic
> scenario:
>
> User1: Read data into an interactive program
> User1: Start to make changes
> User2: Read data into an interactive program
> User2: Start to make changes
> User1: Save changes
> User2: Save changes

    All  ERP systems I know deal with that issue by inserting and
    deleting some advisory lock  information  in  another  table.
    Let's  say  you want to change customers 4711 address. Before
    letting you do so on the edit screen, the  application  tries
    to  insert  "CUST.4711"  into  a central lock table. Now this
    thing has a unique index on that field, so if someone else is
    already editing 4711, it'll fail and the application can tell
    you so and won't let you do the same.

    AFAIK it's the only way to  deal  with  that  problem.  Think
    about  scaling as well. No enterprise class software has a DB
    connection per interactive user.  They all have some sort  of
    DB-middletear-presentation model where many users share a few
    DB connections.


Jan

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