Redis Analysis - Part 1: Threading model

The debate between single-threaded and multi-threaded systems in the context of Redis has been ongoing for years. While Redis was initially built as single-threaded, some argue that a multi-threaded approach could offer greater benefits. This post explores the advantages of vertical scaling over horizontal scaling, emphasizing the cost efficiency and simplicity of managing resources within a single server. It also discusses the potential of shared-nothing architectures in modern cloud servers, which can significantly improve performance by utilizing multiple CPU threads independently. Through benchmarking tests using a toy redis-like memory store called midi-redis, it is demonstrated that multi-threaded systems can achieve throughput rates much higher than single-threaded Redis, highlighting the potential for significant improvements in database performance with a change in foundation.