materialize-only-what-queries-need

Decide what to PERSIST in your data structures (graph nodes, DB tables, cache layouts) based on the QUERIES you must answer, not the DEFINITIONS that justify the data. Definitions tell you logical identity; storage strategy is independent. Materializing every definitional component leads to O(N×M) blow-ups that masquerade as memory leaks. Use when: (1) designing a new graph-node type, edge type, DB table, or cache layout; (2) about to name a subgraph / comprises / members / contains collection on a parent entity; (3) memory growth proportional to (entities × per-entity-elements); (4) "memory leak" debugging that survives multiple targeted patches — the leak may be storage shape, not retention; (5) pre-implementation sketch includes "for each X, store all reached nodes"; (6) research/spec doc says "X = ⟨A, B, C⟩" and you're tempted to make it three storage edges per X.