Ask anyone involved in administering and handling relational databases about the most time consuming tasks: the most common answer is likely to be coding and tuning SQL.
The simple reason behind this is the presence of thousands of separate SQL queries spread throughout numerous applications that repeatedly access your multiple production databases. So, even though the ultimate responsibility of maintaining database performance through SQL query performance tuning lies with the DBA, application developers can certainly lend a hand in this respect.
In this post, we’ll offer some tips and general guidelines for developers to help them focus on not just the getting right answer, but doing so in the most efficient manner.
Oracle Database Performance Tuning: Steps to Follow During Coding
The steps given below prove quite useful for every query when coding SQL statements:
Step 1: Make sure the business data needs are known
Step 2: Find whether the data needed is available inside current databases
Step 3: Interpret the business needs into SQL
Step 4: Test and Check SQL results for accuracy
Step 5: Reassess the performance of the designated access paths
Step 6: Make adjustments for enhanced access paths in SQL as necessary
Step 7: Code optimisation suggestions, if possible
Step 8: Repeat steps 4 through 7 to get the performance inside the necessary range
Step 9: Repeat step 8 alongside Oracle database performance tuning in case there are performance related issues or whenever the DBMS version is updated
SQL query performance tuning is quite a complicated and time taking process that may sometimes also be prone to mistakes. Moreover, there needs to be a certain level of coordination and interaction among application programmers and users during the first three steps, and among the programmers and the Database Administrator for the rest of the steps.
Oracle Performance Tuning Tips for Application Developers
Developers need to consider performance when they code, otherwise the organization is sure to face performance issues during production.
It is important for them to take care of the performance aspect as well because there simply aren’t enough Database Administrators and performance analysts on hand who can evaluate each program prior to its transition into the production phase.
Consider the following development and Oracle performance tuning tips and suggestions –
- Go through DBMS manuals that emphasize performance.
- Focus on every element of database performance from the start as it will also help you get better at coding.
- Keep some books SQL performance handy. You’ll find many good ones written from a heterogeneous perspective while focusing on several DBMSs.
- Discuss efficient SQL methods with your DBAs.
- Learn better ways to explain how your SQL queries work and show details related to the access path by means of plan tables or visual tools.
- Make use of as many performance tools available to you as you can. You can ask your DBAs about the ones at your disposal.
And always keep an eye on SQL query performance tuning!