JohnI started my backend journey with HNG Internship for free (https://hng.tech/internship) and there is also that for the premium package (https://hng.tech/premium). I am passionate about web development in general, I will be focusing on just backend and hopefully I apply the skills and knowledge acquired into the real world.
Backend developers faces problems that require technical understanding and abilities to solve problems. I recently came across an issue of this kind that put my skills to the test. Let's explore the problem I encountered and my approach to solving it.
The Issue was an unknown degrade in performance
The team discovered a noticeable drop in performance in one of the backend services one day. The responsiveness of the system now take several seconds longer than before. Timely resolution of this issue was crucial as this service was responsible for crucial tasks related to user authentication and authorization.
Step 1: Identifying the range and effect
first step is to get information and determine the the extent of the issue. keeping an eye on network traffic, CPU and memory usage, and other server and looking at metrics unique to the application that were connected to error logs, API response times, and database queries. it was determined that the problem was limited to a particular endpoint that handled user session management.
Step 2: Duplicating the Problem
We had to repeatedly replicate the performance degradation in order to obtain more in-depth understanding. Using load testing tools to create high traffic scenarios and examined how the service performed under pressure. By using this method, it was confirmed that the slowdown was mainly experienced during periods of high usage/
Step 3: Examining Records
We then examined the logs and followed the problematic endpoint's execution flow. We looked at every stage of the request lifecycle, paying particular attention to external API calls, database queries, and any unique business logic. We were able to identify a specific database query that was taking significantly longer than expected, particularly when there was a high load, thanks to thorough logging and tracing.
Step 4: Database query optimization
After identifying the problem, a complicated SQL query was set out to improve its efficiency. In order to properly utilize database optimizations, steps were taken firstly to reorganize the query, examine the query execution plan, and examine indexes.
Step 5: Testing and Validation
Extensive load testing were carried out to verify the enhancement and also to be sure the performance is ready and responsive.
Step 6: Observation and continuous Enhancement
In order to identify any upcoming performance ontime, A configured proactive monitoring and alerting system was setup. Predetermined thresholds for response times, error rates, and system resource usage were used to configure alerts.
Conclusion
Resolving this backend performance issue was difficult but worthwhile. it required methodical approach from identifying the problem to implementing and validating the problems and not just to fix the immediate problem but also improve our comprehension of how the system behaves under load.
Overcoming obstacles of this nature is essential in the ever-changing field of backend development if one hopes to enhance system performance, scalability, and reliability. Every issue resolved broadens the body of knowledge and ready for new projects involving the development of reliable and effective backend services.
