Know when  can be as important as  know how.

Importance of correct tool choice

In optimizing access to a relational database, a wide variety of software tools need to be employed. Know when  can be as important as  know how.

Databases

Correct choice of database can significantly improve overall effectiveness of a project or organization. Tradition and current trends are sometimes given too much weight; reliability and long-term cost of ownership sometimes too little. Appropriate considerations include:

• reliability
• scale
• ease of use

Languages

As with databases, so with languages: no one choice satisfies all requirements. Appropriate considerations include

• reliability
• level of abstraction
• performance

Operating Systems

And, of course, as with databases and languages, so with operating systems: no one choice satisfies all requirements. Appropriate considerations include

• reliability
• performance
• scalability