Should you create an archive - Retain outcomes or retrieve them whenever needed?

I am currently developing a project that allows users to input SQL queries with parameters. These queries will be executed at specified intervals determined by the user (e.g., every 2 hours for 6 months), and the results will be sent to their email address in the form of an HTML-email message.

The system essentially runs the queries, generates HTML, and sends it to the user. Additionally, I aim to save these results so that users can revisit previous data on our website.

My main question is what data should I store?

Should I save the SQL query along with its parameters (including date parameters) so that users can view results relevant to specific dates? This would require re-executing the query when the user accesses that particular result.
Alternatively, should I save the generated HTML and display it directly when requested by the user?

I would appreciate insights into the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, as well as recommendations on which method is considered the best and most efficient.

The archive will likely range from 1-2 months old, and the amount of rows returned from each query cannot be accurately predicted.

Thank you!

Answer №1

To optimize the process of retrieving previously run queries, it is recommended to save the results for future reference instead of re-running the queries repeatedly. Saving the results offers several advantages:

Eliminates unnecessary computational work by avoiding re-execution of the same queries;
Ensures consistency of results with the original report, as data may have changed since the query was last executed if only the SQL is saved.

One drawback of this method is that it may require more disk space, though this should not be a concern unless the queries return extremely large result sets (which might indicate that using HTML for storage is not ideal).

Answer №2

In the event that I were to develop an application like this, there would be several key features that I would include:

Implementing common queries such as retrieving data by current date, time, date ranges, time ranges, etc., to enhance user accessibility.
Including autocomplete functionality for commonly used keywords for a smoother user experience.
If the data undergoes frequent updates, it may be more practical to regenerate HTML content dynamically rather than saving static versions.

Answer №3

The main distinction lies in the fact that when data is altered, a new query will yield different results from what was previously stored. This requires a decision on whether to provide users with the most current information or a snapshot of historical data.

If the relevant data remains constant, the determining factors become the cost and frequency of queries being run by multiple users. In such cases, it may be more efficient to save queries instead of constantly re-executing them in order to enhance performance.

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