Elastic load balancing, Messaging and Queuing

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3 min read

Hey, tech enthusiasts! Today, I want to narrate my experience with some of the most amazing AWS services that have really changed my views on distributed systems. So grab your favorite beverage, and let's get going!

The Traffic Conductor: Elastic Load Balancing

You know how at busy restaurants, there's that amazing host who manages to keep everything running smoothly? They direct customers to different tables, make sure no single waiter gets overwhelmed, and keep the whole operation flowing? Well, that's exactly what Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) does for our applications!

Picture this: It's Black Friday, and your e-commerce site is getting bombarded with eager shoppers. Without a load balancer, it's like having a single cashier trying to handle hundreds of customers – pure chaos! But with ELB, it's like having a smart system that opens new registers automatically and guides customers to the shortest lines.

Types of Load Balancers I've Fallen in Love With:

  1. Application Load Balancer (ALB) - The Smart One Imagine it as a multilingual concierge, expertly grasping HTTP and HTTPS requests while adeptly routing them according to precise rules. How sophisticated!

  2. Network Load Balancer (NLB) - The Speed Demon This one resembles a Formula 1 pit crew—ultra-fast and capable of managing millions of requests each second. When every millisecond counts, the NLB is your ultimate ally!

The Message Master: Simple Queue Service (SQS)

Let me explain it using an analogy to describe SQS. Think of the pneumatic tube systems used in old buildings. You put your message in a capsule, send it flying through the tubes, and voilà! It arrives safely to its destination. That's SQS!

Here's what I love about it: When my application gets super busy, SQS acts like my personal assistant. Instead of trying to handle everything at once (and probably failing), it creates a neat queue of tasks. It's like having a really organized to-do list where nothing gets lost!

Real talk: Prior to my discovery of SQS, my systems often succumbed to failure under heavy loads. But now? Messages stand patiently in queue, and my processors manage them one by one. No stress, no mess!

The Town Crier: Simple Notification Service (SNS)

Now, SNS is akin to that one friend who excels at sharing news – but in the most delightful manner! 😄

Imagine you're planning a party, and instead of texting each person individually, you create a group message. That's SNS! One message, multiple recipients, instant delivery. But it's way more powerful than your group chat!

Why I'm Obsessed with SNS:

  • It's like having a megaphone that can speak different languages simultaneously (SMS, email, HTTP, etc.)

  • Never misses a beat—when something significant occurs in your application, SNS ensures that everyone who needs to be informed is promptly notified

  • Super reliable—it resembles that friend who always remembers to share vital messages

The Perfect Trio

What's the best part? These services function harmoniously, akin to a well-oiled machine. I frequently utilize them in tandem:

  1. ELB skillfully distributes incoming traffic

  2. SQS efficiently queues up tasks that require processing

  3. SNS notifies different parts of my system when important events occur

It's like having a super-efficient office where the receptionist (ELB) directs visitors, the task manager (SQS) organizes the workload, and the communications director (SNS) keeps everyone informed!

Who knew infrastructure could be this much fun? 😊

Remember, these services are like good friends - once you get to know them well, they'll always have your back in times of need!

you can also check my twitter account for some visual explaination: x.com/harshviggg