Article: Replacing Database Sequences at Scale Without Breaking 100+ Services
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Detailed case study on large-scale database sequence replacement.
Coupang replaced database sequences during a migration to DynamoDB by implementing a client-side library with two-tier caching, supporting 10,000+ counters across 100+ services. By dropping gap-free IDs and strict ordering, they eliminated network calls and ensured backward compatibility through full parameter matching, enabling the Orders team to migrate 12 services in three weeks.
- Implement a client-side sequence generation library with multi-tier caching to maintain backward compatibility and eliminate network dependencies during database migrations.
This demonstrates a pragmatic approach to large-scale database migrations that prioritizes operational simplicity and backward compatibility—critical for senior engineers managing cloud infrastructure and developer tooling at scale.