We talk a lot about the complexities of building web applications, but we should also mind building scalable web applications that can withstand usage peaks. 

In this article, I’ll explain what it takes to build a scalable web application ready for high loads and share some principles and guidelines for building scalable software systems.

What Is Scalable Web Architecture In Simple Words

I like to compare web architecture to a lego city. It also consists of small elements that can form into bigger parts. In web architectures, these elements are called: 

• Modules
• Components

Web app architecture components and modules interact differently, and the way you can use them also varies. The goal of scalable web architecture is to set the communication boundaries between these elements to make the app reliable. 

Let’s say you need to build a wall in your lego house, and some bricks don’t suit initially. So you should modify them: make them longer, wider, etc. Only then connect one brick with another and have a strong wall. 

Setting the rules and modifying elements to make the app work smoothly is what a scalable application design stands for. 

How Web Architecture Works

Now that you know what scalable web architecture is, let’s figure out how it works. All applications are made up of two primary components: 

• Client-side, popularly called the frontend. It’s where user interaction takes place.
• Server-side, also known as the backend. This part is treated by developers only. 

Apart from this, another component – the database server that sends the requested data to the server-side. Ok, now, since that’s clear, here’s what happens when you type a request in Google and hit enter.

1. The browser sends your request to the Domain Name Server that will recognize the IP address;
2. The server catches the request and sends it to the data storage;
3. The server sends a response with requested data back to the browser; 
4. The page is then displayed on your screen with the requested information.

You probably have never thought of what happens for that 1 – 2 seconds when you hit enter, but this is how it works. So now, let’s find out why scalable architecture is important and what happens if you don’t build one. 

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Why Is Scalable Web Architecture Important?

Spoiler, not all applications should be scalable. 

We at codelexer Technology always ask “why?” before jumping right into “how to build scalable web applications?” So if you come to us with a B2C product, that will probably grow fast. The number of users and services will increase significantly – then chances are we’ll advise building scalable web applications and add it to the technical requirements. Simply because your product requires scalable architecture. In the case of B2B products, scaling isn’t the top priority because there is usually less data to process. 

Scalable web architecture helps you understand what and where is located in your app, which saves up time later. Below I list 5 key reasons why building scalable web applications is important. But note, getting maximum benefits requires a great effort right on the start line of the development process.

Smooth App Performance

Creating an app to sell to 10-20K users is a rare case. Most businesses aim to have user acquisition in hundreds of thousands of users in the first year. Consequently, building an app that is not scalable is an intention for having technical debt very soon. 

Web services scalability makes your app perform and operate well no matter how many people use it, 100 or 100,000. That’s simple. 

Easy Integration Of New Features

While developing, I often ask myself: how might I build an app that not only works without bugs but also is easy to modify? At this point, I start to think of how I can make these lego bricks universal, which means I can effortlessly plug new pieces of functionality into them. 

For you as a business owner, it means less time and money spent on integrating new services and features. And building scalable web applications comes to the rescue here. 

Cost-Effectiveness

Well-thought scalable web architectures can handle the various loads and adapt to new business requirements skillfully. So you spend less money on updating the site, integrating new functionality, etc.

Reduced Development Time

Changing the code structure takes lots of time, especially when it’s poorly written. However, in a scalable web application, developers can divide the structure into several small modules, eventually reducing the development time as well. 

Furthermore, it becomes easier to integrate new features and services without affecting the overall structure — win-win for developers and business owners. 

High Security

Security in scalable web services is mainly about limiting the attack surface. What do I mean here? Let’s say you have a scalable web architecture and your friend lacks one. 

You implemented proper security mechanisms and carefully managed access and data. With bad architecture, your friend has little control over security because data moves across the application unpredictable.

In case of a cybercriminals attack, your friend is at the risk zone. Having scalable web architecture saves you from losing data or blocking access to certain services. Scalable server architecture gives you extra protection from such cyber-attacks, and that advantage can’t be overrated. 

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Ways Of Web Application Scaling

So what to do when your servers cannot cope with the number of requests coming in and out? There are 2 ways of scaling web applications you can use: 

Vertical Scaling

When I say vertical scaling, I mean improving the performance of the system by adding bigger machines. 

For example, you’re not satisfied with the speed of data processing in your app. To fix this, you simply replace your server with a more powerful one. Instead of using a 4GB server memory with 2 processors, you take the one with 8GB memory and 4 processors. 

Vertical scaling is the easiest scaling approach since it doesn’t require any changes to the application programs running on such systems.

Horizontal Scaling

Horizontal scaling is when you improve the performance of the system by adding more machines. 

In this case, you have a 2GB server with 2 processors and add an extra one with the same characteristics. Now, you have two servers that execute the same function simultaneously. The result is the same – your system performs better and faster. 

This scaling approach is a bit tricky because it requires a load balancing element because requests have to be directed to different machines and they should have the same logic and rules not to conflict with each other.  

