7 tools for DBAs and developers make optimizing SQL queries easy

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a programming language for managing data in relational database management systems.

Everything, whether it’s a website or an application, has a database that manages all available information such as account credentials, personal information, and countless other data points.

These databases include a variety of databases, and in some cases are NoSQL (not just SQL) databases. If you’re interested, you can also look for NoSQL clients for management and development.

Thanks to SQL, you can easily manage all your data using SQL queries.

SQL queries are typically commands that help retrieve available information from a database.

In other words, SQL queries allow you to manipulate data in a database.

For large or complex databases, you need the most efficient way to access or manage your data.

So here we take a look at how SQL query optimization can help, whether it’s better to automate it, and some of the tools you can use to make the whole process easier.

Why should I optimize my SQL queries?

Everything needs to be optimized to make your work easier. Even a physical collection of files at work needs to be organized so that they can be easily accessed and managed. Otherwise, finding what you need on demand becomes a hassle.

The same concept applies to optimizing SQL queries.

If you don’t optimize your SQL queries, you might not get the results or information you need as quickly as possible.

For example, it may take a long time to extract the required information.

Optimization provides the following benefits:

• Lowest response time : Optimized SQL queries provide the best response time when accessing data. Users requesting data get a great user experience with minimal response time to satisfy their queries.
  
• Free up CPU and reduce execution time . The longer a query takes to run to achieve the desired result, the busier the CPU is processing the request. However, if a query is efficient, the time it takes to process the query is minimized and system resources are immediately freed.
  
• Improved performance : Optimized SQL queries ultimately lead to increased throughput, resulting in faster response and execution times, and minimize resource usage for queries, allowing you to do more, faster. Now you can run it.

Is automatic SQL tuning beneficial compared to manual optimization?

As mentioned earlier, SQL optimization is essential. But can automated SQL tuning help? Are there other tools that can help simplify the process?

Or do you need to manually optimize your SQL queries?

Technically, there is nothing wrong with manually optimizing SQL queries. In fact, most of the tuning is done manually at this point.

However, manual optimization has some drawbacks that can be overcome with automatic SQL optimization.

Let’s touch on the benefits of automatic SQL tuning.

#1.Save time

Optimizing SQL queries takes a significant amount of time. It needs to be done in the best way possible, but optimization takes time.

Automated solutions allow you to optimize SQL queries faster than traditional processes.

Of course, some tasks are best handled manually, considering they are very important. However, the time saved allows the same people to perform the optimization and spend more time on a variety of other tasks.

#2.Reduced effort to monitor multiple databases

Everyone mentions the efficiency and speed of automated solutions. But it also reduces the effort to gain detailed insights and monitor the database.

Let automated solutions do the heavy lifting, allowing users to easily extract insights and monitor databases to ensure everything is going as expected.

#3.Improved optimization accuracy

Automation services allow you to run multiple optimizations in parallel and compare the best optimization method.

If you do this manually, you will lose a lot of time and may not have the patience to complete it completely.

SQL query tools for DBAs and developers

Automatic SQL query optimization solutions are useful for a variety of reasons, as mentioned above.

However, it is not limited to this. Even if you don’t have access to an automated SQL query optimizer, there are various other tools (including several SQL clients) that can help reduce your effort.

For example, tools that help you analyze and monitor your database allow you to quickly address bottlenecks and fix performance issues.

So, with this in mind, we have listed some tools that can help you efficiently monitor your database and optimize your SQL queries.

EverSQL

EverSQL is one interesting option that leverages AI to optimize SQL queries and monitor databases.

We can help developers, DBAs, and DevOps engineers save valuable time for free.

Yes, it’s completely free to get started. It also supports a variety of databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, etc.), operating systems, and cloud platforms.

However, you will only receive one optimization credit per month for 5000 queries with 7 days of queue history. AI-based performance insights should help you understand things better.

Premium upgrades starting at $79/month provide more optimizations, indexing recommendations, and more advanced features. Team pricing plans are also available if you prefer.

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor is a service specifically tailored to help you monitor your database.

You’ll see a concise overview of all your databases, making it easy to keep track of everything. If you wish, you can also view detailed reports for a specific database.

Although it does not directly optimize SQL queries, it provides insight into query length, connection time, and execution time. Thanks to these insights, you can choose other optimization tools and easily adjust your queries according to your requirements.

dbForge Studio

dbForge Studio is a full-fledged toolkit for development and database management.

We can help with SQL coding, add a source control system, manage indexes, and more.

You can also use SQL query plan tools to help identify bottlenecks and analyze queries. Get advanced statistics to detect potential bottlenecks while comparing historical data after making changes to your SQL queries.

In addition, a number of advanced tools are available to dig deeper and efficiently manage all aspects of your database.

It has limited functionality, but you can try it for free. If you are a professional or business, you can choose the premium plan to access all the advanced features available.

plan explorer

Plan Explorer is part of Solarwinds’ SentryOne product. Completely free, no premium upgrades.

If you are looking for a SQL tuning tool with advanced features, this should be your best choice.

This software tool is available only on Windows. Therefore, to use .NET 4.7.1 on your system, you must have .NET 4.7.1 installed. DBAs and programmers use Plan Explorer for advanced query tuning features such as history and comments.

Additionally, you can use statistical analysis, planning charts, and a variety of other features.

holistic.dev

Holistic.dev is an interesting database performance optimization tool. Currently in public beta stage. If you’re reading this later, it’s likely out of beta.

Unlike Plan Explorer, no client installation is required. You can automatically inspect database logs, analyze source code, and use insights to improve database performance.

It also supports automatic auditing of external databases.

It does not support all types of databases and is limited to PostgreSQL. So if it meets your requirements, you can try it out and see if it handles what you need.

database performance analyzer

If you’re looking for a cross-platform solution that works both in the cloud and on-premises, Database Performance Analyzer is for you.

Detect anomalies in your database using machine learning. In addition, query tuning advisors are available to help you optimize your SQL queries and databases, including response time analysis and finding poorly performing statements. Get both real-time and historical data to analyze everything about your database.

This is a solid option for serious professionals considering subscriptions start at $1170.

ApexSQL

ApexSQL helps you view and analyze SQL server execution plans along with more advanced operations.

You can identify performance issues with queries, understand performance insights, monitor live performance statistics, and more.

This is available as part of a complete toolkit. Depending on your requirements, you can choose to purchase a subscription to get all features or some features. It can be an affordable option for your business if you need a few carefully selected features.

last word

An optimized database improves the end-user experience. Database management is very important, whether you are a professional or a business. The better the management, the more value to the user/customer.

Optimizing your SQL queries is important, whether you use an automatic query optimizer or a tool that assists with the manual process.

These tools allow you to manage, optimize, and analyze SQL queries, performance, and overall execution plans. For now, you can start with the free product, but businesses should benefit from some of the premium options mentioned above.

Ultimately, it saves time, improves the user experience, and allows everyone to benefit from optimizing their SQL queries.