[development] Drupal could be 10x times faster with correct indexing

David Timothy Strauss david at fourkitchens.com
Mon Jun 30 18:29:53 UTC 2008


When it comes to database capabilities, MySQL is quite a bit more than a glorified card catalog. When it comes to database architecture, Drupal developers are quite a bit more than rejected Microsoft Access programmers.

----- "Jean-Michel Pouré" <jm at poure.com> wrote:

> Here is the issue with solutions:
> http://drupal.org/node/276742

>From the issue, it seems like your indexes are missing or misconfigured.

> When using MySQL, you don't really know how SQL queries are treated,
> except execution times that may be monitored (?).

Wrong. Use EXPLAIN.

> This way, the database server is always faster than any kind of PHP cache.

Wrong. Databases have higher latency for even simple queries compared to PHP static caching and memcache.

> There is an extensive query debugging needed on Drupal:
> [...]
> 6) Add indexes everywhere.

Wrong. Indexes add multiple forms of overhead. They should not be added gratuitously. Indexes should be added when they enhance performance more than they cost it or if they enhance data integrity (UNIQUE/PRIMARY keys).

> [...] I consider this as a bug, [...]

Wrong. Bugs are issues of correctness. Performance improvements are not issues of correctness.


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