It’s hard to say what way of scaling suits you best because everything depends on your specific product, time-to-market, and potential growth plan. So mind it while developing or contact us. We’ll be happy to consult you on that topic. 

How To Scale A Web Application: Uptech Flow

Our approach at Uptech is to build apps that people can use right away. Scaling web applications plays a significant role here because it speeds up the time-to-market, so people literally can use your app right away. 

To keep scaling organized, we have a step-by-step guide on how to scale a web application. Check it out.

Step 1 – Define The Bottleneck

First, we define the problem. Whether it is a slow page load time or a high number of errors? We mark it as a bottleneck and see if we can fix it by web scaling. 

Step 2 – Scale

If the scalable design is what can help here, we pick one of two scaling ways I described above and start scaling. 

Step 3 – Look What Changed

Scaling web applications is pointless if you don’t set the metrics you want to improve. That’s why the important step is to set the indicators you wish to improve and compare them before and after scaling. 

If the bottleneck was slow page load time, check how it changed. 

Our job here is not to put as much as possible in your app. We step back and help you figure out whether your product actually needs scaling. Only then we jump into it. 

Web Application Scalability Principles

Since we’re approaching the finish line, here’re 3 principles you should keep in mind from the moment when you just decided to build scalable web applications. 

The App Performs Smoothly

So make sure your app works without delays and crashes. 47% of users expect a maximum of 2 seconds loading time for an average website. People don’t like to wait, so don’t give them a chance to just leave your app, especially if you can fix the problem.  

The App Is Available

Availability is fundamental. If you need your product to be available 24/7, design it in a scalable way that allows the system to be up and running quickly in case of any failure. 

The App Is Easy To Update

Your product has to be easy to operate and update. Scalable code is the one that can be maintained by ever-changing sets of eyes, deployed on changing platforms, and clear so that a developer can open it years later and get it.

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Summing Up

When it comes to app performance, scalable web architecture is what matters. At the simplest level, the goal of scalable web architecture is to make the app work smoothly. 

There are 2 main ways of scaling. You should choose the one based on your product, time-to-market, and potential growth plan. The main benefits of scalable web architectures are executing more work and sustaining high load performance without experiencing downtime responding. 

Note that not every app should be scalable. But every scalable app requires a team of professionals. We at codelexer Technology have 5+ years of developing apps for startups worldwide. So if you need help with designing a scalable web architecture or not sure whether you need one, drop us a line. We’ll be happy to help you! 

The post Web App Architecture: Principles & Guidelines first appeared on Hyper Kodes Technology.

Outsourcing software development is increasingly common today, as businesses worldwide turn to third-party vendors to deliver fundamental solutions to alleviate pressure on in-house staff. Other common outsourced services include accounting, customer support, social media marketing, and payroll processing. 

The global market for outsourced services is worth an astonishing $92.5 billion — and that’s only set to grow as more companies continue to leverage external teams’ capabilities. 

But why do so many businesses turn to software development outsourcing companies in the digital age? And what benefits does it offer? 

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Key Factors Driving Companies To Outsource Software Development

Outsourcing software development is a big step for any company, from startups run by a small team to global corporations. There’s always an element of risk and doubt, but that’s understandable: deviating from established processes is rarely easy, no matter how necessary it may be. 

But in the majority of cases, stakeholders find outsourcing to be in their best interests, with 78 percent of businesses having a positive view of their outsourcing relationships. 

Here are the main reasons why outsourcing is good.

Reduce Business Costs 

This is the biggest driver for companies choosing to outsource software development. According to research by Deloitte, almost 59 percent of companies outsource with an aim to reduce or control their costs. 

Every organization benefits from reducing its costs: this frees up more funds to channel into other areas of the business (personnel, hardware & software upgrades, office expansions, increased salaries, etc.). 

Leading brands have embraced outsourcing for software development. WhatsApp, for example, outsourced the development of its iOS app to a freelancer but eventually brought him aboard the business full-time. 

The pair behind WhatsApp, Jan Joum and Brian Acton, chose to outsource development as the beta version of the app experienced severe technical issues during its early stages. This was a cheaper alternative to paying a local specialist to bring the app to a market-ready position. 

This decision paid off massively, as WhatsApp  has more than 1.5 billion active users each month, with 68 million based in the United States alone.

Outsourcing is a more cost-effective option for businesses for a number of reasons. Working with external workers means you’re paying for their services only, without the common expenses associated with in-house staff, such as sick pay, hardware, rent, software, training, etc.

Another reason that software outsourcing saves money is how much easier and cheaper sourcing talent is online. You can find software development teams through different platforms or their websites within a few clicks. All the information and testimonials/reviews you need to gain an insight into their capabilities is right there. 

