Database Optimization (in the Office)

SQL database administrators (DBAs) and developers often clash over data- and non-data-related issues.

Here are some tips (for both parties) on how to get along and work together effectively.

For developers:

1.   If your application stops working suddenly, it may not be a database issue. For example, maybe you have a network problem. Investigate a bit before you accuse a DBA!

2.   Even if you’re a ninja SQL data modeler, ask a DBA to help you with your relational diagram. They have a lot to share and offer.

3.   DBAs don’t like rapid changes. This is natural: they need to analyze the database as a whole and examine the impact of any changes from all angles. A simple change in a column can take a week to be implemented—but that’s because an error could materialize as huge losses for the company. Be patient!

4.   Do not ask SQL DBAs to make data changes in a production environment. If you want access to the production database, you have to be responsible for all your own changes.

For SQL Database Administrators:

1.   If you don’t like people asking you about the database, give them a real-time status panel. Developers are always suspicious of a database’s status, and such a panel could save everyone time and energy.

2.   Help developers in a test/quality assurance environment. Make it easy to simulate a production server with simple tests on real-data. This will be a significant time-saver for others as well as yourself.

3.   Developers spend all day on systems with frequently-changed business logic. Try to understand this world being more flexible, and be able to break some rules in a critical moment.

4.   SQL databases evolve. The day will come when you have to migrate your data to a new version. Developers count on significant new functionality with each new version. Instead of refusing to accept their changes, plan ahead and be ready for the migration.