Creating A Database For Your App ?

Creating a database for your application is among the initial items in your development sprint. It is important to get it right in the first instance as redoing the schema could mean a change in your application logic.

What is a database?

You can imagine a database as some sort of a “digital cabinet” that is neatly arranged and has the different items organized in their own “compartments” that are in most cases named for easy retrieval. An example could be a book cabinet that has compartments named by the genre i.e. fiction, biographies, science fiction, mystery, and e.t.c.

The following are some of the considerations you can make when picking a database system.

1. What Is The Purpose Of The Database

There are many reasons for coming up with a database, it is pertinent to determine this as it informs on the design and probably avoids unnecessary complexity. A database used in storing product details could be different from one that is used to record books in a library.

2. The Type Of Database

Selecting the right database is critical as different databases have different features. For example, NoSQL databases do not store data using tabular relations as Relational databases. NoSQL databases are better suited for flexible, unstructured data or huge, scalable datasets, whereas Relational databases excel at structured data with clearly established relationships.

3. Compatibility

The technology stack in use could determine the choice of the database system. Availability of drivers among other dependencies could inform your choice. You should pick a database system that would be compatible with your environment.

4. Scalability

Over time, as users continue to make use of your application. The data stored in the database could grow and the demand in terms of resources(CPU,RAM) increases. Good user experience would dictate that the users should not experience degradation of the service. Picking a scalable database becomes an important factor to consider.

5. Security Features

We live in a world where application software is mostly orchestrated and accessed publicly (via Public IPs/Domains). There are advantages of having your application being publicly accessible i.e. you can serve people across the world. You can now see why security becomes an important consideration given that sensitive data could unwittingly get into the wrong hands. Some database systems come with security features that meet regulatory compliance out of the box. Other database systems would require intervention by the database administrator to enforce.

6. Recovery

Make sure the database system has backup and durability procedures for data in the event of software errors, hardware malfunctions, or other calamities. Examine features like backups, replication, and transaction logging to prevent data loss and guarantee data integrity. 

7. Community Support

The ecosystem of the database system is as important as the features it has. Invariably, you will face issues, and depending on how big the community ecosystem is, resolution could take a few minutes to a few days.

8. Cost & Licensing

This may be the most underlooked factor when selecting a database system. Different setups could demand different licenses and some come with a cost attached to them.

Symatech Labs is a Software Development company based in Nairobi, Kenya that specializes in Software Development, Mobile App Development, Web Application Development, Integrations, USSD and Consultancy.