Maximizing Performance: Squeezing the Most out of Your System

The article discusses the importance of maximizing performance and getting database performance under control. The author shares their experience with Postgres performance issues in their monolithic SaaS application and the challenges they faced when trying to scale the DB server. They explore two potential solutions: write sharding and micro-services, both offering exciting options for fault tolerance and operational resilience. However, the author emphasizes the need to consider the cost of increased complexity, particularly in terms of attention. They argue that significant complexity increases should be put off as long as possible to avoid delaying or foregone feature delivery. Instead, developers should focus on squeezing the most out of their existing system before considering more advanced architectures. This approach allows for better utilization of resources and can lead to significant performance improvements. By prioritizing performance optimization and carefully considering the trade-offs of increased complexity, developers can ensure a brighter future for their applications.