Everything about Database tuning

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

1. Read the overview: Database tuningA 5-minute orientation
2. Skim a recent paper: GPTuner: A Manual-Reading Database Tuning System via GPT-Guided Bayesian OptimizationInfluential work since 2022
3. Pick up a classic book: Database system conceptsThe most-reprinted book on the subject
4. Read the landmark paper: Tuning database configuration parameters with iTunedCited 226 times
5. Go sideways: Database engineA closely related topic
6. Go sideways: Adaptive Server EnterpriseA closely related topic

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

• Tuning database configuration parameters with iTuned

  Songyun Duan, Vamsidhar Thummala, Shivnath Babu · 2009 · Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment · 226 citations

• Facilitating database tuning with hyper-parameter optimization

  Xinyi Zhang, Zhuo Chang, Yang Li · 2022 · Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment · 72 citations

• A demonstration of the ottertune automatic database management system tuning service

  Bohan Zhang, Dana Van Aken, Justin Wang · 2018 · Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment · 54 citations

• Automatic Database Knob Tuning: A Survey

  Xinyang Zhao, Xuanhe Zhou, Guoliang Li · 2023 · IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering · 53 citations

• A new approach to dynamic self-tuning of database buffers

  Dinh Nguyen Tran, Phung Chinh Huynh, Y. C. Tay · 2008 · ACM Transactions on Storage · 44 citations

• Discovering interesting inclusion dependencies: application to logical database tuning

  Stéphane Lopes, Jean-Marc Petit, Farouk Toumani · 2002 · Information Systems · 43 citations

• Dynamic load balancing in multicomputer database systems using partition tuning

  K.A. Hua, Chiang Lee, C.M. Hua · 1995 · IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering · 36 citations

• An Efficient Transfer Learning Based Configuration Adviser for Database Tuning

  Xinyi Zhang, Hong Wu, Yang Li · 2023 · Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment · 29 citations

🆕 Influential since 2022

• GPTuner: A Manual-Reading Database Tuning System via GPT-Guided Bayesian Optimization

  Jiale Lao, Yibo Wang, Yufei Li · 2024 · Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment · 58 citations

• Exploring the Impact of Fine-Tuning the Wav2vec2 Model in Database-Independent Detection of Dysarthric Speech

  Farhad Javanmardi, Sudarsana Reddy Kadiri, Paavo Alku · 2024 · IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics · 35 citations

• AI-Driven autonomous database management: Self-tuning, predictive query optimization, and intelligent indexing in enterprise it environments

  Oluwafemi Oloruntoba · 2025 · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · 31 citations

• λ-Tune: Harnessing Large Language Models for Automated Database System Tuning

  Victor Giannakouris, Immanuel Trummer · 2025 · Proceedings of the ACM on Management of Data · 24 citations

• GPTuner: An LLM-Based Database Tuning System

  Jiale Lao, Yibo Wang, Yufei Li · 2025 · ACM SIGMOD Record · 20 citations

📚 Books worth reading

• Database system conceptsAbraham Silberschatz · 1997
• Database systemsPeter Rob, Carlos Coronel · 2006
• Automated physical database design and tuningNicolas Bruno · 2011
• Database performance tuning and optimizationSitansu S. Mittra · 2002
• 📕Oracle curriculum database administrator sectionSideris Consulting Group · 2002
• 📕Oracle Database 11g R2Sideris Courseware Corporation · 2011
• Formal SQL Tuning for Oracle DatabasesLeonid Nossov · 2016
• Oracle Database 10g Performance Tuning Tips & TechniquesRichard Niemiec · 2007

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

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