Abstract: An embodiment generates, responsive to receiving a declarative replication specification, a logical map comprising a plurality of paths to completing a data replication process identified by the replication specification. The embodiment determines, responsive to generating the logical map, an optimal path to completing the data replication process by searching the plurality of paths of the logical map using a cost-directed search algorithm to find the optimal path from among the plurality of paths. The embodiment also performs, responsive to finding the optimal path, a series of data replication operations for replicating source data on a target database. The embodiment also detects, during a runtime of the data replication process, a predetermined change to a runtime environment of the data replication process. The embodiment also determines, responsive to detecting the predetermined change, a revised optimal path for performing the data replication process in the changed runtime environment.