database-patterns

To design scalable PostgreSQL schemas, apply one concern per table, use status enums, add timestamps to everything, and use nullable foreign keys for optional relationships. These patterns ensure maintainable data models and prevent costly refactoring.

To ensure PostgreSQL migration safety, never use create_all(), always test against Postgres, review autogenerated migrations, never edit an applied migration, and execute lock-aware operations to prevent downtime and data corruption.

UUID vs Integer primary keys is a key PostgreSQL data modeling decision. UUIDs provide distributed generation benefits and avoid integer overflow, while Integers offer smaller storage and faster indexing. Choose based on your application's scale and distributed requirements.

PostgreSQL indexing strategy involves indexing your WHERE clauses, using composite indexes for multi-column queries, indexing foreign keys, and avoiding over-indexing. Use EXPLAIN ANALYZE to verify query optimization and ensure indexes improve performance without unnecessary overhead.

N+1 query detection in PostgreSQL involves identifying inefficient loops that execute individual queries for related records. Avoid them by using explicit column selection, aggregate subqueries, and proper join table design to optimize data retrieval and reduce database connection overhead.

JSONB for semi-structured data in PostgreSQL allows flexible schema evolution without migrations. It supports partial unique indexes and atomic updates, making it suitable for variable data structures while maintaining query optimization and schema design integrity.