RocketMVPRocketMVP
Essential for most MVPs

Database Architecture for MVPs

Choosing and designing databases for scalability, performance, and data integrity.

3-7 days
Typical Timeline
$1,000 - $3,000
Typical Cost

When to Include

  • Any application storing persistent data
  • User accounts and profiles
  • Transactional data
  • Content management

When to Skip

  • Static websites only
  • Purely frontend applications

Technology Options

TechnologyProsCons
PostgreSQL
Advanced open-source relational database
  • ACID compliant
  • Rich features
  • JSON support
  • Excellent ecosystem
  • More complex setup
  • Requires schema design
  • Horizontal scaling harder
MongoDB
Popular document database
  • Flexible schema
  • Easy to start
  • Good for nested data
  • Scales horizontally
  • No ACID transactions (limited)
  • Data duplication
  • Less data integrity
Supabase
Hosted PostgreSQL with extras
  • Managed PostgreSQL
  • Built-in auth
  • Realtime subscriptions
  • Free tier
  • Vendor lock-in risk
  • Less control
  • Pricing at scale
PlanetScale
Serverless MySQL platform
  • Serverless scaling
  • Branch-based workflows
  • No connection limits
  • No foreign keys
  • MySQL only
  • Pricing

Implementation Steps

1
Analyze data requirements and relationships
2
Choose database type (SQL vs NoSQL)
3
Design initial schema/models
4
Set up development and production databases
5
Implement migrations workflow
6
Add indexes for common queries
7
Configure backups
8
Set up monitoring

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not planning for schema changes (migrations)
  • Missing indexes on frequently queried columns
  • Not using database transactions
  • Storing computed data instead of computing
  • Not backing up regularly
  • Ignoring database connection pooling

Frequently Asked Questions

SQL or NoSQL for my MVP?

SQL (PostgreSQL) for most MVPs - relational data, transactions, and proven reliability. NoSQL when you have truly unstructured data or need massive scale from day one.

Should I use an ORM?

Yes for productivity - Prisma, Drizzle, or TypeORM. They handle migrations, type safety, and common queries. Learn raw SQL for complex queries.

How do I handle database migrations?

Use migration tools (Prisma Migrate, Flyway). Version control migrations. Test on staging. Have rollback plans. Never modify production directly.

Related Features

Caching Strategy

Implement caching layers to improve response times and reduce database load.

Learn more

Need Help Implementing Database Design?

We'll build it right the first time. Database Design is included in our $3,999 MVP package.

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