One of the most important challenges faced by Oracle database administrators and Oracle developers is the need to tune SQL statements so that they execute efficiently. Poorly tuned SQL statements are one of the leading causes of substandard database performance and poor response time. SQL statements that perform poorly result in frustration for users, and can even prevent a company from serving its customers in a timely manner.

In this book, Mark Gurry shares his in-depth knowledge of Oracle's SQL statement optimizers. Mark's knowledge is the result of many hard-fought tuning battles during his many years of providing Oracle tuning services to clients. Mark provides insights into the workings of the rule-based optimizer that go well beyond what the rules tell you. Mark also provides solutions to many common problems that occur with both the rule-based and cost-based optimizers.

In addition to the specific problem/solution scenarios for the optimizers, Mark provides a number of handy SQL tuning tips. He discusses the various optimizer hints, telling you when they can be used to good effect. Finally, Mark discusses the use of the DBMS_STATS package to manage database statistics, and the use of outlines to specify execution plans for SQL statements in third-party applications that you can't otherwise modify.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 5 Ratings

Worths to own one! - 2001-12-28
Reviewer Rating:
Yesterday, I saw this pocket book, then I decide to buy it because...
* Clear clarification on which optimizer (cost-based and rule- based) is used for a specific situation and its problems.
* Sorts, indexes, IN/EXISTS, OR/UNION, Loop, joins with tables...etc related performance issues and rating , giving a reader a reminder on the criteria to write a well-performed SQL.
* What is bad SQL?How to use SQL Hints?
* How to analyze table with DBMS_STATS package?
* How to pre-define outline for your execution plan ?

I have bought DBA checklist and Oracle with UNIX, they are my nice partners as well. Haha...I still remember I deal with a staging database problem in my work, I cannot find a solution from a THICK and HEAVY book but from them.

If you need handy guides, pocket references are excellent and light, haha...I want to buy RMAN reference later :D, they seem a series of fiction.

Essential guide for tuning Oracle SQL - 2003-05-22
Reviewer Rating:
This is the best book I've seen for tuning Oracle SQL.
It is well written, up to date (includes 9i info), and full of examples and real world experiences. All packed into 100 little pages!
Many of the Oracle books I've purchased (especially the tuning references) are just sitting on the shelf collecting dust. They're too big, and filled with a lot of 'dead weight'. I've already read this pocket reference twice (it's suprising how much more of it 'sticks' the second time around) and gathered more useful knowledge than all my other sql tuning books combined.
I know this is called a pocket reference simply because of it's size, but it's really more of an instructional manual than just a reference.
Every Oracle developer and DBA should read this book ...at least twice.

Practical Oracle database tuning guide that provides best overall return - 2007-05-26
Reviewer Rating:
Purchased a few years ago, this little guide has provided the best return on investment when compared to more bulky works on the subject of Oracle database tuning. The word "reference" was probably chosen over the word "guide" in the title of this book because the former would seem to imply usage solely for quick lookups on various related subjects. However, this work is really a step-by-step primer that can be used alongside online Oracle database reference manuals. Because this book is so short, it can be digested in a matter of hours. During such a short time period, the reader is exposed to topics ranging from Oracle rules-based and cost-based optimization to database statistics gathering and SQL hints. And all this information is presented in a practical manner that includes many examples that will help the reader start off on the right path.

Largely obsolete now (2009) - 2009-09-10
Reviewer Rating:
I didn't notice that this pocket reference was still in its first printing, from January of 2002. As such most of the content is now obsolete. Specifically the author devotes a lot of space to comparing the Rule-Based and Cost-Based Optimizers, and points out the clear superiority of the latter. This was big news when Oracle 9i was about to be released, not so much now.

As to the rest, there are 22 pages (out of merely 102) enumerating the many hints one can apply to SQL. There's not much here that isn't already available from Oracle documentation directly.

Well written and to the point - 2007-07-06
Reviewer Rating:
I typically like these little pocket reference books from O'Reilly and this one is no exception. However, this is more than just a reference, it's a nice primer on Oracle SQL tuning. It's a pretty safe bet that you'll get your $10 worth out of this book pretty quickly.

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