The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Estimating systems with napkin math (Interview)
Sep 11, 2020
In this discussion, Simon Eskildsen, a Principal Engineer at Shopify, reveals his innovative approach to system estimation through 'napkin math.' He emphasizes using first-principle thinking to simplify complex problems without writing code. The conversation dives into navigating slow queries in MySQL, enhancing database management during high-demand scenarios like Black Friday, and the importance of practical estimations in system design. Eskildsen also shares insights from his self-taught journey in programming and the development of a newsletter focused on mathematical problem-solving for software performance.
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Napkin Math for Faster Decisions
- Estimate system performance upfront using napkin math.
- Avoid lengthy implementations and arguments by quickly assessing feasibility.
Bottom-Up Understanding
- Build your understanding of systems from the bottom up, starting with fundamental principles.
- Challenge assumptions and explore alternative solutions by understanding system limitations.
MySQL Transaction Limits
- Simon explored MySQL transaction limits in his newsletter.
- He hypothesized F-sync operations were the bottleneck, but real-world results showed much higher throughput due to batching.
