As developers, we all share one essential need: a reliable database, whether SQL or NoSQL. We aim to build applications that are lightning-fast and scale to the moon.

Yet, too often, we rely heavily on ORM layers, obscuring the direct interactions with our databases. This approach, though convenient, often pulls us further into complexity, leading us to pile on additional technologies in hopes of addressing performance issues. We begin to wonder: Are our databases truly underperforming? Even robust systems like Oracle and DB2 that power critical infrastructures like banking? Or is it possible we haven’t yet tapped into the full potential of these powerful systems?

In this talk, we’re not here to dissect database engines or throw more tech onto the pile. Instead, we’re going to take a step back and focus on simple, pragmatic steps to make our applications hum. No magic, no mystery boxes, just straightforward tweaks that can make a world of difference. We’ll see how simple adjustments can align our applications with growing demands. We’ll walk through practical stages that enhance our applications responsiveness and scalability, without unnecessary complexity.