𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄

Sharding splits data across servers. It handles data too big for one server. This choice is hard. Use it as a last resort.

Most apps do not need to shard. PostgreSQL handles hundreds of gigabytes. Try these first:

• Optimize queries
• Add indexes
• Increase server size
• Use read replicas
• Use caching

Your sharding key is the most important part. Pick a key to spread data evenly. User ID or tenant ID works well. Queries with the key are fast. Queries without the key are slow.

Range-based sharding is simple but creates hot spots. Consistent hashing is better for growth. Use tools like Vitess or Citus to avoid writing sharding logic in your code.

Backups are not backups until you restore them. Practice recovery drills monthly. Use point-in-time recovery to fix mistakes.

Follow this plan:

• Weekly: Fix the three slowest queries.
• Monthly: Set up connection pooling and alerts.
• Quarterly: Run a full recovery drill.

Source: https://dev.to/therizwansaleem/database-sharding-when-to-shard-and-how-to-do-it-without-regret-4i5 Optional learning community: https://rizwansaleem.co