 # having to apply hundreds of patches when opening a string, and saves
 # space.   (Of course, having the complete history could also be
 # interesting...)
-DB_PATCH_SQUASH_THRESH = 100
+#DB_PATCH_SQUASH_THRESH = 100
+# basically disable for now until we more carefully debug this.
+DB_PATCH_SQUASH_THRESH = 1000000000
 
 # emits a 'change' event whenever live is changed as a result of syncing with the database
 class StringsDBString extends EventEmitter

# Times below are in milliseconds.

# Polling parameters:
INIT_POLL_INTERVAL     = 3000
MAX_POLL_INTERVAL      = 30000   # TODO: for testing -- for deploy make longer!
POLL_DECAY_RATIO       = 1.3


        # will later implement things to make faster.  If this database sync thing
        # turns out to be sensible.
        #  SIMPLIFIED: ignore is_first and never trim.
        @dbg("_process_updates", "process #{updates.length} updates")
        new_patches = {}
        for update in updates
            update.timestamp = update.timestamp - 0  # better to key map based on string of timestamp as number
