Fiifi Arkhurst Jr.

When you’re building an app for a company as ambitious as Myles Pudo, you need to make an impression. Ever wondered how your favorite apps and websites manage to run smoothly, even with millions of users?

In this article, we'll break down four essential concepts that are crucial for building robust systems: Consistency, Latency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.

I will try my best to use real-life examples to explain these concepts – brace yourselves for a wild ride!

A real-time financial trading system would need to have a high level of consistency and low latency, while a social media platform might prioritize high availability and partition tolerance over consistency.

Buckle up as we embark on a journey to demystify the magic behind the scenes of your digital world!

Consistency: Keeping Everyone on the Same Page

Imagine you're playing a multiplayer game online with friends. When someone scores a point, everyone should see the same score at the same time, right? That's consistency. It means that no matter who's looking at the score, they all see the same thing. So, in a financial trading system, where every second counts, it's crucial that everyone sees the same stock prices instantly.

Latency: The Need for Speed

Now, let's talk about speed. Latency is like the time it takes for a message to go from one friend to another in a chat. If it takes too long, you might miss out on the conversation! In our game example, if there's a delay in updating the score after someone scores a point, it can affect the gameplay. So, in a financial system, where decisions need to be made quickly, low latency (or fast updates) is super important.

Availability: Always Ready When You Are

Think about your favorite website or app. You want it to be available whenever you need it, right? Availability means the system is up and running, ready to use. So, for a social media platform like Instagram or Snapchat, where people are posting and scrolling all the time, it's crucial that the app is always available, even if millions of people are using it at once.

Partition Tolerance: Staying Strong Through the Storm

Imagine you're in a group chat with friends, and suddenly your internet goes out. Even if you can't talk to some friends, the chat should still work for others, right? That's partition tolerance. It means the system keeps working even if parts of it are cut off from each other. In a big system like a social media platform, with servers all over the world, partition tolerance ensures that the platform keeps running smoothly even if some servers go down.

So, different systems prioritize these concepts differently based on what they're used for. For example, a financial trading system needs strong consistency and low latency, while a social media platform needs high availability and partition tolerance to handle millions of users posting and interacting at the same time.

Whether you're a seasoned developer or a curious beginner, grasping these principles will empower you to appreciate the inner workings of your favorite apps and websites. The next time you're scrolling through your social feed or making a quick stock trade, remember the magic happening behind the scenes to make it all possible!