[NEWBIE] mod_python, DBMs, and persistence

[Peter Traub]

Hello all,

We have a Python CGI script that uses various DBM files having a few
thousand records (someday, maybe more).  Problem: It gets slower when
it's used with the bigger DBMs, and it gets really slow beyond about 2
users. There is no sophistication to this CGI (yet). It has to start
python and connect to the DBMs for every invocation. What is the best
way to remove this overhead? Use mod_python, fastcgi, or persistent CGI?
'Best' is defined as stability more than speed.

Also, how efficient is it to use DBMs as opposed to a DB such as MySQL?

And one final question... Would anyone run a business using mod_python?
fastCGI?

Many thanks in advance.

Peter