1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: providing a join classifier to a join order generator wherein the join classifier is configured to classify joins in a database query; providing a join ranker to the join order generator wherein the join ranker is configured to rank each join based on the join's respective category; using, by the join order generator, the provided join classifier and the join ranker to produce join plans in order of join ranks; and wherein the database is a column-oriented database, a row-oriented database, or a hybrid row and column oriented database.