Choosing the Right Database — Decision Framework
A practical, flowchart-style guide for matching your use case to the right database technology.
You've now seen relational databases, document stores, globally distributed systems, and in-memory caches. Each one is excellent at something and mediocre at something else. The hard part isn't understanding the options — it's choosing between them when you're standing at the start of a project with a blank architecture diagram.
This lesson gives you a decision framework. Not a "use X for everything" prescription, but a structured way to evaluate your specific needs and arrive at a defensible choice.
Start With the Questions, Not the Answers
Most teams pick a database backwards. They start with a technology ("Let's use MongoDB!") and then fit their data into it. Instead, start with these five questions:
1. What does the data look like? Is it highly relational (users, orders, pr
This lesson is part of the Guild Member curriculum. Plans start at $29/mo.