For the past few days, I’ve noticed that some data no longer shows up on the frontend, even though it’s correctly linked in the database.
I haven’t changed anything in the app. No privacy rules, no conditionals, no workflows.
Some of my users started reporting that they can’t see certain content that used to show just fine. I checked the DB, and everything is still there and properly connected.
It was working perfectly a few weeks ago. What’s strange is that the bugs are random, not all data is affected. After several checks, there’s no clear pattern or common point between the data that shows up and the one that doesn’t.
The symptom you describe - the same logic producing inconsistent results - may be the result of a race condition.
Are there any visible issues in the data? e.g. the occasional row missing a key value that ties it to another row?
Are you working with workflows or API workflows “on a list”?
Do you use “Pause” in your workflows?
Are you using external APIs or plugins that call APIs? (e.g. like a stripe plugin?)
To give a clear example:
I have a “Letters” table that contains a list of “Numbers”, and each “Number” also refers to its “Letter”.
Previously, I could access the data in both directions - from a letter to its numbers, or from a number to its letter - and everything worked fine, whether it was a search or a simple reference to the “Parent” element.
Today, this is no longer reliable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Same configuration, same data, no workflow changes, no APIs, no race conditions. Just basic relationships and simple searches.
Even weirder: I started having the same problem yesterday in a completely different application, with a similar structure.
I really feel like something has changed in the way Bubble handles data relationships.
Ok in situations when I’m really stuck, this is what I do:
Make a new “scratchpad” Bubble app.
Recreate the idea you are trying to achieve (create two data types with one or two fields, create a few rows of test data, set up the relationships, create a couple of repeating groups, set up the “do a search for’s”).
Test it in isolation and see if you can replicate the behaviour.
This should take 30mins max.
If you can replicate the issue in your scratchpad app, set the app as “everyone can view” and share the editor link here.
Not a problem. Intermittent problems are really hard to debug, and we’ve found that they mostly come via race conditions so that was what jumped out at me reading your scenario.
Good to know that you’ve got a firm handle on this and in your case it is Bubble’s issue, which is rare in my experience. In our agency, we use the approach of build a simple POC/scratchpad, isolate the broader scenario witnessed down to a singular focus, and that way you know you are not going crazy or have misunderstood the problem. Almost every time I thought “Bubble didn’t work properly” for me, it was usually me not understanding the situation. (1) Build POC (15-30mins), if issue still persists - (2) check forum and contact Support.
Sounds like you’re on top of things anyway and good luck!
