Optimization

Project: Dashboard Performance Tuning

Senior Data Analyst
March 21, 2026
8 min read

The Scenario

A dashboard loads 5 charts. Each chart takes 5-10 seconds. Total page load: 30 seconds. Users are complaining.

The Process

1. **Identify**: Use `pg_stat_statements` to find the slowest queries.

2. **Analyze**: Run `EXPLAIN ANALYZE` on each.

3. **Optimize**:

  • Add missing indexes.
  • Rewrite to avoid index killers.
  • Pre-aggregate data into Materialized Views.

    • 4. **Verify**: Re-run and compare the new execution time.

    The Victory

    Dashboard load time dropped from 30 seconds to 2 seconds. The ops team stopped complaining, and the database server thanked you.

    *Day 81: Advanced Reporting: The Pivot Table.*

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