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https://github.com/golergka/pg-tx

Transactions for node-postgres
https://github.com/golergka/pg-tx

nodejs postgresql subtle-bugs transactions

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Transactions for node-postgres

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# pg-tx - Transactions for node-postgres

[![npm version](https://badge.fury.io/js/pg-tx.svg)](https://badge.fury.io/js/pg-tx) [![DeepScan grade](https://deepscan.io/api/teams/14626/projects/17725/branches/413894/badge/grade.svg)](https://deepscan.io/dashboard#view=project&tid=14626&pid=17725&bid=413894)

This package implements transactions on top of [node-postgres](http://node-postgres.com), based on [this answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/65588782/312725), but improved to remove a class of subtle bugs.

## Features

* No use-after-release bugs
* Automatic transactions-inside-transactions with savepoints
* Can be used with either `Pool` or `PoolClient`

## Usage

```Typescript
import tx from `pg-tx`

const pg = new Pool()

await tx(pg, async (db) => {
await db.query(`UPDATE accounts SET money = money - 50 WHERE name = 'bob'`)
await db.query(`UPDATE accounts SET money = money + 50 WHERE name = 'alice'`)
})

await tx(pg, async (db) => {
await db.query(`UPDATE accounts SET money = money - 50 WHERE name = 'bob'`)
await db.query(`UPDATE accounts SET money = money + 50 WHERE name = 'debbie'`)

// Any errors thrown inside the callback will terminate the transaction
throw new Error(`screw Debbie`)
})

// You can also use it with other packages that use Pool or PoolClient, like pgtyped
import { sql } from '@pgtyped/query'

const updateAccount = sql`
UPDATE accounts
SET money = momey + $delta
WHERE name = $name
`

await tx(pg, async(db) => {
await udpateAccount.run({ name: 'bob', delta: -50 })
await udpateAccount.run({ name: 'charlie', delta: 50 })
})

```

## Why use this package

Naive approach to pg transactions, featured in [this answer](https://stackoverflow.com/a/65588782/312725) and used in many projects looks like this:

```Typescript
// DO NOT USE THIS CODE
export default async function tx(
pg: Pool,
callback: (db: PoolClient) => Promise
): Promise {
const client = await pg.connect()
await client.query(`BEGIN`)

try {
const result = await callback(client)
await client.query(`COMMIT`)
return result
} catch (e) {
await client.query(`ROLLBACK`)
throw e
} finally {
client.release()
}
}
```

However, this approach contains a subtle bug, because the `client` it passes to the callback stays valid after transaction finishes (successfully or not), and can be unknowingly used. In essence, it's a variation of use-after-free bug, but with database clients instead of memory.

Here's a demonstration of code that can trigger this condition:

```Typescript
async function failsQuickly(db: PoolClient) {
await db.query(`This query has an error`)
}

async function executesSlowly(db: PoolClient) {
// Takes a couple of seconds to complete
await externalApiCall()
// This operation will be executed OUTSIDE of transaction block!
await db.query(`
UPDATE external_api_calls
SET amount = amount + 1
WHERE service = 'some_service'
`)
}

await tx(pg, async (db) => {
await Promise.all([
failsQuickly(db),
executesSlowly(db)
])
})
```

To prevent this, we use ProxyClient, which implements a disposable pattern. After the client has been released, any attempts to use it will throw an error.

## Development

To run tests, specify `POSTGRES_URL` in `.env` file like this:

```
POSTGRES_URL="postgres://postgres:password@127.0.0.1:5432/test-db"
```