The document discusses the typical 7 stages of scaling a web application as it grows in popularity and usage. Stage 1 involves a simple initial architecture. Stage 2 adds more redundant components to improve performance and availability as usage grows. Stages 3-5 involve significant pain as the application is pushed to its limits, requiring re-architecting and partitioning of databases and services. Stages 6-7 enter more unknown territory as major bottlenecks are addressed and capabilities are expanded to replicate data across geographies. Key practices for scaling include designing for it from the start, isolating services, optimizing after stability is ensured, and establishing processes for releases and change management.

1. The 7 Stages of Scaling Web Apps: Strategies for Architects John Engates CTO, Rackspace Presented: LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, San Francisco August 6, 2008

6. PERFORMANCE AND SCALABILITY ARE NOT THE SAME…

7. Performance

8. Scalability

10. Performance

11. Scalability

12. More Scalability

15. Pain Scale Back

19. Scaling Through Database Replication

30. http://racklabs.com

31. Help Wanted!