Overcoming Technical Debt for a High-Traffic Game Account Authorization Server

A service capable of handling around 350 thousand requests per minute at peak time, totalling 400 million requests per day

Challenge

The client had a public-facing service originally built in TypeScript that had accumulated a significant amount of technical debt over time. Due to outdated libraries and a convoluted code structure, fixing or adding features often introduced new bugs, slowing down development and making the service difficult to maintain. Security was also a growing concern since many of the dependencies contained known vulnerabilities, creating risks for a platform that serves a large player base. As a result, the client struggled to roll out new and exciting game features quickly, while also ensuring a smooth and secure sign-in experience for users.

Solution

To tackle these issues, our team provided an experienced engineer with deep knowledge of JVM technologies to oversee a phased migration from the old TypeScript codebase to a modernized service running on Kotlin and Spring Boot. This new approach not only streamlined dependency management but also hardened the service against security threats by removing or updating vulnerable libraries. Throughout the process, we prioritized minimal disruption for players by carefully testing and rolling out changes. By addressing the most urgent technical debt and security gaps first, we were able to restore confidence in the system’s stability and maintain seamless gameplay for the end users. The service is capable of handling around 350 thousand requests per minute at peak time, which equates to roughly 400 million requests per day.

Results & Impact

The first phase of the migration has already delivered noticeable improvements in performance, reliability, and security. The simpler, cleaner codebase has empowered the development team to implement new features faster, reducing both the time and effort required for future updates. With fewer bugs introduced and major vulnerabilities resolved, the service is more robust and better equipped to handle large traffic loads. Most importantly, the client now has a strong foundation for ongoing improvements, giving them the flexibility and confidence needed to continue innovating without compromising on user experience or security.

Appliscale delivers scalable, high-performance tech solutions, specializing in cloud migration, system architecture, and custom software to empower businesses worldwide.
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