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Graphile Worker

Node.js task executors, SQL enqueue and serial named queues.

Canonical upstream ↗
API / SDK surfaceNode.js · TypeScript
Inspected snapshotv0.18.0 · source snapshot
Sources checked2026-10-23
License at snapshotMIT

View pinned source / version 7a2405bdd3b6 · Features reviewed against pinned default-branch source; release label is separately verified, not assumed to be the benchmark adapter version.

What this system is built around

Node.js task executors with SQL enqueue, serial named queues and retryable PostgreSQL jobs.

A useful starting point

A natural candidate when Node task executors and SQL-triggered enqueue fit the application. Evaluate the OSS crash-unlock delay and migration workflow against operational recovery targets.

Editorial fit, based on the cited design. Verify against your workload.

Semantics & operating model

Concise claims with their scope intact. “Not verified” means this review did not establish the answer.

Claiming & concurrency

Documented

Named queue jobs execute one at a time. Claim SQL uses FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED. This is distinct from global provider rate limiting.

SQL enqueue API Current claim SQL

Transactional enqueue

Documented

Call graphile_worker.add_job from the application transaction or a trigger; work is visible after commit.

SQL enqueue API

Crash recovery & retries

Qualified

Abruptly terminated OSS workers leave jobs locked for at least four hours; periodic sweeps unlock them. Faster tracked-worker recovery is a proprietary Worker Pro feature.

Failures and crash recovery Worker Pro scope

Delayed & recurring work

Documented

run_at defers a job; the built-in UTC crontab can backfill missed schedules when configured. Recurring scheduling and eventual execution are distinct.

SQL enqueue API Recurring task scheduler

Uniqueness / deduplication

Documented

job_key can replace/debounce unlocked jobs; default modes enqueue a new job if the prior matching job is locked. Completed jobs are deleted, so this is not permanent deduplication.

Job key semantics

Postgres extension required

Not required

Requirements say pgcrypto is no longer used since v0.13. PostgreSQL 12+ and Node 22.18+ are documented current requirements.

Runtime and database requirements

Operator interface

Not verified

A bundled first-party operational dashboard was not verified in this review; this does not mean third-party UIs do not exist.

Graphile Worker introduction

Tradeoffs to carry into a test