# RFC-042: Implement Read Replicas for Analytics

**Status:** Draft | In Review | Accepted | Rejected | Implemented
**Author:** Alice (alice@example.com)
**Reviewers:** Bob, Charlie, David
**Created:** 2024-01-15
**Updated:** 2024-01-20
**Target Date:** Q1 2024

## Summary

Add PostgreSQL read replicas to separate analytical queries from transactional workload, improving database performance and enabling new analytics features.

## Problem Statement

### Current Situation

Our PostgreSQL database serves both transactional (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads:

- 1000 writes/min (checkout, orders, inventory)
- 5000 reads/min (user browsing, search)
- 500 analytics queries/min (dashboards, reports)

### Issues

1. **Performance degradation**: Analytics queries slow down transactions
2. **Resource contention**: Complex reports consume CPU/memory
3. **Blocking features**: Can't add more dashboards without impacting users
4. **Peak hour problems**: Analytics scheduled during business hours

### Impact

- Checkout p95 latency: 800ms (target: <300ms)
- Database CPU: 75% average, 95% peak
- Customer complaints about slow pages
- Product team blocked on analytics features

### Success Criteria

- Checkout latency <300ms p95
- Database CPU <50%
- Support 2x more analytics queries
- Zero impact on transactional performance

## Proposed Solution

### High-Level Design

### Architecture
1. **Primary database**: Handles all writes and critical reads
2. **Read Replica 1**: Serves user-facing read queries
3. **Read Replica 2**: Dedicated to analytics/reporting

### Routing Strategy
```typescript
const db = {
  primary: primaryConnection,
  read: replicaConnection,
  analytics: analyticsConnection,
};

// Write
await db.primary.users.create(data);

// Critical read (always fresh)
await db.primary.users.findById(id);

// Non-critical read (can be slightly stale)
await db.read.products.search(query);

// Analytics
await db.analytics.orders.aggregate(pipeline);

# Primary
max_connections: 200
shared_buffers: 4GB
work_mem: 16MB

# Read Replica
max_connections: 100
shared_buffers: 8GB
work_mem: 32MB

# Analytics Replica
max_connections: 50
shared_buffers: 16GB
work_mem: 64MB

const pools = {
  primary: new Pool({ max: 20, min: 5 }),
  read: new Pool({ max: 50, min: 10 }),
  analytics: new Pool({ max: 10, min: 2 }),
};

enum QueryType {
  WRITE = "primary",
  CRITICAL_READ = "primary",
  READ = "read",
  ANALYTICS = "analytics",
}

function route(queryType: QueryType) {
  return pools[queryType];
}

## RFC Process

### 1. Draft (1 week)
- Author writes RFC
- Include problem, solution, alternatives
- Share with team for early feedback

### 2. Review (1-2 weeks)
- Distribute to reviewers
- Collect comments
- Address feedback
- Iterate on design

### 3. Approval (1 week)
- Present to architecture review
- Resolve remaining concerns
- Vote: Accept/Reject
- Update status

### 4. Implementation
- Track progress
- Update RFC with learnings
- Mark as implemented

## Best Practices

1. **Clear problem**: Start with why
2. **Concrete solution**: Be specific
3. **Consider alternatives**: Show you explored options
4. **Honest tradeoffs**: Every choice has costs
5. **Measurable success**: Define done
6. **Risk mitigation**: Plan for failure
7. **Iterative**: Update based on feedback

## Output Checklist

- [ ] Problem statement
- [ ] Proposed solution with architecture
- [ ] 2+ alternatives considered
- [ ] Tradeoffs documented
- [ ] Risks with mitigations
- [ ] Rollout plan with phases
- [ ] Success metrics defined
- [ ] Cost analysis
- [ ] Timeline estimated
- [ ] Reviewers assigned