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Fantastic Databases And Where To Find Them

Ruby on Rails app tend to rely heavily on databases and yet we rarely talk about them during meetups. This talk explores some of the more unusual parts of working with databases in a context of a typical RoR app.

Authors: Chris Hasiński

Visuality talks: Y20W[...]

RESOURCES & LINKS: 
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SQLite appropriate uses: https://www.sqlite.org/whentouse.html
PostgreSQL manual: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/
PostgreSQL on using explain: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/using-explain.html
Citus columnar storage: https://docs.citusdata.com/en/v11.1/admin_guide/table_management.html#columnar-storage

Other databases mentioned:
MySQL, Clickhouse, Cockroach DB.
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In the talk titled "Fantastic Databases And Where To Find Them," Chris Hasiński discusses the often-overlooked topic of databases in the context of Ruby on Rails (RoR) applications. Drawing analogies to mythical creatures, Hasiński emphasizes the need to better understand and engage with databases, which are frequently treated as complex, mysterious entities within the development community. The presentation begins by connecting the familiar yet daunting concept of dragons on ancient maps to the uncomfortable realities developers face regarding layoffs and employment security.

Key Points Discussed:
- **Importance of Database Knowledge**: Hasiński highlights how job interviews often lack discussions about databases, despite their critical role in applications. Developers frequently struggle to answer queries about database versions, reflecting a larger trend of ignorance regarding database functionalities.
- **The Testing Pyramid**: The speaker introduces the concept of the testing pyramid, illustrating how most Rails applications rely heavily on integration tests rather than unit tests due to their complex interactions with databases. This deviation from the ideal leads to a phenomenon termed the "ice cream cone" anti-pattern.
- **SQLite Use Cases**: Hasiński begins with SQLite, noting its effectiveness for small projects and low-traffic applications. He shares insights into its performance, ease of use, and limitations, particularly regarding write operations and threading, as well as its ability to support high request volumes efficiently.
- **Postgres Features**: Transitioning to Postgres, Hasiński describes it as a versatile choice that can fulfill multiple roles in an application stack. He touches on features like unlocked tables, window functions, and cumulative sums, emphasizing their power in optimizing database interactions and the overall efficiency of RoR applications.
- **Performance Optimization Tools**: The talk discusses the importance of understanding query execution plans and using tools like PG Hero for performance enhancement. The role of indices in database query optimization is also highlighted, along with the necessity of employing them judiciously.
- **Emerging Database Technologies**: Finally, he briefly mentions distributed databases such as CockroachDB and analytical solutions like ClickHouse, noting their strengths in handling data integrity and complex queries, respectively.

Concluding Thoughts:
Hasiński wraps up with the assertion that understanding databases is crucial for effective software development. By recognizing their unique characteristics and integrating them better into development practices, developers can harness their full potential while navigating the complexities of database management.

Overall, the talk serves as a call for developers to confront and understand the "mythical creatures" of their projects—the databases—ultimately leading to more robust and efficient applications.

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