databasecentered

Databasecentered is an architectural and design approach in software engineering in which the database is treated as the central organizing asset of a system. In a databasecentered design, the data model and data governance drive development, and application logic, user interfaces, and workflows are derived from the schema and data relations. The database is viewed as the single source of truth, and business rules may be implemented inside the database using stored procedures, constraints, and triggers.

Key characteristics include a strong emphasis on data modeling, normalization, and data integrity; close alignment between the database schema and the application's behavior; development workflows that begin with schema design and migrations; and data sharing across modules through a common data model. Systems are often built on relational databases; there may be tight coupling between layers, with APIs and UI designed around tables, views, and stored procedures.

Advantages of databasecentered design include strong data consistency, reuse of rules across applications, and straightforward reporting and analytics from a centralized data store. It can simplify data governance when multiple subsystems access the same data and may reduce duplication.

Criticisms center on vendor lock-in, limited flexibility for evolving user interfaces, and challenges in scaling or deploying to distributed architectures. Critics argue that excessive logic in the database can hinder modularity, testing, and independent deployment. Modern alternatives emphasize domain-driven design, microservices, or API-first architectures, distributing business logic into services while preserving a robust data layer. The suitability of databasecentered approaches depends on organizational needs, data complexity, and performance requirements.