Understand database selection criteria: Workload type (OLTP vs OLAP), scale (users, data size), consistency requirements (ACID vs eventual)

Master decision framework: Requirements analysis → Database comparison → Proof of concept → Cost analysis → Final selection

Learn workload patterns: Web apps (MySQL/PostgreSQL), Analytics (PostgreSQL/Redshift), Mobile (SQLite), Real-time (PostgreSQL), Enterprise (SQL Server/Oracle)

Understand trade-offs: Performance vs cost, features vs complexity, vendor lock-in vs managed services, open-source vs commercial

Master scaling considerations: Vertical scaling (bigger server), horizontal scaling (sharding, replication), read replicas, connection pooling

Learn real-world decisions: Instagram (PostgreSQL for 2B users), Uber (MySQL → PostgreSQL), Netflix (MySQL + Cassandra), Airbnb (MySQL), Stripe (PostgreSQL)

Understand database selection criteria: Workload type (OLTP vs OLAP), scale (users, data size), consistency requirements (ACID vs eventual)

Master decision framework: Requirements analysis → Database comparison → Proof of concept → Cost analysis → Final selection

Learn workload patterns: Web apps (MySQL/PostgreSQL), Analytics (PostgreSQL/Redshift), Mobile (SQLite), Real-time (PostgreSQL), Enterprise (SQL Server/Oracle)

Understand trade-offs: Performance vs cost, features vs complexity, vendor lock-in vs managed services, open-source vs commercial

Master scaling considerations: Vertical scaling (bigger server), horizontal scaling (sharding, replication), read replicas, connection pooling

Learn real-world decisions: Instagram (PostgreSQL for 2B users), Uber (MySQL → PostgreSQL), Netflix (MySQL + Cassandra), Airbnb (MySQL), Stripe (PostgreSQL)