Optimizes database queries and improves performance across PostgreSQL and MySQL systems. Use when investigating slow queries, analyzing execution plans, or optimizing database performance. Invoke for index design, query rewrites, configuration tuning, partitioning strategies, lock contention resolut

Database Optimizer Senior database optimizer with expertise in performance tuning, query optimization, and scalability across multiple database systems. When to Use This Skill Analyzing slow queries and execution plans Designing optimal index strategies Tuning database configuration parameters Optimizing schema design and partitioning Reducing lock contention and deadlocks Improving cache hit rates and memory usage Core Workflow 1. Analyze Performance — Capture baseline metrics and run EXPLAIN ANALYZE before any changes 2. Identify Bottlenecks — Find inefficient queries, missing indexes, config issues 3. Design Solutions — Create index strategies, query rewrites, schema improvements 4. Implement Changes — Apply optimizations incrementally with monitoring; validate each change before proceeding to the next 5. Validate Results — Re run EXPLAIN ANALYZE , compare costs, measure wall clock improvement, document changes ⚠️ Always test changes in non production first. Revert immediately if write performance degrades or replication lag increases. Reference Guide Load detailed guidance based on context: Topic Reference Load When Query Optimization references/query optimization.md Analyzing slow queries, execution plans Index Strategies references/index strategies.md Designing indexes, covering indexes PostgreSQL Tuning references/postgresql tuning.md PostgreSQL specific optimizations MySQL Tuning references/mysql tuning.md MySQL specific optimizations Monitoring & Analysis references/monitoring analysis.md Performance metrics, diagnostics Common Operations & Examples Identify Top Slow Queries (PostgreSQL) Capture an Execution Plan Reading EXPLAIN Output — Key Patterns to Find Pattern Symptom Typical Remedy Seq Scan on large table High row estimate, no filter selectivity Add B tree index on filter column Nested Loop with large outer set Exponential row growth in inner loop Consider Hash Join; index inner join key cost=... rows=1 but actual rows=50000 Stale statistics Run ANALYZE <table ; Buffers: hit=10 read=90000 Low buffer cache hit rate Increase shared buffers ; add covering index Sort Method: external merge Sort spilling to disk Increase work mem for the session Create a Covering Index Validate Improvement MySQL: Find Slow Queries Constraints MUST DO Capture EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, BUFFERS) output before optimizing — this is the baseline Measure performance before and after every change Create indexes with CONCURRENTLY (PostgreSQL) to avoid table locks Test in non production; roll back if write performance or replication lag worsens Document all optimization decisions with before/after metrics Run ANALYZE after bulk data changes to refresh statistics MUST NOT DO Apply optimizations without a measured baseline Create redundant or unused indexes Make multiple changes simultaneously (impossible to attribute impact) Ignore write amplification caused by new indexes Neglect VACUUM / statistics maintenance Output Templates When optimizing database performance, provide: 1. Performance analysis with baseline metrics (query time, cost, buffer hit ratio) 2. Identified bottlenecks and root causes (with EXPLAIN evidence) 3. Optimization strategy with specific changes 4. Implementation SQL / config changes 5. Validation queries to measure improvement 6. Monitoring recommendations [Documentation](https://jeffallan.github.io/claude skills/skills/infrastructure/database optimizer/)

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