How Levels.fyi scaled to millions of users with Google Sheets as a backend

Question

Premature optimization is the death knell of startups.

It’s why we started off on Google Forms and Google Sheets, taking us to millions of monthly active users before having to switch over to a proper backend. We got a chance to write about some of the magic that made it all work.

Figured it could be interesting for folks to start up their own projects without having to setup DBs or other infrastructure: https://www.levels.fyi/blog/scaling-to-millions-with-google-sheets.html

brgr · Accepted Answer

Funny story. Looks like you learned on the job 🎉🚀

wumbocoder · Answer

I've seen some insane stuff built out of just magical spreadsheets. Just be sure to have an escape plan for once it starts cracking under load!(also don't lay off the magician that made it!)

madscience · Answer

Very cool, thank you for sharing! I definitely find myself getting into the trap of 'premature optimization,' so seeing your thoughts on it here adds a really cool perspective.

19g6yl30dow7z · Answer

Everyone forgets that Sheets/Excel are really fancy databases with built-in scripting… they’re every b2b startup’s biggest competitor

adorable · Answer

Wow!
  The Rube Goldberg way of databasing everything without proper code....

How Levels.fyi scaled to millions of users with Google Sheets as a backend

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