How To Reduce Query Latency Without Changing Your Code

You don’t need to rewrite application code to improve query performance; instead, optimize your SQL structure. A few examples:

• Use SELECT ... WHERE EXISTS instead of IN for subqueries; PostgreSQL’s planner often handles EXISTS more efficiently, especially with large result sets. (PostgreSQL). Learn more in our guide to query rewriting.
• Add covering indexes to satisfy queries entirely from the index without touching the table; especially useful for narrow, high-read workloads. (PostgreSQL & MySQL)
• Replace correlated subqueries with JOINs or CTEs to avoid repeated execution per row. (PostgreSQL & MySQL 8.0+)
• Use materialized views for expensive joins or aggregates. Precompute once, read fast many times. (PostgreSQL)
• Limit fetched columns, SELECT * bloats I/O and memory usage unnecessarily. (PostgreSQL & MySQL)
• Use LIMIT and pagination early to avoid sorting or scanning rows you don’t need. (PostgreSQL & MySQL). Read more on how to optimize pagination in MySQL and PostgreSQL.
• Use EXPLAIN ANALYZE to inspect query plans and optimize based on real execution costs, not assumptions. (PostgreSQL & MySQL)

Want faster queries without manual tuning? Readyset’s drop-in SQL cache delivers sub-millisecond latency, without code changes, infrastructure overhauls, or ongoing maintenance.

🔍 What We’re Watching in the Database Ecosystem

Announcing a new IDE for PostgreSQL in VS Code from Microsoft Microsoft has released a public preview of a new PostgreSQL extension for Visual Studio Code. The extension offers developers an integrated environment to manage Postgres databases directly within the editor. Key features include context-aware IntelliSense, schema visualization, and a GitHub Copilot agent (@pgsql) that assists with query optimization and performance analysis. The extension also supports Entra ID authentication and seamless integration with Azure Database for PostgreSQL.

MariaDB Acquires Galera Cluster MariaDB has acquired Codership Oy, the creators of Galera Cluster, to enhance its high-availability and scalability offerings. This move integrates Galera's multi-master synchronous replication technology into MariaDB's enterprise solutions, aiming to provide zero data loss and improved uptime for mission-critical applications.

Open Data Standards: Postgres, OTel, and Iceberg Supabase highlights how Postgres, OpenTelemetry, and Iceberg are forming the foundation of a modern, open data stack, offering flexibility without vendor lock-in.

Crunchy Data Joins Snowflake Crunchy Data announced its acquisition by Snowflake, marking a strategic move to integrate its enterprise-ready PostgreSQL solutions into Snowflake's AI Data Cloud.

In Case You Missed It

📅 Mark Your Calendar: Tomorrow, Tanmay and Bianchi will host the first in a series of webinars designed to help you get the most out of your database performance. First up is “How To Find Your Problem Queries on MySQL” on June 11 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Register here to save your spot!