Dev Tools · 1h ago
Missing Database Index Crashes Server on Launch Day
A startup's launch nearly failed when a missing database index caused server crashes after 50 users registered. The developer had uploaded 400,000 records without indexing, maxing out CPU on a free-tier AWS instance. Scaling up and adding the index saved the event, which later served 5 million users at low cost.
Meridian48 take
A cautionary tale that underscores how basic database optimization, often overlooked in fast-paced development, can make or break a live product.
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The Day I Learned to Respect Database Indexes (The Hard Way) →
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