Data Flow Mapping
1 min read
Trace how data moves through the system for each key operation (read path, write path).
Trace data through the read path and write path separately. This reveals bottlenecks, SPOFs, and consistency gaps.
How It Works
Data flow mapping traces the journey of data through your system for each critical operation. Draw the write path: user action -> API -> validation -> database -> Caching invalidation -> event emission. Draw the read path: user request -> cache check -> database fallback -> response assembly. This reveals bottlenecks and consistency gaps.
Real-World Example
In a URL shortener, the write path is: user submits URL -> API generates short code -> write to primary DB -> replicate to read replicas -> add to Redis cache. The read path is: short URL hit -> check Redis -> cache hit: 301 redirect; cache miss: read from DB replica, populate cache.
Test Yourself
Scenario: A user visits https://sh.rt/abc123 on a URL shortener. Trace the full read path, end to end, and note where the write path diverges.
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