Why You Shouldn't Forget to Optimize the Data Layout

October 8, 2024

The underlying data layout of your program can either help or hurt your algorithms. We explore how to improve the runtime of your program by analyzing the impact of the data layout on low-level properties such as cache line optimizations and SIMD execution, as well as other memory-level optimizations such as compression.

The Hidden Cost of Data Movement

September 24, 2024

Moving data between disk, memory, caches, and CPU registers is one of the most critical paths when processing large amounts of data. In this post, we explore the often-overlooked costs of these data movements and show how they can be reduced for algorithms in general and specifically in a database system.

Why I Prefer Exceptions to Error Values

September 10, 2024

Exceptions are often a better way to handle errors than returning them as values. We argue that traditional exceptions provide better user and developer experience, and show that they even result in faster execution.

Reclaiming SQL’s Declarative Power

August 27, 2024

A good SQL optimizer can dramatically improve query performance, allowing you to focus on writing readable SQL instead of getting lost in the details of database optimization. This post discusses query optimizers, and query unnesting in particular, to emphasize the importance of query optimization.

Can You Do Both: Fast Scans and Fast Writes in a Single System?

August 13, 2024

Most database systems focus on either analytical or transactional performance due to their contrasting data access patterns. CedarDB, however, achieves high performance in both areas (HTAP) with its unified storage system, Colibri, which combines compressed columnar data and row-based storage.

A Deep Dive into German Strings

July 30, 2024

Our last post on our "German Strings" has received tremendous attention. We want to follow up on some of your comments and dive deeper into the reasons behind some of our string optimizations.

Why German Strings are Everywhere

July 16, 2024

Many data processing systems have adapted our custom string format. Find out what makes it so special and why it is so relevant to them.

Working with JSON and Graphs in CedarDB

July 2, 2024

The only thing that stops a bad guy with a database system, is a good guy with a database system: Learn how to work with semi-structured and graph data in CedarDB by hunting for Germany's most wanted white-collar criminal, Jan Marsalek, on a real world dataset.

Why Your SSD (Probably) Sucks and What Your Database Can Do About It

June 18, 2024

SSDs have effectively replaced spinning disks as the go-to solution for persistent storage for database systems. While they offer amazing read and write throughput, they come with their own issues vendors don't like to talk about. We dive into those issues and explain how CedarDB overcomes them.

Simple, Efficient, and Robust Hash Tables for Join Processing

June 5, 2024

Efficient join processing is at the heart of CedarDB. Join us for a deep dive into the tech behind the world's fastest hash join implementation.