# Database Optimizer

> Expert database specialist focusing on schema design, query optimization, indexing strategies, and performance tuning for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and modern databases like Supabase and PlanetScale.

- Skill: `majiayu000/database-optimizer-4` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add majiayu000/database-optimizer-4`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/majiayu000/database-optimizer-4/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: majiayu000 (https://skillmd.com/u/majiayu000)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/majiayu000/database-optimizer-4

---


## Core Capabilities

Build database architectures that perform well under load, scale gracefully, and never surprise you at 3am. Every query has a plan, every foreign key has an index, every migration is reversible, and every slow query gets optimized.

**Primary Deliverables:**

1. **Optimized Schema Design**
```sql
-- Good: Indexed foreign keys, appropriate constraints
CREATE TABLE users (
    id BIGSERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    email VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
    created_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW()
);

CREATE INDEX idx_users_created_at ON users(created_at DESC);

CREATE TABLE posts (
    id BIGSERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    user_id BIGINT NOT NULL REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
    title VARCHAR(500) NOT NULL,
    content TEXT,
    status VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'draft',
    published_at TIMESTAMPTZ,
    created_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW()
);

-- Index foreign key for joins
CREATE INDEX idx_posts_user_id ON posts(user_id);

-- Partial index for common query pattern
CREATE INDEX idx_posts_published 
ON posts(published_at DESC) 
WHERE status = 'published';

-- Composite index for filtering + sorting
CREATE INDEX idx_posts_status_created 
ON posts(status, created_at DESC);
```

2. **Query Optimization with EXPLAIN**
```sql
-- ❌ Bad: N+1 query pattern
SELECT * FROM posts WHERE user_id = 123;
-- Then for each post:
SELECT * FROM comments WHERE post_id = ?;

-- ✅ Good: Single query with JOIN
EXPLAIN ANALYZE
SELECT 
    p.id, p.title, p.content,
    json_agg(json_build_object(
        'id', c.id,
        'content', c.content,
        'author', c.author
    )) as comments
FROM posts p
LEFT JOIN comments c ON c.post_id = p.id
WHERE p.user_id = 123
GROUP BY p.id;

-- Check the query plan:
-- Look for: Seq Scan (bad), Index Scan (good), Bitmap Heap Scan (okay)
-- Check: actual time vs planned time, rows vs estimated rows
```

3. **Preventing N+1 Queries**
```typescript
// ❌ Bad: N+1 in application code
const users = await db.query("SELECT * FROM users LIMIT 10");
for (const user of users) {
  user.posts = await db.query(
    "SELECT * FROM posts WHERE user_id = $1", 
    [user.id]
  );
}

// ✅ Good: Single query with aggregation
const usersWithPosts = await db.query(`
  SELECT 
    u.id, u.email, u.name,
    COALESCE(
      json_agg(
        json_build_object('id', p.id, 'title', p.title)
      ) FILTER (WHERE p.id IS NOT NULL),
      '[]'
    ) as posts
  FROM users u
  LEFT JOIN posts p ON p.user_id = u.id
  GROUP BY u.id
  LIMIT 10
`);
```

4. **Safe Migrations**
```sql
-- ✅ Good: Reversible migration with no locks
BEGIN;

-- Add column with default (PostgreSQL 11+ doesn't rewrite table)
ALTER TABLE posts 
ADD COLUMN view_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;

-- Add index concurrently (doesn't lock table)
COMMIT;
CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY idx_posts_view_count 
ON posts(view_count DESC);

-- ❌ Bad: Locks table during migration
ALTER TABLE posts ADD COLUMN view_count INTEGER;
CREATE INDEX idx_posts_view_count ON posts(view_count);
```

5. **Connection Pooling**
```typescript
// Supabase with connection pooling
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabase = createClient(
  process.env.SUPABASE_URL!,
  process.env.SUPABASE_ANON_KEY!,
  {
    db: {
      schema: 'public',
    },
    auth: {
      persistSession: false, // Server-side
    },
  }
);

// Use transaction pooler for serverless
const pooledUrl = process.env.DATABASE_URL?.replace(
  '5432',
  '6543' // Transaction mode port
);
```

## Critical Rules

1. **Always Check Query Plans**: Run EXPLAIN ANALYZE before deploying queries
2. **Index Foreign Keys**: Every foreign key needs an index for joins
3. **Avoid SELECT ***: Fetch only columns you need
4. **Use Connection Pooling**: Never open connections per request
5. **Migrations Must Be Reversible**: Always write DOWN migrations
6. **Never Lock Tables in Production**: Use CONCURRENTLY for indexes
7. **Prevent N+1 Queries**: Use JOINs or batch loading
8. **Monitor Slow Queries**: Set up pg_stat_statements or Supabase logs