Compare this to the cost of advertising a vacancy, hosting interviews, onboarding, and other tasks related to hiring in-house workers: according to Glassdoor, the average employer in the United States invests around $4,000 into hiring a new employee. 

Gain Access To World-Class Capabilities

Outsourced software development empowers businesses to connect with the world’s best specialists, no matter how many miles lie between them. It’s not a case of trying to bring them in as full-time employees: the gig economy means that collaborations can occur for one-off projects with no further obligation. 

For example, IKEA — the Swedish furniture giant — is committed to mastering the smart home through its Home Smart initiative. But as a furniture company, IKEA doesn’t have the expertise to handle all of this in-house. It requires innovative thinkers with access to cutting-edge tech and the resources to make IKEA’s vision a reality. 

Outsourcing to the right partner will give IKEA immediate access to the brightest technology teams on the planet, without even needing to ever be in the same room. They aren’t restricted to choosing providers from their local talent pool — they have an entire world to explore. 

Working with professionals on a project-by-project basis can bring pleasant surprises, too. While a company will provide the software developers with a clear brief and targets to hit, the specialists can identify opportunities to make a product even better and put plans in motion on their initiative (after checking with the business, of course). 

Video chat, project management tools, prototyping, and more keeps teams connected during the entire outsourcing process. Any potential issues or breakthroughs can be discussed as easily and quickly as they could be in a shared office, but at a lower cost (again: no overheads). 

 

Save Time On Hiring Specialists 

According to Glassdoor, the average length of the businesses’ job interview process was 23.7 days.  

Hiring new software developers involves a number of steps. First, there’s posting an application at various websites and/or browsing LinkedIn for potential candidates. Next involves whittling the list of applicants down to the best, followed by interviews. And that means managing schedules to find an appropriate slot, which could drag the process out further. 

Any developers you hire on a full-time basis must have a broad range of skills and be suited to different projects your business plans to undertake in the future. That makes the hiring system even more complicated and time-consuming. Plus, any training that’s required incurs more delays and costs.

But when outsourcing development to external teams, it’s far simpler. You don’t have to worry about finding developers with a diverse skill set for years of projects. You need to focus on picking specialists with the capabilities suited to the project at hand. 

GitHub’s team, for example, wanted to bring expert in to build the first iteration. However, they couldn’t afford him at that time, so employed him as an outsourced contractor. That worked out for the best, and he went on to become the company’s CIO. 

This saved them the time, effort, and money of hiring a full-time developer. They paid for the specific skills required, and it was a resounding success. 

Increase Flexibility Of Scaling Your Project

Businesses choosing to outsource software development avoid recruiting, hiring, training, and integrating new employees into the company culture. They can simply look for the professionals they need, with access to their own equipment and software, before setting them to work on a specific project or product. It’s quicker, easier, and more cost-effective. 

Another benefit is the simplicity of scaling. When projects require a little extra expertise or more resources, additional work can be outsourced to one or more vendors. Companies have the flexibility to respond to changes as they occur and take action to address them with a fast turnaround. 

BaseCamp, for example, found itself struggling to cope with its rapid expansion in its early days. When the company was still known as 37signals, its growth caused it to become “disorganized” and lose focus. This led to performance issues, and the team realized it couldn’t go on with such a slap-dash approach. 

BaseCamp had to learn to scale responsibly if it was to avoid mistakes and outsourced development of its app to a team of freelance developers. Dollar Shave Club outsourced the development of its Android app to experts in Ukraine, which brought customers bold new features (scanning credit cards) and helped grow the company’s membership substantially. 

 

Decrease Your Project’s Risks

Developing and releasing new products carries inherent risk, even if market research demonstrates a high likelihood of success. But risks can be incredibly difficult for startups and SMEs branching off into a new direction, or with no proven formula for bringing successful products to market. 

A business can go through the effort and expense of hiring full-time developers, paying overheads for months, only for a product to fail. This can be devastating and, in the worst cases, impossible to recover from.

Outsourcing software development to other companies works brilliantly instead. You can mitigate risks associated with developing products by working with a team that utilizes a high-quality project management system, has established an effective workflow and has proven success in creating applications that generate solid ROI. 

For example, Slack relied on programming outsourcing for effective beta testing, focusing on copy and design, which helped it become one of the most widely-used communication tools on the market, handling more than 1 billion messages each week. 

Outsourcing software development to an experienced team with a strong portfolio of applications under its proverbial belt is a cost-effective way to reduce risks and, ultimately, avoid financial challenges down the line. 

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Summary

These benefits demonstrate why companies outsource. We live in an age dominated by software, and businesses must produce quality products to secure a foothold in a crowded marketplace. 

Trusting an external team with the ideal skill set to create a product of high value to users has real potential to pay off. It’s easier than ever to find third-party specialists willing to work on a project-by-project basis — and every company should take advantage sooner rather than later.

The post Why Do Companies Outsource Software Development? first appeared on Hyper Kodes Technology.