QuerySet Optimizer

Audit Django query performance with deterministic checks and evidence-backed recommendations.

Workflow

Step 1: Set scope and baseline target

1. Locate the Django backend root (directory containing manage.py).
2. Define the optimization target:
   • endpoint or view
   • serializer
   • background task
   • repeated ORM hotspot from profiling data
3. If target is unknown, scan all app directories and prioritize read-heavy paths first (list endpoints, feed pages, reports).

Step 2: Capture runtime query evidence (preferred)

Collect at least one measurable baseline for the target before changing code.

Open Django shell:

uv run manage.py shell 2>/dev/null || python manage.py shell

Then capture query count for one representative code path:

from django.db import connection
from django.test.utils import CaptureQueriesContext

with CaptureQueriesContext(connection) as ctx:
    # Execute the target path, for example evaluating the target queryset.
    list(qs)

print(f"queries={len(ctx.captured_queries)}")

If runtime capture is not feasible, continue with static analysis and mark runtime validation as not evaluated.

Step 3: Run static scan

Read references/antipatterns.md for rule IDs, severity, search commands, and fix patterns.

For each rule:

1. Run the suggested search command.
2. Manually validate each candidate.
3. Exclude false positives (tests, migrations, fixtures, one-off scripts) unless explicitly relevant.
4. Record confirmed findings with:
   • ID
   • Severity
   • File and line number
   • Evidence (1-2 lines)
   • Fix recommendation
   • Expected impact (query count, memory, latency, or lock time)

Step 4: Score

Start from 100 and deduct points per confirmed finding:

Rules:

• Floor score at 0.
• Cap duplicate deductions for each rule ID to 3 findings.
• Deduct only for confirmed findings.
• Add +5 bonus (max 100) when before/after query counts are measured for at least one hotspot.

Step 5: Report

Output a markdown report with this structure:

## QuerySet Optimizer Report

**Efficiency Score: XX / 100** [GRADE]
Grade: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (<60)
Audit root: `<path>`
Target: `<endpoint/view/task or full-scan>`

### Baseline Evidence
- Runtime query capture: [AVAILABLE/NOT AVAILABLE]
- Representative query count(s): [before values or N/A]

### Findings

#### High
| ID | Location | Issue | Fix | Expected Impact |
|----|----------|-------|-----|-----------------|
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

#### Medium
...

#### Low
...

### Not Evaluated
- [RULE_ID] Reason not evaluated.

### Top Actions
1. ...
2. ...
3. ...

### Verification Plan
- [ ] Re-run representative path and compare query count.
- [ ] Confirm no behavior regressions (ordering, permissions, pagination).
- [ ] Add regression test when hotspot is business-critical.

If a severity bucket has no findings, omit that section.

Step 6: Optional remediation loop

If the user asks for fixes:

1. Fix highest-impact findings first.
2. Re-measure query counts or latency for the same path.
3. Re-run Steps 3-5.
4. Report score delta and residual risks.