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RubyConf AU 2013: http://www.rubyconf.org.au

On the internet, there seems to be two kinds of information available to do with "scaling rails", or on "scaling" in general.
Blog posts about how the really big boys are doing things
Blog posts full of non-production benchmarks explaining why you need a particular data store, templating framework, or anything else to be "web-scale"
This talk will hopefully be a third kind, practical advice to help you grow your application at the right pace alongside your business' growth, based on real world experience.
Topics covered will (probably) include:
Why you should probably choose Postgres or Mysql as your data store
Why going from one developer to two developers is the hardest
Why going from one server to two servers is the hardest
Why those two things are actually the same problem
How YAGNI and SRP apply to your hosting just as much as your code
How you balance your cost-speed-quality stool for developing your app up against the same cost-speed-quality tripod for your infrastructure
Why other people's advice on the topic can only ever provide a starting point, not a final answer

The slides for the talk are available at slideshare.net/johnb/webscale-for-the-rest-of-us-ruby-conf-2013

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In the talk titled "Web Scale for the Rest of Us" presented at RubyConf AU 2013, John Barton shares practical advice on scaling Ruby on Rails applications based on his real-world experience. The discussion addresses the complexities and challenges that startups face when scaling their applications in relation to their business growth. Barton emphasizes that scaling is not only about serving more web traffic but also involves evolving the application over time to meet customer demands. He introduces several key principles and concepts to consider when developing and maintaining applications:

- **Scaling and Profit:** Scaling should be viewed as doing more for less cost, with profit as the goal. Scaling challenges are intrinsically linked to availability issues.  
- **Development and Operations (DevOps):** Aligning development practices with operational capabilities is crucial for a successful deployment of Rails applications. Barton underlines the need for a strong understanding of the interplay between development resource allocation and operational management.  
- **Single Responsibility Principle (SRP):** This principle should extend to server management. Each component of the application should have a defined responsibility to simplify troubleshooting and maintenance.  
- **You Aren't Gonna Need It (YAGNI):** Avoid over-engineering components in anticipation of future needs. Build flexibility into the stack to adapt to unforeseen circumstances without unnecessary complexity.  
- **Caching:** While caching can be a helpful tool for managing spikes in web traffic, it should be implemented judiciously. Understanding the core issues behind performance problems is more critical than applying quick fixes.  
- **Database Recommendations:** Barton advocates for using SQL databases, such as PostgreSQL or MySQL, in alignment with Rails applications for their reliability and support for scalability. He expresses skepticism about MongoDB in typical Rails contexts but acknowledges its potential under specific conditions.  
- **Redundancy:** Emphasizing the importance of having redundant developers and infrastructure, he advises that if you can't afford a second server or developer, you probably can't afford the first one either.

Barton illustrates these concepts with his experiences at his startup, Good Films, explaining how they navigate hosting and deploying their products within the constraints of budgeting and traffic fluctuations. He concludes by reinforcing the necessity of embracing redundancy and planning for scalability early in the development process, highlighting the impact that these decisions can have on a business’s trajectory.

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