What factors contributed to the unexpected 30% increase in latency for AppLovin's SDK integration process yesterday?

Introduction

The unexpected 30% increase in latency for AppLovin's SDK integration process yesterday is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. As we delve into this problem, we'll follow a systematic approach to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term fixes and long-term implications for our product ecosystem.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be related to a recent deployment. Has there been any significant update to the SDK or integration process in the last 48 hours?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with performance issues. Expected answer: Yes, a minor update was pushed yesterday morning. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the changes in that update.

• Considering the scale of the increase, I'm wondering about the distribution. Is this 30% increase consistent across all users or concentrated in specific segments?

Why it matters: Helps identify if it's a global issue or limited to certain user groups. Expected answer: The increase is more pronounced for users in certain regions. Impact on approach: We'd investigate region-specific factors if this is the case.

• Given the nature of SDK integrations, I'm curious about the network infrastructure. Have there been any reported issues with our CDN or hosting providers in the last 24 hours?

Why it matters: External infrastructure problems could explain sudden performance drops. Expected answer: No major outages reported, but some minor instabilities noted. Impact on approach: We'd need to collaborate with our infrastructure team to investigate further.

• Thinking about potential data anomalies, has there been any change in how we measure or define latency for the SDK integration process?

Why it matters: Ensures we're not dealing with a measurement error rather than an actual performance issue. Expected answer: No recent changes to measurement methods or definitions. Impact on approach: If there were changes, we'd need to validate our metrics before proceeding.