Re: Custom Fields Database Architecture - Mailing list pgsql-general

From David Fetter
Subject Re: Custom Fields Database Architecture
Date
Msg-id 20090615150216.GC20647@fetter.org
Whole thread Raw
In response to Custom Fields Database Architecture  (Gnanam <gnanam@zoniac.com>)
Responses Re: Custom Fields Database Architecture
Re: Custom Fields Database Architecture
List pgsql-general
On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 06:04:25AM -0700, Gnanam wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm designing a database schema in which I should allow user to create
> custom fields at the application level.

This is called EAV (Entity-Attribute-Value), and it's a
multi-decade-old mistake.  Re-think your design.

http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-general/2008-02/msg00075.php
http://decipherinfosys.wordpress.com/2007/01/29/name-value-pair-design/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner-Platform_Effect

Cheers,
David.
--
David Fetter <david@fetter.org> http://fetter.org/
Phone: +1 415 235 3778  AIM: dfetter666  Yahoo!: dfetter
Skype: davidfetter      XMPP: david.fetter@gmail.com

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