How We Fixed Our Database Overload with Redis

Running a website is fun, but it can get tricky when lots of people visit at the same time. At BBros.eu, we had a big problem: our database, which is like a giant library for all our website’s information, got too busy and slowed everything down. To fix it, we added a tool called Redis to help out. In this short blog, I’ll explain what happened and how Redis saved the day, in a way that even a 10-year-old can understand. Let’s get started!

What Is a Database and Why Did It Get Overloaded?

A database is like a big library where we keep all the important stuff for our website, like product names, prices, and customer orders. Every time someone visits BBros.eu and looks at a product, the website asks the database for that information. It’s like asking a librarian to find a book for you.

But when too many people visited our site at once—like 1,000 people looking at the same toy—the database got overwhelmed. It had to work hard to give the same information over and over again. This made our website slow, and sometimes it even stopped working for a little bit. That wasn’t good because we want our customers to have a great time shopping!

The problem was that the database was doing too much work. A lot of the information, like toy descriptions, doesn’t change often. So, why did we keep asking the database for the same thing? We needed a better way to handle this.

What Is Redis and How Does It Help?

Redis is like a super-smart robot helper. It remembers things for you so you don’t have to keep asking the same question. Instead of making the database work hard every time, Redis stores the most popular information in a super-fast way, like keeping your favorite toys in a box right next to you instead of looking for them in a big closet.

For example, if lots of people want to see the same toy on our website, Redis saves that toy’s details and gives them out quickly. This means we don’t have to bother the database every time. Redis is so fast because it keeps things in the computer’s memory, which is like having a cheat sheet ready to go!

How We Added Redis to Fix the Problem

Here’s how we used Redis to make our website better. It’s like fixing a toy that’s not working right—you find the problem and add something to make it work again.

First, we noticed our website was slow during busy times, like when lots of people were shopping. We checked the database and saw it was getting too many requests for the same stuff, like toy pages. That was the overload problem.

Then, we learned about Redis. It’s a tool that’s really good at storing and finding information fast. We thought it would be perfect for keeping the most popular stuff ready, so we wouldn’t need to ask the database all the time.

Next, our team set up Redis on our website’s computers, called servers. We made sure Redis was ready to help by connecting it to our system. Then, we told Redis to save the information that people looked at the most, like toy prices or pictures. For example, if someone looked at a teddy bear, Redis would save the teddy bear’s details. The next time someone wanted to see that teddy bear, Redis would give the information super fast without asking the database.

After that, we tested our website to make sure it worked. We pretended to be lots of customers visiting at once, and Redis handled it like a champ! The website was faster, and the database wasn’t tired anymore.

Why This Made Our Website Better

Using Redis was like giving our website a superpower. Here’s why it helped:

• Faster Website: Redis is so quick that our website loads pages faster. Customers can see toys and buy them without waiting, which makes them happy.
• Less Work for the Database: With Redis helping, the database doesn’t have to work as hard. It’s like the librarian only being asked for rare books instead of the same popular ones.
• Happier Customers: A fast website means customers can shop easily without getting upset. We want everyone at BBros.eu to have a great time!
• Ready for Busy Days: Now our website can handle more people at once, like during big sales. Redis keeps everything running smoothly.

What We Learned

This taught us a big lesson: we don’t always need to make the database do all the work. Tools like Redis can help take the pressure off and make things run better. We also learned to keep an eye on our website so we can fix problems before they get too big. Adding Redis was a simple change, but it made a huge difference, like adding training wheels to a bike to make riding easier!

Why This Matters for You

When you visit BBros.eu, you might not see Redis, but you’ll feel how fast our website is. Whether you’re looking at toys or buying something, Redis helps make sure everything works quickly. If you run a website, this story shows how tools like Redis can help you keep things fast and smooth, even with lots of visitors.

A Picture of Redis in Action

Imagine a busy toy store with a big robot holding a whiteboard that says “Redis.” The store is full of colorful toys, and the robot is helping customers find what they want super fast. The clerk is smiling because the robot is doing the hard work, making everything easier. That’s how Redis helps our website!