Hey everyone,
I’m concerned about using raw SQL versus ORMs. My API currently relies on direct SQL, and I’m unsure if this is the best choice for scaling. Thoughts on keeping it simple or switching to an ORM?
hey mate, i’ve worked on some big projects and tbh, it depends. raw SQL can be super fast but ORMs make life easier for complex stuff. if ur app’s simple, stick with SQL. but if ur scaling big time, an ORM might save u headaches later. just my 2 cents!
In my experience, mixing strategies is common in real-world APIs. Direct SQL queries often provide excellent performance for straightforward operations, but as projects evolve, an ORM can offer significant advantages. An ORM abstracts database interactions, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities like SQL injection, and simplifies maintenance when the schema evolves over time. On the other hand, raw SQL remains a viable choice for simpler and more performance-sensitive applications. Your decision should weigh current performance needs against long-term maintainability and flexibility, keeping in mind your team’s expertise and project scale.
I’ve been in your shoes, and here’s what I’ve learned: real-world APIs often use a mix of approaches. While direct SQL queries can be blazing fast, they can become a nightmare to maintain as your project grows. I once worked on a system where we started with raw SQL, and it became a tangled mess as we scaled.
That said, ORMs aren’t a silver bullet either. They can sometimes be overkill for simple operations and introduce performance overhead. What worked well for us was a hybrid approach. We used an ORM for most CRUD operations and complex queries, but kept raw SQL for performance-critical parts of the system.
If you’re worried about scaling, consider gradually introducing an ORM. Start by wrapping your existing SQL in repository classes. This way, you can transition piece by piece without a complete rewrite. It’ll give you the best of both worlds – the performance of SQL where you need it, and the abstraction of an ORM for everything else.