another way (useless in your case) is to keep messages as separate
docs, and keep a cache of the structure of the tree (id,(id,id)...)) as
another doc.
if u have the notion of closed/frozen threads, that might be of use.
actualy that cache can be a dict:
 { parent_id: [ list of children_id ] }

svil

On Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:14:49 +1300
Michael Heuberger <michael.heuberger@binarykitchen.com> wrote:

> thanks andrey and svil
> 
> depth is infinite. in theory a message can have million replies forth 
> and back. similar like a very long email thread.
> 
> i think storing ancestors à la andrey would be too much hassle but
> works well for few levels.
> 
> svil, what did you mean with dicts and with keeping all children in
> one doc? can you tell me more?
> 
> thanks,
> michael
> 
> On 22/02/13 17:27, svilen wrote:
> > my rough guess:
> >
> > if it's finite depth, then all in one doc:
> > - list of (item or (list of ...))
> > - or same with dicts
> >
> > else, one doc per message keeping just link-to-parent,
> > or multiple links-to-grand...grand-parents and/or root.
> > similar to the strategies in SQL - nested etc.
> > keeping all chidlren of same node in one doc is also possible..
> >
> > in any case either traversal or storing or both will be
> > difficult.
> >
> > ciao
> > svil
> >
> > On Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:13:01 +1300
> > Michael Heuberger <michael.heuberger@binarykitchen.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hello guys
> >>
> >> I'd like to store messages in a tree like structure. Whenever you
> >> reply to a message, then the original message becomes the parent
> >> message.
> >>
> >> How would you implement something like this in CouchDB? Just
> >> curious and need a little guidance + advice here.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Michael
> >>
> >> -- 
> >>
> >> Binary Kitchen
> >> Michael Heuberger
> >> 4c Dunbar Road
> >> Mt Eden
> >> Auckland 1024
> >> (New Zealand)
> >>
> >> Mobile (text only) ...  +64 21 261 89 81
> >> Email ................  michael@binarykitchen.com
> >> Website ..............  http://www.binarykitchen.com
> >>
> 
> -- 
> 
> Binary Kitchen
> Michael Heuberger
> 4c Dunbar Road
> Mt Eden
> Auckland 1024
> (New Zealand)
> 
> Mobile (text only) ...  +64 21 261 89 81
> Email ................  michael@binarykitchen.com
> Website ..............  http://www.binarykitchen.com
>