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deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·Jun 24·5 min read
Scaling Rails: 41M Req/Hour, 8 DBs, disable_joins: true
TL;DR
Aura Frames faced challenges in handling peak loads from millions of customers during busy seasons. To address this, they implemented 8 primary databases and utilized the disable_joins: true feature in Active Record, which allows for efficient data retrieval without traditional SQL joins.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers can learn to effectively scale database systems using multiple databases and optimize data retrieval methods.
Key Takeaways
- Implement multiple databases for scalability
- Use disable_joins: true for efficient data retrieval
- Scale server instances based on load
- Monitor performance metrics during peak times
Full Summary
Aura Frames, a company providing digital photo frames, needed to scale its database infrastructure to accommodate millions of users, especially during peak times like Christmas. They expanded their database capacity by adding 8 primary databases, allowing for better management of read and write loads.
By leveraging Ruby on Rails' Active Record ORM, they utilized the disable_joins: true feature, which replaces SQL joins with multiple SELECT statements, improving data retrieval efficiency. This approach enabled them to vertically scale server instances during high demand and reduce costs when traffic normalized.
As a result, they processed 41 million requests per hour and achieved top rankings in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This successful scaling strategy not only met immediate demands but also set a precedent for future growth and performance optimization.