Ingestion Under Pressure: Scale Is Not Always an Asset

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A significant increase in workload can overwhelm a pipeline, particularly when it is designed to process a static amount of input regardless of customer growth. Companies like Podscan must manage the ingestion of a vast number of podcasts daily, meaning their operations are not easily adaptable to fluctuating customer metrics. This creates a challenge unique to those dealing with external data, as the business model does not allow for throttling or delaying processes; timely and comprehensive coverage is essential. The struggles faced by Podscan reflect a broader issue experienced by similar businesses that rely on external data, highlighting the complexities of scaling operations in such environments.

It started with a minor refactoring. It ended with an avalanche that almost caused an infrastructure explosion. From code to collapse — and a few weeks of frantic restoration. That's what Podscan was for the last 2 weeks.

Here's why dealing with external data and its scale can be very dangerous for indie founders.

This episode is sponsored by Podscan.fm

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/when-podcasts-attack-the-unexpected-challenges-of-external-data/

The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/346-when-podcasts-attack-the-unexpected-challenges-of-external-data

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