Why does SQL database performance testing take so long? For one thing, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to comparing schemas. Not only do you need to keep track of all entities, but you need to understand the relationships between those entities — all while testing query runtimes.
The 2 fundamental keys to improving database performance testing are:
- Agility. Switching between performance testing and database manipulation tasks with ease.
- Flexibility. Adjust properties as needed to experiment with different schema designs.
While the following features are especially helpful for those in early-stage planning, you might be surprised at how much time you can save with a tool that allows you to move a little faster while testing complex architectural changes.
Let’s take a look at the 3 features you should look for in your database schema testing tool.
Expedite performance testing
Testing database designs can be a painstaking process — you need to manipulate the designs, create query groups, and compare their respective runtimes to determine the optimal schema design.
The secret to accelerating the process lies in leveraging tools that enable you to switch effortlessly between tasks.
Map out database design with entity-relationship diagrams
Make use of visual and dynamic entity-relationship diagrams as you outline your database design. ER diagrams provide a variety of benefits:
- They’re visual. It’s much easier to understand your database design when you can refer to an image, especially as your tables grow in size and complexity.
- They illustrate relationships. By visually displaying relationships, you can clarify connections and monitor for redundancies.
- They act as roadmaps. ER diagrams offer a core representation of the basic design of your database, making it easier to experiment with schema designs.
Schema performance testing tools like SeeQR empower programmers to seamlessly switch between database manipulation and performance testing. This degree of flexibility allows you to quickly whip up schema designs and test their respective query performances — all on one platform.
While it might not seem like a big deal to use different tools for different tasks, the maintained data and resulting flexibility can provide a significant edge in speeding up the efficiency of your schema planning and performance testing.
Seamlessly manipulate table and column properties
As you build your schema design, you’ll find it helpful to alternate between testing different designs. The ability to rapidly manipulate properties will come in handy for experimenting with different schema structures.
For example, inputting constraints such as primary and foreign keys is critical to defining the relationships between tables. By manipulating these properties directly on the ER tables, you can test different designs without losing track of your relationships.
Generate dummy data
Decisions made during performance testing can have significant consequences as you scale your application. It’s best to test the efficiency of your schemas as tables grow in size, so you aren’t met with any surprises down the road.
With the power to quickly add multiple rows to tables without manually generating fake data, you can get a stronger representation of how your schema will actually perform as you scale. SeeQR’s built-in dummy data generation makes this process as easy as a click of a button.
SeeQR 7.0 as a one stop shop
SeeQR is a database analytic tool that streamlines early-stage schema performance testing. With the new 7.0 version release comes a dynamic ER tabling feature that elevates the platform into an all-encompassing SQL database performance testing tool.
