Backend Performance Roadmap

1Caching

Use cache aside, write-through, or read-through caching patterns.

Use proper cache-invalidation strategies.

Implement caching at various levels.

Utilize caching mechanisms (HTTP, Server/Client, CDN).

2Databases

Use connection pooling to reduce connection overhead.

Implement efficient pagination for large datasets.

Create efficient database indexes.

Avoid SELECT * queries; fetch only required columns.

Optimize JOIN operations and avoid unnecessary joins.

Regularly clean up unused data and perform maintenance.

Enable slow-query logging and monitor it.

Set up database replication for redundancy.

Use DB sharding if required.

Consider denormalizing schema for read-heavy workloads.

Use profiling tools offered by the database.

Keep an eye on and fine-tune ORM queries.

Utilize lazy loading, eager loading, batch processing.

3Security

Keep dependencies up to date.

Implement request throttling and rate limiting.

Enforce reasonable payload size limits.

Regularly audit and update security measures.

Implement proper authentication and authorization.

4Optimize API Response

Enable compression for responses.

Implement efficient pagination for large datasets.

Implement streaming of large requests/responses.

Prefetch or preload resources/data for subsequent requests.

5Asynchronism

Offload heavy tasks to background jobs or queues.

Utilize message brokers for async communication.

Minimize unnecessary processing or expensive computation.

Use asynchronous logging mechanisms.

Batch similar requests together to reduce round trips.

6Load Balancing & Scaling

Use horizontal or vertical scaling when appropriate.

Use load balancing to distribute traffic across servers.

7Code Optimization

Profile code to identify performance bottlenecks.

Optimize algorithms and data structures.

Identify and optimize critical paths or frequently accessed endpoints.

Consider compiled languages (Go, Rust) for performance-critical parts.

Look into SOA or microservices if needed.

8Network

Minimize network latency by hosting backend close to users.

Use CDNs for static and frequently accessed assets.

Utilize HTTP keep-alive to reduce connection overhead.

Fine-tune connection pool settings.

Set appropriate connection timeouts and efficient retry mechanisms.

9Monitoring and Logging

Implement comprehensive monitoring and logging.

Track performance metrics and troubleshoot issues.

Use tools like Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack.

10Performance Testing

Conduct regular performance testing and benchmarking.

Identify regressions, track improvements, fine-tune optimization over time.