Cloud Architecture

Sep 17, 2026 · Databases

Indexes Aren't Free: Production Index Governance for High-Write Order Systems

This article presents a comprehensive index governance methodology for high-write MySQL order systems, demonstrating through a real incident how a read-optimized index caused write latency, replica lag, and timeouts, and detailing a reusable process covering query-driven design, cost measurement, validation, change buffer limits, index convergence, safe deletion, read-write routing, sharding, transactional outbox, idempotent consumers, online DDL safeguards, gating, and long-term ownership.