High reliability DML and concurrency design patterns for Apex

Dan Appleman, Full Circle CRM, CTOAuthor: Advanced Apex Programming for Salesforce.com and Force.com@danappleman

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Have you ever seen…

EXCEPTION_THROWN [32]|System.QueryException: Record Currently Unavailable: The record you are attempting to edit, or one of its related records, is currently being modified by another user. Please try again.

FATAL_ERROR System.DmlException: Update failed. First exception on row 0 with id ……………; first error: UNABLE_TO_LOCK_ROW, unable to obtain exclusive access to this record: []

Or

Concurrency ProblemsThe most dangerous kind of bug in all of computer science.Why? Because concurrency problems and bugs can be:▪Virtually impossible to detect▪Virtually impossible to reproduce

Most of us learn about concurrency errors as children…

Dad, can we go to the party?

Let me think: NO!

Most of us learn about concurrency errors as children…

Dad, can we go to the party?

Let me think: NO!

Mom can we go tothe party?

15 seconds later

Sure, why not?

… or as parents

Dad, can we go to the party?

Let me check withyour mom

Mom can we go tothe party?

What did your dad say?

Pessimistic locking

Optimistic locking

…or in Salesforce

Two Salespeople receive simultaneous instructions from two different contacts on an opportunity…

This would be very bad

…or in Salesforce

Two Salespeople receive simultaneous instructions from two different contacts on an opportunity…

Salesforce detects theother users’ modification

Optimistic locking (so to speak)

APEX DOES NOT DO THIS!

…or in Salesforce

Two Salespeople receive simultaneous instructions from two different contacts on an opportunity…

SOQL “For Update” QueryPessimistic locking

Block another thread > 10 seconds = UNABLE_TO_LOCK_ROW error

Common Lock Conditions▪ Data skew

▪ Insert or owner change can lock a parent during sharing calculations

▪ After a record update▪ Records have to be locked to allow rollback in case of an exception

▪ “For Update” query▪ Explicit lock

Common Lock Solutions▪ Data skew

▪ Reassign record ownership

▪ After a record update▪ Defer record updates to the end of the execution context

▪ “For Update” query▪ Avoid or delay where possible

▪ You cannot absolutely prevent these errors▪ More common on high traffic systems with lots of code

Reproducing Lock Errors▪ Use future calls and anonymous Apex

▪ You can simulate them in unit tests

Handling Lock Errors▪ In triggers and VisualForce

▪ Let the user deal with them

▪ In asynchronous code▪ Logging▪ Recovery

For More InformationAdvanced Apex Programming for Salesforce.com and Force.com – Second Edition

• Incorporates changes through Winter 14• Designing for CPU Time limits• Extended chapter on triggers• Extended chapter on asynchronous patterns• New chapter on concurrency patterns

All About Full Circle CRM

Full Circle CRM develops native Salesforce.com applications that enable marketers to accurately track and measure marketing campaign performance directly in Salesforce

▪ Bridge the information gap between leads and contacts

▪ Obtain complete and detailed campaign performance metrics

▪ Develop advanced campaign attribution and influence analytics

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