Opera Syncs Tens of Millions of Browsers with ScyllaDB

Opera, a web browser company founded in 1995, transitioned from using Cassandra to ScyllaDB for its Opera Sync service to address persistent technical issues, including high loads and GC-related problems. This decision was influenced by ScyllaDB’s demonstrated efficiency and compatibility with Cassandra, as observed by Opera's Project Technical Manager, Rafał Furmański, during a Cassandra Summit. The migration to ScyllaDB involved a phased approach, allowing Opera to move users gradually and ensure system stability. The switch has resulted in significant performance improvements, with ScyllaDB operating three times better in terms of operations per second and latency under test conditions. Post-migration, Opera reports a reduction in hardware requirements, improved load management, and a decrease in the operational strain on their engineering team, enabling them to focus on developing new features rather than on database maintenance.