Optimizing AWS DynamoDB Queries for a Cross-Platform Mobile App: Best Practices and Pitfalls
I'm getting frustrated with I'm stuck on something that should probably be simple. This might be a silly question, but Currently developing a cross-platform mobile application using Flutter and AWS DynamoDB as the backend. While working on optimizing our database queries for speed and efficiency, I noticed that read operations can sometimes take longer than expected, especially when dealing with larger datasets. I've tried implementing a composite primary key strategy to improve query performance, hoping it would allow for more efficient retrieval of items. For instance, I set up my DynamoDB table like this: ```javascript const params = { TableName: 'MyTable', KeyConditionExpression: 'PK = :pk AND SK = :sk', ExpressionAttributeValues: { ':pk': { S: 'USER#123' }, ':sk': { S: 'POST#456' } } }; ``` This seems to work for specific queries, but I'm still concerned about how it behaves under heavy load. I've also experimented with setting up DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX), but it added complexity to my architecture that I wasn't sure was warranted. Moreover, I read that using the `Scan` operation can be highly inefficient, so I've avoided it wherever possible, instead opting for `Query`. However, there are cases where I need to retrieve multiple items without a specific key. In those instances, what are the best alternatives to avoid scanning? Further, Iām utilizing the AWS SDK for JavaScript (version 3.x) to make requests, and I wonder if there are specific configurations or settings that can enhance performance beyond basic optimizations. Have others found significant improvements by indexing attributes or through specific read/write capacity configurations? Lastly, during my testing, I've occasionally noticed throttling events in CloudWatch when the app experiences spikes in user activity. How can I configure auto-scaling for provisioned throughput effectively without introducing latency in user experience? Any insights on best practices or shared experiences regarding these optimizations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! My development environment is macOS. I'd really appreciate any guidance on this. What am I doing wrong? Could someone point me to the right documentation?