Phase 2: Backend critical path optimizations

- AC-1: Merge get_current_user into single JOIN query (session + user in
  one round-trip instead of two sequential queries per request)
- AC-2: Wrap all Argon2id hash/verify calls in run_in_executor to avoid
  blocking the async event loop (~150ms per operation)
- AW-7: Add connection pool config (pool_size=10, pool_pre_ping=True,
  pool_recycle=1800) to prevent connection exhaustion under load
- AC-4: Batch-fetch tasks in reorder_tasks with IN clause instead of
  N sequential queries during Kanban drag operations
- AW-4: Bulk NtfySent inserts with single commit per user instead of
  per-notification commits in the dispatch job

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

backend/app/database.py

@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@ from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import create_async_engine, AsyncSession, async_sess
 from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
 from app.config import settings
 
-# Create async engine
+# Create async engine with tuned pool (AW-7)
 engine = create_async_engine(
     settings.DATABASE_URL,
     echo=False,
-    future=True
+    future=True,
+    pool_size=10,
+    max_overflow=5,
+    pool_pre_ping=True,
+    pool_recycle=1800,
 )
 
 # Create async session factory

backend/app/jobs/notifications.py

@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ async def _get_sent_keys(db: AsyncSession, user_id: int) -> set[str]:
 
 
 async def _mark_sent(db: AsyncSession, key: str, user_id: int) -> None:
+    """Stage a sent record — caller must commit (AW-4: bulk commit per user)."""
     db.add(NtfySent(notification_key=key, user_id=user_id))
-    await db.commit()
 
 
 # ── Dispatch functions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -248,6 +248,9 @@ async def _dispatch_for_user(db: AsyncSession, settings: Settings, now: datetime
     if settings.ntfy_projects_enabled:
         await _dispatch_projects(db, settings, now.date(), sent_keys)
 
+    # AW-4: Single commit per user instead of per-notification
+    await db.commit()
+
 
 async def _purge_old_sent_records(db: AsyncSession) -> None:
     """Remove ntfy_sent entries older than 7 days to keep the table lean."""

backend/app/routers/admin.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Security measures implemented:
 All routes require the `require_admin` dependency (which chains through
 get_current_user, so the session cookie is always validated).
 """
+import asyncio
 import secrets
 from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Optional
@@ -222,10 +223,11 @@ async def create_user(
         if email_exists.scalar_one_or_none():
             raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail="Email already in use")
 
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
     new_user = User(
         username=data.username,
         umbral_name=data.username,
-        password_hash=hash_password(data.password),
+        password_hash=await loop.run_in_executor(None, hash_password, data.password),
         role=data.role,
         email=email,
         first_name=data.first_name,
@@ -341,7 +343,8 @@ async def reset_user_password(
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="User not found")
 
     temp_password = secrets.token_urlsafe(16)
-    user.password_hash = hash_password(temp_password)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    user.password_hash = await loop.run_in_executor(None, hash_password, temp_password)
     user.must_change_password = True
     user.last_password_change_at = datetime.now()
 

backend/app/routers/auth.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ Security layers:
   4. bcrypt→Argon2id transparent upgrade on first login
   5. Role-based authorization via require_role() dependency factory
 """
+import asyncio
 import uuid
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from typing import Optional
@@ -101,25 +102,22 @@ async def get_current_user(
     if user_id is None or session_id is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Malformed session token")
 
-    # Verify session is active in DB (covers revocation + expiry)
+    # AC-1: Single JOIN query for session + user (was 2 sequential queries)
-    session_result = await db.execute(
+    result = await db.execute(
-        select(UserSession).where(
+        select(UserSession, User)
+        .join(User, UserSession.user_id == User.id)
+        .where(
             UserSession.id == session_id,
             UserSession.user_id == user_id,
             UserSession.revoked == False,
             UserSession.expires_at > datetime.now(),
+            User.is_active == True,
         )
     )
-    db_session = session_result.scalar_one_or_none()
+    row = result.one_or_none()
-    if not db_session:
+    if not row:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Session has been revoked or expired")
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Session expired or user inactive")
-
+    db_session, user = row.tuple()
-    user_result = await db.execute(
-        select(User).where(User.id == user_id, User.is_active == True)
-    )
-    user = user_result.scalar_one_or_none()
-    if not user:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="User not found or inactive")
 
