Based on the research and GitHub issues, I can provide some practical recommendations to avoid database lock issues in Prefect. Here's how you can handle this: 1. Use PostgreSQL Instead of SQLite - The most effective solution is to use PostgreSQL instead of SQLite, especially in production environments - SQLite is more prone to lock issues due to its design for single-writer scenarios - PostgreSQL handles concurrent operations much better and is recommended for production deployments 2. If You Must Use SQLite: - Minimize transaction duration: Keep database operations as short as possible - Use appropriate transaction isolation levels - Implement retry logic for database operations that might fail due to locks - Consider implementing connection pooling to manage database connections effectively 3. Configure Your Environment: - If using Prefect Server with SQLite, ensure you're not overwhelming it with concurrent operations - Monitor the number of concurrent flows and tasks that interact with the database - Consider implementing backoff strategies in your flows when database operations fail 4. Best Practices: - Regularly monitor database performance and connection states - Implement proper error handling in your flows for database-related errors - Consider using work pools to manage workload distribution effectively - Keep your Prefect installation updated to the latest version, as each release includes database handling improvements 5. For High-Concurrency Scenarios: - Use work pools to manage concurrent execution better - Implement rate limiting in your flows if necessary - Consider batching operations where possible to reduce the number of concurrent database interactions If you're experiencing specific lock issues, it would be helpful to know: - Are you using SQLite or PostgreSQL? - What's your current concurrency level (how many flows/tasks running simultaneously)? - Are you running Prefect Server or using Prefect Cloud? This information would help me provide more targeted recommendations for your specific situation. Links for further reading: - Prefect's Blog Post on AnyIO Architecture - Database Best Practices in the Prefect Documentation