Database

While backend engineers have a lot to do with the database, either by writing SQL or using an Object-Relational Mapper (ORM), managing a database is a discipline in its own right.

As databases grow they will run more slowly. The easy option is to throw money at the problem by vertically scaling them (using more expensive hardware). Taking the time to set up archiving can avoid this, as can optimising queries and indexes.

Setting up appropriate monitoring supported by investigation by a skilled database engineer can often find problem areas - in cases where this hasn’t been done regularly a minor change can increase performance by 90% and allow corresponding hardware savings.

We regularly use the following databases:

• Postgres
• MySQL
• SQL Server
• SQLite (for embedded requirements.)