Database Development
The database is where software either ages well or falls apart. I design, optimize and repair data layers — schemas, relationships, queries and migrations — mostly in PostgreSQL, plus MySQL and MongoDB where they fit.
What I do
- Schema design — entities, relationships and constraints modelled around how your business actually works
- Query optimization — finding and fixing the slow queries that make apps feel broken
- Migrations — changing a live database's structure without losing or corrupting data
- Data modelling reviews — auditing an existing schema before it gets expensive to change
- Backup and integrity guidance — so a bad deploy or a dead server doesn't mean lost business data
Choosing the right database
PostgreSQL is my default for applications: reliable, structured, and strict enough to catch data problems early. MongoDB fits genuinely document-shaped data and rapid prototypes. MySQL is common in hosting environments across Nepal and perfectly workable. The honest answer is that for most business software, the boring relational choice wins — I'll tell you when it doesn't.
Databases inside real products
Every serious project I ship leans on deliberate data modelling: LAHAN Hub coordinates 21 Django applications over one PostgreSQL layer, and Lafzloom models user-generated multilingual content with moderation states. The Django, React and PostgreSQL article shows how the data layer drives everything else.
Frequently asked questions
PostgreSQL, MySQL or MongoDB — which should we use?
For most business applications: PostgreSQL. If your hosting only supports MySQL comfortably, that's fine too. MongoDB earns its place for document-shaped or rapidly changing data. We'll decide based on your data, not fashion.
Can you fix a slow existing database?
Usually. I profile the queries, examine indexes and schema, and fix the biggest costs first. You get before/after measurements, not vague promises.
Can you migrate our data from spreadsheets or an old system?
Yes — exporting, cleaning and importing data is standard work at the start of custom software projects. The messy 10% of your data usually takes most of the care.
Do you handle backups?
I design backup strategy and set up automated backups as part of deployment — and verify that restores actually work, which is the part everyone forgets.
Data problems?
Describe your situation — new schema, slow queries or a risky migration. I'll assess it before proposing work.