niamtokik

niamtokik

Hey folk!

I have a database table design dilemma. I want a flexible design for some of my table, say, for example, the user table and I want to store some other information in dedicated table (for example, information about the other or other metadata).

CREATE  TABLE users (
  id PRIMARY KEY,
  name STRING
);

CREATE TABLE user_info (
  user_id INTEGER,
  metadata STRING,
  FOREIGN KEY user_id REFERENCES users (id)
);

With this solution, I have lot of difficulty to insert a correct data, and retrieve information based on the user name or id. I was thinking to create an embedded schema to correct that, but, I don’t know if it’s a good idea.

Another solution is to create a table with a new column dedicated for the information

CREATE  TABLE users (
  id PRIMARY KEY,
  name STRING,
  info_id INTEGER,
  FOREIGN KEY info_id REFERENCES user_info (id)
);

CREATE TABLE user_info (
  id INTEGER,
  metadata STRING,
);

In this case, it’s seems a lot easier to use it with Ecto and Ecto.Repo.preload/3, it return a user map containing the User fields but also all information linked to him.

Finally, the last one, is to create an associative table for users and user_info.

CREATE TABLE users (
  id PRIMARY KEY,
  name STRING
);

CREATE TABLE users_info (
  id PRIMARY KEY,
  metadata STRING
);

CREATE TABLE users_info_association (
  user_id INTEGER,
  user_info_id INTEGER,
  FOREIGN KEY user_id REFERENCES users (id),
  FOREIGN KEY user_info_id REFERENCES users_info (id)
);

What could be the best way to do it for you and in particular with Ecto?

Showing Posts 1 to 3

LostKobrakai

LostKobrakai

I’m not really sure how those three options should affect ecto. It should be able to easily handle all three of those setups. Can you describe your difficulties?

niamtokik

niamtokik OP

Yeah, for sure. I think its mostly about how to write the code to insert value easily without too much code. For example, if I want to retrieve information about the user in the second method, it already give me all the good information in one data-structure:

require Ecto.Query
q = Ecto.Query u in users
q |> Repo.all |> Repo.preload(:users_info)

Maybe I am wrong (I am not really good at designing database), but, it seems depending on the method, it will make my code harder to manage?

LostKobrakai

LostKobrakai

user
|> cast(params, […])
|> cast_assoc(:users_info)
|> Repo.…

This should work for any assocation be it belongs_to, has_one has_one through or even many_to_many if you have a list.

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