PostgreSQL Mastery (Senior → Principal)

Operate

• Start by confirming workload shape: OLTP, analytical, mixed, multi-tenant, or event-heavy.
• Clarify scale: row counts, write rate, hottest tables, retention, and latency SLO.
• Treat PostgreSQL as a production system, not just a storage library: backups, locks, migrations, observability, and failover matter.
• Prefer boring relational design over clever schema tricks.

Default Standards

• Model invariants with constraints first, code second.
• Use transactions intentionally; keep them short.
• Index for real query patterns, not theoretical ones.
• Avoid ORMs hiding expensive SQL on hot paths.
• Make migration rollout and rollback strategy explicit.

“Bad vs Good”