Concurrent Queue Processing with Postgres "SKIP LOCKED"

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Learn to implement concurrent queue processing using Postgres 'SKIP LOCKED' to improve task queue reliability without additional infrastructure

intermediate Published 18 Jun 2026
Action Steps
  1. Create a database table to store tasks with a status column
  2. Use Postgres 'SKIP LOCKED' feature to prevent workers from blocking each other
  3. Implement a worker process to poll the task table and process new tasks
  4. Configure multiple worker processes to concurrently process tasks
  5. Test the system to ensure tasks are processed correctly and efficiently
Who Needs to Know This

Developers and software engineers can benefit from this technique to build reliable task queues, while DevOps teams can appreciate the reduced infrastructure requirements

Key Insight

💡 Postgres 'SKIP LOCKED' allows multiple workers to concurrently process tasks without blocking or duplicating efforts

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Use Postgres 'SKIP LOCKED' to build a reliable task queue without Redis or RabbitMQ! #Postgres #TaskQueue #Concurrency

Key Takeaways

Learn to implement concurrent queue processing using Postgres 'SKIP LOCKED' to improve task queue reliability without additional infrastructure

Full Article

Title: Concurrent Queue Processing with Postgres "SKIP LOCKED"

URL Source: https://medium.com/@linz07m/concurrent-queue-processing-with-postgres-skip-locked-8971e60f5065?source=rss------llm-5

Published Time: 2026-06-18T20:46:46Z

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# Concurrent Queue Processing with Postgres "SKIP LOCKED" | by Lince Mathew | Jun, 2026 | Medium

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# Concurrent Queue Processing with Postgres "`SKIP LOCKED"`

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Building a reliable task queue usually requires heavy infrastructure like Redis or RabbitMQ.

However, modern applications often use their existing PostgreSQL database instead, leveraging a feature called `SKIP LOCKED`. This is the exact mechanic behind high-performance Go job queues like **River**.

When dozens of background workers poll a single database table for new jobs, standard database queries cause workers to block each other or, worse, process the same task twice. `SKIP LOC
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