How to think in data stores instead of databases?

Question

As an example, Google App Engine uses Google Datastore, not a standard database, to store data. Does anybody have any tips for using Google Datastore instead of databases?

Answer 1

I always chuckle when people come out with - it's not relational. I've written cellectr in django and here's a snippet of my model below. As you'll see, I have leagues that are managed or coached by users. I can from a league get all the managers, or from a given user I can return the league she coaches or managers.

Just because there's no specific foreign key support doesn't mean you can't have a database model with relationships.

My two pence.

---

class League(BaseModel):
    name = db.StringProperty()    
    managers = db.ListProperty(db.Key) #all the users who can view/edit this league
    coaches = db.ListProperty(db.Key) #all the users who are able to view this league

    def get_managers(self):
        # This returns the models themselves, not just the keys that are stored in teams
        return UserPrefs.get(self.managers)

    def get_coaches(self):
        # This returns the models themselves, not just the keys that are stored in teams
        return UserPrefs.get(self.coaches)      

    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

    # Need to delete all the associated games, teams and players
    def delete(self):
        for player in self.leagues_players:
            player.delete()
        for game in self.leagues_games:
            game.delete()
        for team in self.leagues_teams:
            team.delete()            
        super(League, self).delete()

class UserPrefs(db.Model):
    user = db.UserProperty()
    league_ref = db.ReferenceProperty(reference_class=League,
                            collection_name='users') #league the users are managing

    def __str__(self):
        return self.user.nickname

    # many-to-many relationship, a user can coach many leagues, a league can be
    # coached by many users
    @property
    def managing(self):
        return League.gql('WHERE managers = :1', self.key())

    @property
    def coaching(self):
        return League.gql('WHERE coaches = :1', self.key())

    # remove all references to me when I'm deleted
    def delete(self):
        for manager in self.managing:
            manager.managers.remove(self.key())
            manager.put()
        for coach in self.managing:
            coach.coaches.remove(self.key())
            coaches.put()            
        super(UserPrefs, self).delete()