What might be causing the "Found Shared Reference Error" when using @PrePersist and @CreatedBy in Spring Boot?

What might be causing the "Found Shared Reference Error" when using @PrePersist and @CreatedBy in Spring Boot?

The "Found Shared Reference Error" in Spring Boot often occurs when using @PrePersist and @CreatedBy annotations in conjunction with bidirectional relationships. This error typically happens when multiple child entities reference the same parent entity, causing inconsistencies during the pre-persist lifecycle event.

Here are some potential causes and solutions:

Causes: Bidirectional Relationships: When using @OneToMany bidirectional relationships, ensure that the parent entity reference is unique for each child entity.

Auditing Interference: The base class or auditing annotations might interfere with the entity state, causing Hibernate to encounter shared references.

Incorrect Entity State Management: Changes in entity state or lifecycle events handled by Hibernate can lead to this error.

Solutions: Custom Setter Methods: Implement custom setter methods in the child entity to ensure the parent entity reference is unique.

Manual Audit Fields: Consider manually managing audit fields if automatic updates cause issues.

Check Entity Equivalence: Ensure that equals() and hashCode() methods are correctly implemented in your entities.