From ms to µs: OSS Valkey Architecture Patterns for Modern AI

Interview:

What is your session about, and why is it important for senior software developers?

Imagine your in-memory system is a Formula 1 engine. We've made the engine incredibly fast, but now the racetrack itself is the bottleneck. My talk is about fixing that track. We will look at how extra latency hops are hidden speed bumps, and how expensive abstractions are like adding a heavy new spoiler that just adds drag and cost. We'll dive into the real trade-offs of building for microsecond latency, using patterns you can apply with the open-source, Redis-compatible Valkey. (Only milliseconds were harmed.)

Why is it critical for software leaders to focus on this topic right now, as we head into 2026?

Because speed is a feature, and inefficiency is a tax. When your Redis-style operations take microseconds, your real slowdown comes from network hops, proxies, and client behavior. This is what bloats your latency tail and your cloud bill. Focusing on this now is also a key strategic move. The open governance of Valkey after the 2024 Redis license change makes it a safe, vendor-neutral base to build on, so your efficiency gains aren't locked to a single vendor.

What are the common challenges developers and architects face in this area?

The biggest challenge is that a system on a whiteboard and a system under pressure tell two different stories. On paper, your design looks clean. But in reality, a single busy component can create a traffic jam that backs everything up. We will talk about how to spot these expensive problems before they become a 3 a.m. emergency.

What's one thing you hope attendees will implement immediately after your talk?

Go back and play detective with your system. Draw a map of the journey your code takes to get data. Every stop on that map, every latency hop, and every "simple" abstraction has a price tag in both time and money. Start asking what each step costs. When you see the real price, you will find amazing ways to make things faster and cheaper.

What makes QCon stand out as a conference for senior software professionals?

QCon is where you learn from people who have the operational scars to prove their advice works. It's built on practitioner-led content, so you get unfiltered, real world lessons without the sales pitch. You leave with insights you can actually apply on Monday morning.