Schema *_increments() Should Not Force Column As Primary Key

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*Schema _increments() should not force column as primary key

Describe the Bug

When using an *_increment() field as part of a migration in Masonite ORM, the specified column is automatically added as the primary key. This can cause issues if you want an auto-incremented column that is not a primary key. For instance, when using a UUID column as a primary key and you need an auto-incremented column for a reference purpose, such as an invoice number.

This behavior can be problematic, especially when working with complex database schema designs. The primary key constraint is essential for maintaining data integrity, and forcing a column to be primary when it's not intended to be can lead to inconsistencies and errors.

To Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, you can follow the example provided in the workaround section below. This will demonstrate how the *_increment() field automatically adds the specified column as the primary key.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is to have a simple way to specify whether the *_increment() field should be added as a primary key or not. This can be achieved by introducing a boolean flag in the column definition, allowing for backwards compatibility.

Here's an example of how the *_increment() field could be modified to include a primary key flag:

        with self.schema.create("invoice") as table:
            table.uuid("id").primary()
            table.big_increments("reference", primary=False)
            table.tiny_increments("group", primary=False)

In this example, the primary flag is set to False for both the reference and group columns, indicating that they should not be added as primary keys.

Workaround

A workaround for this issue is to manually drop the primary key constraint from the *_increment() field and then add the primary key constraint to the intended primary key column. However, this approach is not ideal and only works if you have a single auto-incremented column.

Here's an example of how to workaround this issue with a single column in a migration:

        with self.schema.create("invoice") as table:
            table.uuid("id")                                       # don't set the uuid column as primary yet
            table.big_increments("reference").     # add the increments (also tags it as primary key)
            table.uuid("company_id")
            table.string("status").default("PAYMENT_PENDING")
            table.timestamps()

        with self.schema.table("invoice") as table:
            table.drop_primary("invoice_reference_primary")  # drop the primary key off the incremented column
            table.primary("id")                                                     # mark the id column as the primary key

Screenshots or Code Snippets

N/A

Desktop Information

  • OS: Mac OSX
  • Version: 12

Database Information

  • Type: Postgres, MySQL, SQLite
  • Version: N/A
  • Masonite ORM: 2.24.0 & 3.x

Additional Context

Being able to specify the start and increment index for the column would be a nice feature to have. This would provide more flexibility when working with auto-incremented columns and would make it easier to manage complex database schema designs.

In conclusion, the *_increment() field in Masonite ORM should not force the column to be added as primary key. Introducing a boolean flag in the column definition to specify whether the column should be added as a primary key or not would be a simple and effective solution. This would provide more flexibility and make it easier to work with complex database schema designs.
*Schema _increments() should not force column as primary key: Q&A

*Q: What is the issue with the _increment() field in Masonite ORM?

A: The *_increment() field in Masonite ORM automatically adds the specified column as the primary key. This can cause issues if you want an auto-incremented column that is not a primary key.

Q: What are the consequences of forcing a column to be primary when it's not intended to be?

A: Forcing a column to be primary when it's not intended to be can lead to inconsistencies and errors. This can cause problems with data integrity and make it difficult to manage complex database schema designs.

Q: How can I workaround this issue?

A: A workaround for this issue is to manually drop the primary key constraint from the *_increment() field and then add the primary key constraint to the intended primary key column. However, this approach is not ideal and only works if you have a single auto-incremented column.

*Q: What is the expected behavior for the _increment() field?

A: The expected behavior is to have a simple way to specify whether the *_increment() field should be added as a primary key or not. This can be achieved by introducing a boolean flag in the column definition, allowing for backwards compatibility.

Q: How can I specify the start and increment index for the column?

A: Currently, it is not possible to specify the start and increment index for the column using the *_increment() field. However, this would be a nice feature to have, providing more flexibility when working with auto-incremented columns.

Q: What are the benefits of introducing a boolean flag in the column definition?

A: Introducing a boolean flag in the column definition would provide more flexibility and make it easier to work with complex database schema designs. It would also allow for backwards compatibility, making it easier to upgrade to new versions of Masonite ORM.

*Q: Can I use the _increment() field with multiple auto-incremented columns?

A: No, the workaround provided only works if you have a single auto-incremented column. If you have multiple auto-incremented columns, you would need to use a different approach to manage the primary key constraints.

Q: What is the current version of Masonite ORM?

A: The current version of Masonite ORM is 2.24.0 & 3.x.

Q: What databases are supported by Masonite ORM?

A: Masonite ORM supports Postgres, MySQL, and SQLite databases.

Q: What is the recommended approach for managing primary key constraints in Masonite ORM?

A: The recommended approach is to use the *_increment() field with caution and to manually manage the primary key constraints when necessary. Introducing a boolean flag in the column definition would provide more flexibility and make it easier to work with complex database schema designs.