Just-In-Time Scalability: Agile Methods to Support Massive Growth (IMVU case study)

Before

We started with a small site, a mess of open source, and a small team that didn't know much about scaling.



After

We ended with a large site, a medium sized team, and an architecture that has scaled.



We never stopped. We used a roadmap and a compass, made weekly changes in direction, regularly shipped code on Wednesday to handle the next weekend's capacity constraints, and shipped new features the whole time.



These are excerpts from the IMVU PDF presentation of their architecture which can be viewed or downloaded here.


IMVU is an online destination where adults and teens meet new people in 3D. IMVU won the 2008 Virtual Worlds Innovation Award and was also named a Rising Star in the 2008 Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50 program.