     # L-03: Sliding window renewal — extend session if >1 day has elapsed since
     # last renewal (i.e. remaining time < SESSION_MAX_AGE_DAYS - 1 day).
@@ -299,7 +297,8 @@ async def setup(
     if user_count.scalar_one() > 0:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Setup already completed")
 
-    password_hash = hash_password(data.password)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    password_hash = await loop.run_in_executor(None, hash_password, data.password)
     new_user = User(
         username=data.username,
         umbral_name=data.username,
@@ -352,12 +351,18 @@ async def login(
     if not user:
         # M-02: Run Argon2id against a dummy hash so the response time is
         # indistinguishable from a wrong-password attempt (prevents username enumeration).
-        verify_password("x", _DUMMY_HASH)
+        # AC-2: run_in_executor to avoid blocking the event loop (~150ms)
+        loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        await loop.run_in_executor(None, verify_password, "x", _DUMMY_HASH)
         raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Invalid username or password")
 
     # M-02: Run password verification BEFORE lockout check so Argon2id always
     # executes — prevents distinguishing "locked" from "wrong password" via timing.
-    valid, new_hash = verify_password_with_upgrade(data.password, user.password_hash)
+    # AC-2: run_in_executor to avoid blocking the event loop
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    valid, new_hash = await loop.run_in_executor(
+        None, verify_password_with_upgrade, data.password, user.password_hash
+    )
 
     await _check_account_lockout(user)
 
@@ -465,7 +470,8 @@ async def register(
         if existing_email.scalar_one_or_none():
             raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Registration could not be completed. Please check your details and try again.")
 
-    password_hash = hash_password(data.password)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    password_hash = await loop.run_in_executor(None, hash_password, data.password)
     # SEC-01: Explicit field assignment — never **data.model_dump()
     new_user = User(
         username=data.username,
@@ -630,7 +636,10 @@ async def verify_password(
     """
     await _check_account_lockout(current_user)
 
-    valid, new_hash = verify_password_with_upgrade(data.password, current_user.password_hash)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    valid, new_hash = await loop.run_in_executor(
+        None, verify_password_with_upgrade, data.password, current_user.password_hash
+    )
     if not valid:
         await _record_failed_login(db, current_user)
         raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Invalid password")
@@ -656,7 +665,10 @@ async def change_password(
     """Change the current user's password. Requires old password verification."""
     await _check_account_lockout(current_user)
 
-    valid, _ = verify_password_with_upgrade(data.old_password, current_user.password_hash)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    valid, _ = await loop.run_in_executor(
+        None, verify_password_with_upgrade, data.old_password, current_user.password_hash
+    )
     if not valid:
         await _record_failed_login(db, current_user)
         raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="Invalid current password")
@@ -664,7 +676,7 @@ async def change_password(
     if data.new_password == data.old_password:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="New password must be different from your current password")
 
-    current_user.password_hash = hash_password(data.new_password)
+    current_user.password_hash = await loop.run_in_executor(None, hash_password, data.new_password)
     current_user.last_password_change_at = datetime.now()
 
     # Clear forced password change flag if set (SEC-12)

backend/app/routers/projects.py

@@ -294,16 +294,20 @@ async def reorder_tasks(
     if not project:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Project not found")
 
-    for item in items:
+    # AC-4: Batch-fetch all tasks in one query instead of N sequential queries
+    task_ids = [item.id for item in items]
     task_result = await db.execute(
         select(ProjectTask).where(
-                ProjectTask.id == item.id,
+            ProjectTask.id.in_(task_ids),
-                ProjectTask.project_id == project_id
+            ProjectTask.project_id == project_id,
         )
     )
-        task = task_result.scalar_one_or_none()
+    tasks_by_id = {t.id: t for t in task_result.scalars().all()}
-        if task:
+
-            task.sort_order = item.sort_order
+    order_map = {item.id: item.sort_order for item in items}
+    for task_id, task in tasks_by_id.items():
+        if task_id in order_map:
+            task.sort_order = order_map[task_id]
 
     await db.commit()