Tech Articles โ (please note these posts are collated from AmigosCode, Alex Xu and many others. Full copyright to the owners of their material)
Improving API Performance with Database Connection Pooling
The diagram below shows 5 common API optimization techniques. Today, Iโll focus on number 5, connection pooling. It is not as trivial to implement as it sounds for some languages.
When fulfilling API requests, we often need to query the database. Opening a new connection for every API call adds overhead. Connection pooling helps avoid this penalty by reusing connections.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐
1. For each API server, establish a pool of database connections at startup. 2. Workers share these connections, requesting one when needed and returning it after.
๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐
However, setting up connection pooling can be more complex for languages like PHP, Python and Node.js. These languages handle scale by having multiple processes, each serving a subset of requests.
- In these languages, database connections get tied to each ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐. - Connections can't be efficiently shared across processes. Each process needs its own pool, wasting resources.
In contrast, languages like Java and Go use threads within a single process to handle requests. Connections are bound at the application level, allowing easy sharing of a centralized pool.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Tools like PgBouncer work around these challenges by ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ at the application level.
PgBouncer creates a centralized pool that all processes can access. No matter which process makes the request, PgBouncer efficiently handles the pooling.
At high scale, all languages can benefit from running PgBouncer on a dedicated server. Now the connection pool is shared over the network for all API servers. This conserves finite database connections.
Connection pooling improves efficiency, but its implementation complexity varies across languages.
My Favorite 10 Books for Software Developers
— Alex Xu (@alexxubyte) May 8, 2024
General Advice
1 - The Pragmatic Programmer by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
2 - Code Complete by Steve McConnell: Often considered a bible for software developers, this comprehensive book covers all aspects of software development,โฆ pic.twitter.com/aqkVaDiQRX
Whatโs the difference between Session-based authentication and JWTs?
— Alex Xu (@alexxubyte) May 14, 2024
Hereโs a simple breakdown for both approaches:
Session-Based Authentication
In this approach, you store the session information in a database or session store and hand over a session ID to the user.
Think ofโฆ pic.twitter.com/Y1KG74A5c6
Software Architecturalย Patterns:
1. Event-Driven Architecture: ย ย - Components: Event Producer, Event Broker, Event Consumers. ย ย - Usage: Real-time data processing and highly scalable applications, like financial systems and IoT.
2. Layered Architecture: ย ย - Layers: Presentation, Business/Application, Data Access, Persistence, Infrastructure. ย ย - Usage: Enterprise applications with complex business rules.
3. Monolithic Architecture: ย ย - Structure: All functionalities integrated into a single application. ย ย - Usage: Simpler applications, can become cumbersome as the app grows.
4. Microservice Architecture: ย ย - Components: API Gateway, Microservices (e.g., Catalog, Shopping Cart, Ordering). ย ย - Usage: Large, complex applications requiring high scalability and independent deployment.
5. MVC (Model-View-Controller) Architecture: ย ย - Components: Model (data and logic), View (user interface), Controller (handles input). ย ย - Usage: Web applications to separate concerns for easier management.
6. Master-Slave Architecture: ย ย - Components: Master Server (writes), Slave Servers (reads), Database. ย ย - Usage: Load balancing and high availability, suitable for large-scale databases.
40 Tips From A Senior to a Junior developer
40 Tips From A Senior to a Junior developer
— Nelson Djalo | Amigoscode (@AmigosCode) May 10, 2024
1. Master the Basics: Ensure you have a strong grasp of fundamental programming concepts.
2. Write Readable Code: Prioritize readability over cleverness.
3. Use Version Control: Learn Git and make frequent commits with meaningfulโฆ pic.twitter.com/4YW7N1apcG
1. Master the Basics: Ensure you have a strong grasp of fundamental programming concepts. 2. Write Readable Code: Prioritize readability over cleverness. 3. Use Version Control: Learn Git and make frequent commits with meaningful messages. 4. Understand Your Tools: Get familiar with your IDE, debugger, and terminal. 5. Comment Wisely: Use comments to explain why, not what. 6. Practice Problem-Solving: Regularly work on coding challenges to improve your skills. 7. Learn Design Patterns: Study common design patterns and their use cases. 8. Ask Questions: Donโt hesitate to seek help when stuck. 9. Read Documentation: Thoroughly read the documentation for libraries and frameworks you use. 10. Write Tests: Develop a habit of writing unit and integration tests. 11. Refactor Regularly: Continuously improve your codebase. 12. Learn Debugging: Master the art of debugging to solve issues efficiently. 13. Understand Algorithms: Study common algorithms and their complexities. 14. Keep Learning: Stay updated with new technologies and industry trends. 15. Build Projects: Work on side projects to apply what you learn. 16. Use Code Reviews: Participate in code reviews to learn from others and improve your code. 17. Learn SQL: Know how to work with databases and write efficient queries. 18. Learn about the business domain youโre working in. 19. Build relationships with other developers. 20. Stay Organized: Use task management tools to keep track of your work. 21. Optimize Code: Write efficient code but avoid premature optimization. 22. Understand basic security practices. 23. Maintain good documentation for your projects. 24. Follow Best Practices: Adhere to industry best practices and coding standards. 25. Work on Soft Skills: Improve communication and teamwork skills. 26. Stay Humble: Be open to feedback and willing to admit mistakes. 27. Contribute to Open Source: Participate in open source projects to gain experience. 28. Practice Pair Programming: Collaborate with peers to solve problems together. 29. Understand the Full Stack: Gain knowledge of both front and back-end development. 30. Automate Repetitive Tasks: Use scripts and tools to automate repetitive tasks. 31. Monitor Performance: Use tools to monitor and improve application performance. 32. Keep Code Simple: Aim for simplicity in your code. 33. Learn from Mistakes: Analyze and learn from your errors. 34. Set Goals: Define and work towards personal and professional goals. 35. Be Patient: Development takes time; be patient with your learning process. 36. Read Books: Invest time in reading programming and technology books. 37. Join Communities: Engage in developer communities. 38. Stay Healthy: Maintain a healthy work-life balance. 39. Use Modern Practices: Embrace agile, DevOps, and continuous integration/deployment practices. 40. Mentor Others