101 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
101 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
---
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stage: Enablement
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group: Database
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info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#designated-technical-writers
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---
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# Database Reviewer Guidelines
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This page includes introductory material for new database reviewers.
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If you are interested in getting an application update reviewed,
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check the [database review guidelines](../database_review.md).
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## Scope of work done by a database reviewer
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Database reviewers are domain experts who have substantial experience with databases,
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`SQL`, and query performance optimization.
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A database review is required whenever an application update [touches the database](../database_review.md#general-process).
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The database reviewer is tasked with reviewing the database specific updates and
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making sure that any queries or modifications will perform without issues
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at the scale of GitLab.com.
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For more information on the database review process, check the [database review guidelines](../database_review.md).
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## How to apply for becoming a database reviewer
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Team members are encouraged to self-identify as database domain experts and add it to their [team profile](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/-/blob/master/data/team.yml)
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```yaml
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projects:
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gitlab:
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- reviewer database
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```
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Assign the MR which adds your expertise to the `team.yml` file to a database maintainer
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or the [Database Team's Engineering Manager](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/development/enablement/database/).
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Once the `team.yml` update is merged, the [Reviewer roulette](../code_review.md#reviewer-roulette)
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may recommend you as a database reviewer.
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## Resources for database reviewers
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As a database reviewer, join the internal `#database` Slack channel and ask questions or discuss
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database related issues with other database reviewers and maintainers.
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There is also an optional database office hours call held bi-weekly, alternating between
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European/US and APAC friendly hours. You can join the office hours call and bring topics
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that require a more in-depth discussion between the database reviewers and maintainers:
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- [Database Office Hours Agenda](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wgfmVL30F8SdMg-9yY6Y8djPSxWNvKmhR5XmsvYX1EI/edit).
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- [Youtube playlist with past recordings](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL05JrBw4t0Kp-kqXeiF7fF7cFYaKtdqXM).
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You should also join the [#database-labs](../understanding_explain_plans.md#database-lab)
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Slack channel and get familiar with how to use Joe, the slackbot that provides developers
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with their own clone of the production database.
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Understanding and efficiently using `EXPLAIN` plans is at the core of the database review process.
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The following guides provide a quick introduction and links to follow on more advanced topics:
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- Guide on [understanding EXPLAIN plans](../understanding_explain_plans.md).
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- [Explaining the unexplainable series in depesz](https://www.depesz.com/tag/unexplainable/).
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Finally, you can find various guides in the [Database guides](index.md) page that cover more specific
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topics and use cases. The most frequently required during database reviewing are the following:
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- [Migrations style guide](../migration_style_guide.md) for creating safe SQL migrations.
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- [What requires downtime?](../what_requires_downtime.md).
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- [SQL guidelines](../sql.md) for working with SQL queries.
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## How to apply for becoming a database maintainer
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Once a database reviewer feels confident on switching to a database maintainer,
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they can update their [team profile](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/-/blob/master/data/team.yml)
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to a `trainee_maintainer database`:
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```yaml
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projects:
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gitlab:
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- trainee_maintainer database
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```
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The first step is to a create a [Trainee Database Maintainer Issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/www-gitlab-com/-/issues/new?issuable_template=trainee-database-maintainer).
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Use and follow the process described in the 'Trainee database maintainer' template.
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Note that [trainee maintainers](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/workflow/code-review/#trainee-maintainer)
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are three times as likely to be picked by the [Danger bot](../dangerbot.md) as other reviewers.
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## What to do if you feel overwhelmed
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Similar to all types of reviews, [unblocking others is always a top priority](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/values/#global-optimization).
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Database reviewers are expected to [review assigned merge requests in a timely manner](../code_review.md#review-turnaround-time)
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or let the author know as soon as possible and help them find another reviewer or maintainer.
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We are doing reviews to help the rest of the GitLab team and, at the same time, get exposed
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to more use cases, get a lot of insights and hone our database and data management skills.
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If you are feeling overwhelmed, think you are at capacity, and are unable to accept any more
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reviews until some have been completed, communicate this through your GitLab status by setting
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the `:red_circle:` emoji and mentioning that you are at capacity in the status text.
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