Should I use composite primary keys or not?

Question

There seems to only be 2nd class support for composite database keys in Java\'s JPA (via EmbeddedId or IdClass annotations). And when I read up on composite keys, regardless

Answer 1

It's a religious thing. I use natural keys and shun surrogates. I have no problem with composite keys either in theory or in practice.

Only the most trivial logical model would involve no composite keys. Call me lazy but I see no need to complicate the data model by introducing surrogates into the physical model on implementation. Sure, I'd consider one on a table if performance issues were found but I take the same approach as for denormalization i.e. as a last resort. Habitually using surrogates amounts to premature optimization, IMO.