Martin L. Abbott - The Art of Scalability: Scalable Web Architecture, Processes, and Organizations for the Modern Enterprise

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Scalable Web Architecture, Processes, and Organizations for the Modern Enterprise

Second Edition

Martin L. Abbott
Michael T. Fisher

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Abbott, Martin L.
The art of scalability : scalable web architecture, processes, and organizations for
the modern enterprise / Martin L. Abbott, Michael T. Fisher.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-13-403280-1 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Web site development. 2. Computer networksScalability. 3. Business enterprises
Computer networks. I. Fisher, Michael T. II. Title.
TK5105.888.A2178 2015
658.406dc23
2015009317

Copyright 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, 200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, New Jersey 07675, or you may fax your request to (201) 236-3290.

ISBN-13: 978-0-13-403280-1
ISBN-10: 0-13-403280-2
Text printed in the United States on recycled paper at RR Donnelley in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
First printing, June 2015

Editor-in-Chief
Mark L. Taub

Executive Editor
Laura Lewin

Development Editor
Songlin Qiu

Managing Editor
John Fuller

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Mary Kesel Wilson

Copy Editor
Jill Hobbs

Indexer
Jack Lewis

Proofreader
Andrea Fox

Technical Reviewers
Roger Andelin
Chris Schremser
Geoffrey Weber

Editorial Assistant
Olivia Basegio

Cover Designer
Chuti Prasertsith

Compositor
The CIP Group

A how-to manual for building a world-class engineering organization with step-by-step instructions on everything including leadership, architecture, operations, and processes. A drivers manual for going from 0 to 60, scaling your business. With this book published, theres no excuse for mistakesin other words, RTFM.

Lon F. Binder, vice president, technology, Warby Parker

Ive worked with AKF for years on tough technical challenges. Many books address how to correct failing product architectures or problematic processes, both of which are symptoms of an unspoken problem. This book not only covers those symptoms, but also addresses their underlying causethe way in which we manage, lead, organize, and staff our teams.

Jeremy King, chief technology officer and senior vice president, global ecommerce, Walmart.com

I love this book because it teaches an important lesson most technology-focused books dont: how to build highly scalable and successful technology organizations that build highly scalable technology solutions. Theres plenty of great technology coaching in this book, but there are also excellent examples of how to build scalable culture, principles, processes, and decision trees. This book remains one of my few constant go-to reference guides.

Chris Schremser, chief technology officer, ZirMed

This book is much more than you may think it is. Scale is not just about designing Web sites that dont crash when lots of users show up. It is about designing your company so that it doesnt crash when your business needs to grow. These guys have been there on the front lines of some of the most successful Internet companies of our time, and they share the good, the bad, and the ugly about how to not just survive, but thrive.

Marty Cagan, founder, Silicon Valley Product Group

A must read for anyone building a Web service for the mass market.

Dana Stalder, general partner, Matrix Partners

Abbott and Fisher have deep experiences with scale in both large and small enterprises. Whats unique about their approach to scalability is they start by focusing on the true foundation: people and process, without which true scalability cannot be built. Abbott and Fisher leverage their years of experience in a very accessible and practical approach to scalability that has been proven over time with their significant success.

Geoffrey Weber, vice president of internet operations/IT, Shutterfly

If I wanted the best diagnoses for my health I would go to the Mayo Clinic. If I wanted the best diagnoses for my portfolio companies performance and scalability I would call Martin and Michael. They have recommended solutions to performance and scalability issues that have saved some of my companies from a total rewrite of the system.

Warren M. Weiss, general partner, Foundation Capital

As a manager who worked under Michael Fisher and Marty Abbott during my time at PayPal/eBay, the opportunity to directly absorb the lessons and experiences presented in this book are invaluable to me now working at Facebook.