best practices to build scalable web applications

The following are some best practices to keep in mind when developing scalable web applications.

Choosing the right technology

Well, obviously, scalability is not an afterthought. It needs to be in the process sheet from the time you plan on designing the web application. And the first thing you need to do is use the right technology. There are three essential components of picking the right tech stack.

Programming language: The first choice is the programming language since that will significantly impact the scalability of your web app. You need to pick a language that allows communication between different physical machines.

Database: You need to pick a database that supports your scalability goals. You can choose from any of the available NoSQL databases built with scalability in mind. You might have to consider different databases for different workloads.

Communication: As microservices are increasingly replacing monoliths, you need to ensure that the communication channel between your services is also scalable. You might have to use a loosely coupled system that will allow you to scale your services independently as and when the demand arises.

Implement best security practices

Although there is no way you can predict the security attacks on your system, you can employ methods to help reduce the chance of running into web app security issues. Start with good firewall protection to block anyone outside of your organization from accessing the system. Then, configure the user directory to allow for updating of user information in real-time. Moreover, apply role management-based authentication to restrict access to authenticated users only.

Optimize your network architecture for application performance

While focusing on scalable web app development, do not neglect the network layer in virtualized environments. Examine the network settings in this environment and optimize them for top-level performance-cache data in-between servers. In case data become stale, it can result in network bottlenecks when moving data around the caches. Tuning cache systems allow you to keep track of data that can be cached and prevents traffic bottlenecks from becoming an issue.

Test your scalable web application

Once you're done with developing and designing the web applications, it's time to test it. Test your app to see how well it can perform under high-traffic conditions. Load test your scalable web app to test and explore it on a realistic load pattern and then simulate different traffic scenarios. Remember that high traffic might not work well for your app if it is not built for scalability and high-level user performance.

Avoid single point of failure

Can the failure of a single point in your app system crash your entire app? Can your app crash if the server running your database fails? These are defined as a single point of failure. If the change in any one of your app components becomes the reason for your app's downfall, it is the single point of failure, and you must prevent such points at all costs. To do so, you need to replicate everything. Run your database on multiple servers so that even if one backend code backfires, the others can balance the load.

Push your logic to the clients

In the case of programming languages like PHP, .Net, or . Nodejs code, the backend code, is the actual logic. The only issue is that when a client requests anything, you have to put your server to work. And if multiple clients start making multiple similar requests, your server has a problem.

However, there is another side to the story. You cannot always trust the client. They might compromise and override the logic, which is why you need to try and strike a balance. Only port the logic that is required. To do so, there are many tools you can use. Moreover, pushing logic to the client-side will reduce server load and make your app scalable and efficient.

Employ asynchronous communication for optimal resource allocation and utilization

Asynchronous communication is how you can handle thousands of requests simultaneously. With asynchronous programming, you can quickly process I/O and CPU-bound requests. Asynchronous practices like reactive programming are the right solution for building web apps that are scalable, interactive, resilient, and driven by events.

Summing it up

So, you understand now what scalability means and how it impacts your business. But with the proper practices, framework, database, and architecture, you can save millions of dollars. At Triazine, we've built scalable web applications for several of our clients and assisted them in coping with the increasing demand for flawless and seamless application performance. Our team utilizes the right resources to help with upscaling and downscaling requirements in higher and lower traffic situations on the scalable web app.

Book a free call with our experts, and we can provide you with the right solution.