I’ve developed a few applications now using Microsoft Access and PostgreSQL. Simple reason - developing front-end using Access gives results very quickly, while PostgreSQL provides scalability and reliability needed at the back-end.

However, I’ve started to see several performance problems. Basically, certain complex query finished very quickly, while other (seemingly) simple ones takes forever.
Am still not able to pinpoint where the exact location of the culprit - Access, PostgreSQL, or a bit of both. So far I’m still doing research to resolve this.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve found so far:

Microsoft Access Performance Tips

• Blue Claw’s Performance Tips
• Granite Consulting’s comprehensive guide, lots of pointers
• How Granite Consulting gained 85x performance increase
• Several tips from ATTAC Consulting Group
• Better Performance with BeginTrans and COmmitTrans
• Make loops goes faster - combined with above, could give you serious boost
• How to speed up Microsoft Access when using ODBC

PostgreSQL Tuning Tips

• Basic PostgreSQL tune up - good for starters
• PostgreSQL tuning tips from Lyris - the famous list manager software
• PostgreSQL 8 Performance Checklist - gonna be a book someday, but you can start reading it now.
• Most comprehensive ostgreSQL tuning guide so far
• A good discussion on PostgreSQL tuning