How Instagram Stays Fast and Efficient?

Contributed by Nimrah for Crio.Do

Do you know how Instagram, one of the most popular apps, uses the latest trends in Java to stay fast, reliable, and scalable? Let’s dive into some examples and see how Java helps keep Instagram running smoothly, even with millions of users online at the same time.

Day 1: Priya and Rahul Dive Into Project Loom

So, let’s say we’ve got Priya and Rahul, two developers working to optimize an app like Instagram. Now, Instagram handles millions of users posting, commenting, and scrolling every second. That’s massive!

Priya: "Rahul, how does Instagram manage to handle all this activity without crashing?"

Rahul: "Instagram likely uses a combination of traditional threads and virtual threads. But here's where Project Loom comes in: its virtual threads can significantly improve performance and resource utilization, especially for handling a large number of concurrent tasks."

Virtual threads allow Instagram to efficiently manage all your likes, comments, and posts at once, ensuring the app stays smooth even with millions of users online. Pretty cool, right?

Day 2: Pattern Matching Makes Code Simple

Priya: "Rahul, Instagram rolls out new features like Reels and filters so often! How do they manage their code with all these changes?"

Rahul: "Great question, Priya. They use Pattern Matching, which is one of the latest Java trends. Instead of writing long, complicated code, pattern matching allows developers to categorize data types in a few lines."

For example, Instagram might have this type of code:

switch (media) {
case Image i -> System.out.println("It’s an image: " + i.getName());
case Video v -> System.out.println("It’s a video: " + v.getTitle());
default -> System.out.println("Unknown media type");
}

By simplifying the code, Instagram’s developers can quickly add new features, fix bugs, and keep things running smoothly. It’s how they introduce new filters or reel updates without breaking the app. This makes updates faster and less prone to errors.

Day 3: Sealed Classes Keep Data Secure

Now, let’s talk about security. With so many people sharing photos, videos, and private messages on Instagram, data security is critical.

Rahul: "Java’s sealed classes allow Instagram to control which parts of the app access sensitive data."

He explains with an example: public abstract sealed class Media permits Image, Video {}

This basically means only the Image and Video classes can access media data. By restricting access like this, Instagram ensures your private messages and photos stay safe from unauthorized parts of the app.

Priya: "Wow, that’s a smart way to protect user data!"

Day 4: GraalVM for Faster Filters and AR Features

Let’s be honest. We all love Instagram’s AR filters and fun effects, but sometimes they take a little longer to load, especially on older phones. So, what can Instagram do to make sure the experience is faster for everyone?

Priya: "Rahul, can Java help speed up those AR filters?"

Rahul: "Yes! Instagram could use GraalVM to compile Java code ahead of time. This would make the app run faster, even when using resource-heavy features like AR filters."

With GraalVM, Instagram’s filters load quickly, no matter the device, providing a smoother experience for everyone.

Wrapping it Up

Instagram uses some of the latest trends in Java to ensure their app stays fast, secure, and user-friendly:

Project Loom: Helps Instagram manage millions of users simultaneously, maintaining performance without slowing down.

Pattern Matching: Simplifies code, enabling faster, more reliable updates.

Sealed Classes: Protects user data by restricting access to sensitive information to specific parts of the app.

GraalVM: Accelerates advanced features like AR filters, providing a smooth experience even on older devices.

Rahul: "And that’s how Instagram uses Java to stay at the top of its game!"

Priya: "I’m excited to try these out for our app! Java really helps apps scale and stay secure."