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EMPLOYEE
May 20: Twitter Downtime
We're in the process of recovering from a database failure which has brought down the site.
We believe the recovery should happen quickly and will update this thread with additional information.
We believe the recovery should happen quickly and will update this thread with additional information.
I’m sad
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The best answers from the company
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We are coming back to life now - the recovery took a bit longer than anticipated.
With outages of this type, there is impaired performance after the database recovers. Essentially, it needs to be restored by handling incoming traffic but it takes a while to catch up with demand.
This process is concluding now but the site will be slow for a while longer.
6 people say
this answers the question
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The issue that we experienced today is actually not related to the problem we experienced yesterday. In turn, these two problems do not share the same cause with the downtime we experienced last week. At root is the database, but the cause is different.
Essentially what has been happening is that we've been trying to make changes in order to improve the long-term reliability of the service. Those changes have introduced instability in the short-term, however. We need to be able to make these kinds of changes and do so without affecting the service. That's our goal and what we're working toward.
6 people say
this answers the question
The best answer from everyone
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Wow. People bitch a LOT about a free service.
Twitter has totally revolutionized the way that people communicate. It has existed for ever and then very suddenly enjoyed MASSIVE growth. This means not just porting to new database servers. It means redesigning entire systems. People who think that can be done without any sort of hiccups are either a) too unforgiving of again a FREE service or b) are total whackjobs.
Thanks for taking the initiative to make Twitter all the more reliable and awesome for the future. I'm willing to go without for a day or two now in exchange for long-term stability.
Slainte.
~Ash.
I’m just fine.
3 people say
this answers the question
Due to volume, only the 15 most recent replies are being displayed
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Inappropriate?that was an interesting link, sms traffic is not something you can rely on, one sms from my cell phone company arrived 20 days after it was sent, is there any update on twitter today as it appears to be running slow.1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
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slow is better than down. mdy right above your post links to the twitter blog, with a *little* bit more transparency. The front page usually has the latest. Alas their commenting system is wonky for me. I wish they'd do away with it & keep the conversation on getsatisfaction, rather than a moderated-by-them forum. Of course they're probably busy with the TOS revolt elsewhere on this site.
I'm wondering when the lessons of transparency, collaboration, & collective action enabled by their service will be adopted by those who provide & maintain the service. -
Inappropriate?it was about one hour behind on twirl for long time, but now it is updating in a timely fashion.
I’m happy
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Inappropriate?Do you want today's (5/23) Twitter: "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" problem report here or elsewhere?
I’m having odd deja vu.
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Inappropriate?yeah I just woke up and checking the overnight twitter stream to find that I can't tweet replies, this has not been a good week for twitter, they have to be feeling the pressure by now
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Inappropriate?Is this some of that awesome RoR scalability I've heard so much about?
I’m glad I work with PHP.
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Inappropriate?Not sure why people keep hammering on the "Twitter is free" bit. Yes it is, and I'm VERY grateful that they've put it out here for us to use. And I have no problem believing that running Twitter is a *very* complicated undertaking and that Twitter staffers are working their tails off trying to get it stable. But here's the thing: When it doesn't work, particularly for days on end, then it's not useful to me, whether it's free or not. I'm not trying to blame or shame Twitter; that's just a fact. If it's repeatedly not useful to me, eventually, I'll just quit coming by to use it--not because I'm pissed, just because I'm busy and Twitter's no longer a useful tool. I assume that others will do the same. I don't want that to happen!
I’m frustrated and sad
1 person says
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?does anyone know why twitter is down again
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Inappropriate?Suggestion... add 'Beta' next to the Twitter logo and you'll be communicating the correct 'operating stage' message for the company.
Twitter needs to port from a CMS to a Messaging framework, this does not happen overnight and in fact is a complete rewrite of the underlying system (kinda like having to do a engine rebuild on a car while its going 75 miles an hour... in heavy traffic - if not impossible - very hard).
Call it "Re-Beta" if you like.
I believe that Twitterers will appreciate the honest repositioning and understand that they are in FACT actually helping to 'create' the utility - not just 'use' it.
In the old days it was called a barn raising; when your neighbor helped you build your barn because they knew you'd help them. Since Twitter has been responsible for many already building their businesses, reputations, networks. It might be a good time to understand that they need some help now. The cool thing is that all you have to bring is 'understanding'.
I’m thankful
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
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I know it's not always accurate, but I'm still curious to know. Wouldn't you have to be following just the right person in order to catch it? Or are there feeds that constantly monitor Twitter?
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Inappropriate?You're right to some extent. If you follow certain people/organizations than you can be updated when they send a tweet or mechanic jobs details. More and more organizations are now using twitter to deliver information. Just search for major news agencies and you'll find the ones who have twitter accounts.
