Database Audit

Overview

The database is the foundation. If the schema is wrong, everything built on top is fragile.

Core principle: Schema should enforce business rules. Don't trust application code to maintain data integrity.

The Iron Laws

1. NO NULLABLE COLUMN WITHOUT DOCUMENTED REASON. NO MISSING INDEX ON FOREIGN KEYS.
2. EVERY QUERY THAT TOUCHES PRODUCTION MUST HIT AN INDEX — NEVER A FULL TABLE SCAN ON LARGE TABLES.
3. TEXT-HEAVY TABLES THAT GROW UNBOUNDED (logs, activity, notifications) MUST HAVE RETENTION, PARTITIONING, OR ARCHIVAL STRATEGY.

When to Use