🧵 @penkov/tasks_queue

@penkov/tasks_queue is a lightweight, PostgreSQL-backed task queue system designed for:

• delayed execution (start_after)
• retries with exponential or linear backoff
• maximum attempt limits (max_attempts)
• task prioritization (priority)
• recurring tasks (repeat_type)
• observability (metrics, stalled task handling)

It’s built for efficiency and flexibility in modern Node.js applications, and works seamlessly with NestJS.

🚀 Installation

npm install @penkov/tasks_queue

Install peer dependencies if not already present:

npm install pg tslib application-metrics log4js scats

For NestJS integration:

npm install @nestjs/common @nestjs/core

🤩 Usage with NestJS

Apply migration.sql on your db, or add a new migration file to your migrations.

Register the queue module in your app. You have to provide pg.Pool

import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { TasksQueueModule } from 'tasks_queue';

@Module({
  imports: [
      TasksQueueModule.forRootAsync({
          inject: [pg.Pool],
          useFactory: (db: pg.Pool) => ({
              db: db,
              pools: [
                  {
                      name: DEFAULT_POOL,
                      loopInterval: TimeUtils.minute,
                      concurrency: 2
                  },
                  {
                      name: 'preview',
                      loopInterval: TimeUtils.minute,
                      concurrency: 5
                  },
              ]
          })
      }),
  ],
})
export class AppModule {}

Create a worker and register a task handler:

@Injectable()
export class GeneratePreviewTaskWorker extends TasksWorker implements OnApplicationBootstrap {
    static readonly QUEUE_NAME = 'generate-preview';

    constructor(
        @Inject(STORAGE_CONFIG) private readonly storageConf: StorageConfig,
        private readonly offeredServiceImagesDao: OfferedServiceImagesDao,
        private readonly tasksQueueService: TasksPoolsService
    ) {
        super();
    }

    async onApplicationBootstrap() {
        this.tasksQueueService.registerWorker(GeneratePreviewTaskWorker.QUEUE_NAME, this, 'preview');
    }

    async process(payload: any): Promise<void> {
        const imageId = payload['imageId'] as number;
        // ...
    }
}

Submit tasks:

private readonly tasks: TasksPoolsService,
//...
await this.tasks.schedule({
    queue: GeneratePreviewTaskWorker.QUEUE_NAME,
    payload: { imageId: imageId }
});