Using database triggers to reliably track model history
summary
Proposes using Postgres triggers plus django-pghistory to create structured per-model event tables that snapshot every INSERT/UPDATE so bulk ops and raw SQL never miss an audit row, with optional immutability to prevent tampering. Shows trigger installation via PG triggers, a context manager that attaches request/user metadata, a revert API to restore prior states, and a soft-delete pattern that stores deletions in a separate history table — all claimed to run reliably and performantly.
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chapters (15)
- 0:00Database trigger history intro
- 3:08Traditional history tracking flaws
- 6:39Django-PG-History internals
- 9:46Why database triggers matter
- 12:11Trigger-based history benefits
- 15:44User/request metadata tracking
- 19:35Advanced design patterns
- 20:18Default context with middleware
- 22:22Celery task context tracking
- 24:07Reverting models
- 26:35Soft delete with triggers
- 31:06Foreign keys to events
- 33:32App-specific event logs
- 35:17Overdraft alerts tracking
- 37:23Q&A








