X-Original-To: pgsql-sql-postgresql.org@localhost.postgresql.org Received: from localhost (unknown [200.46.204.144]) by svr1.postgresql.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 02D74D1B17B for ; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 05:46:05 -0300 (ADT) Received: from svr1.postgresql.org ([200.46.204.71]) by localhost (av.hub.org [200.46.204.144]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 36592-03 for ; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 08:46:03 +0000 (GMT) Received: from mail.gmx.net (pop.gmx.de [213.165.64.20]) by svr1.postgresql.org (Postfix) with SMTP id BD21FD1B174 for ; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 05:45:52 -0300 (ADT) Received: (qmail 18847 invoked by uid 65534); 24 Jul 2004 08:45:57 -0000 Received: from p5087FDBD.dip0.t-ipconnect.de (EHLO hermes.hilbert.loc) (80.135.253.189) by mail.gmx.net (mp016) with SMTP; 24 Jul 2004 10:45:57 +0200 X-Authenticated: #1433807 Received: (from ncq@localhost) by hermes.hilbert.loc (8.11.6/8.11.6/SuSE Linux 0.5) id i6NKaNR00814 for pgsql-sql@postgresql.org; Fri, 23 Jul 2004 22:36:23 +0200 Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 22:36:23 +0200 From: Karsten.Hilbert@gmx.net To: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org Subject: Re: surrogate key or not? Message-ID: <20040723223623.A612@hermes.hilbert.loc> References: <200407231017.11605.josh@agliodbs.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <200407231017.11605.josh@agliodbs.com> User-Agent: Mutt/1.3.22.1i fFrom: Karsten Hilbert Re-X-turn-receipt-to: Karsten.Hilbert@gmx.net Di-X-sposition-Notification-To: Karsten.Hilbert@gmx.net X-Confi-X-rm-Reading-To: Karsten.Hilbert@gmx.net X-Pri-X-ority: 2 (High) X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new at hub.org X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.7 tagged_above=0.0 required=5.0 tests=DATE_IN_PAST_12_24, NO_REAL_NAME X-Spam-Level: X-Archive-Number: 200407/204 X-Sequence-Number: 18456 Josh, > > In other words, with surrogate keys, you eliminate the chance > > that your original design was flawed due to lack of important > > initial knowledge. > > Well, you don't *eliminate* it, but you do decrease it. > > I'd say, yes, this is an important 4th reason: > > 4) Your spec may be incorrect and surrogate keys make it easier to make design > changes in production. thanks so much - this is exactly the kind of assurance I was looking for. BTW, I will come back to your generous offer in August. Thanks again. Karsten -- GPG key ID E4071346 @ wwwkeys.pgp.net E167 67FD A291 2BEA 73BD 4537 78B9 A9F9 E407 1346