A database styleguide
Most databases seems to be well designed when the systems needing them are launched in the first version – but the slowly as the systems evolve (often grow beyond their initial requirements) – the database design seems to go down the drain. Here are a few tips on what to think about when you design a database or alter it.
First rule: Remember the goal of the system.
Different systems have different requirements and thus require different database designs. Some system are build for the web, some are build for medical journals and others just to solve a practical problem. If you’re building websystems, your main concern is probably speed. If you’re building financial system, data integrity and consistency is probably your main concern. Make sure your database design is made for the goal.