How to deal with concurrent updates in databases?

Question

What\'s the common way to deal with concurrent updates in an SQL database ?

Consider a simple SQL schema(constraints and defaults not shown..) like

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Answer 1

You could set up a queueing mechanism where additions to or subtractions from a rank type value would get queued up for periodic LIFO processing by some job. If real-time info on a rank's "balance" is required this wouldn't fit because the balance wouldn't compute until the outstanding queue entries are reconciled, but if it's something that doesn't require immediate reconciliation it might serve.

This seems to reflect, at least on the outside looking in, how games like the old Panzer General series handle individual moves. One player's turn comes up, and they declare their moves. Each move in turn is processed in sequence, and there are no conflicts because each move has its place in the queue.