Thread: Adding field to a table currently being used

On Tue, 2005-03-22 at 11:41, Jada Case wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I need to know if I add a field to an existing table within a database
> that is currently being accessed by many users, if it will effect it
> or crash it?  I have researced the archives and could not find an
> answer, if there is documentation on this, will you point me in the
> right direction?
>

It definitely won't crash the server, PostgreSQL is quite robust.
Certain alter table actions may need to take out a short lived lock, but
shouldn't normally cause another client to fail, unless that client is
relying on a column that is being altered in some way that conflicts
with that client.