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# Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock

Stefan Lingler scaled Shpock’s backend to 10 million users without letting technical debt crush velocity. Discover how dedicating 1.5 days per release cycle to code cleanup sustained their massive growth.

- **Speakers:** Stefan Lingler, [Thomas Pamminger](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@thomas-pamminger)
- **Event:** Coffee With Developers
- **Published:** May 18, 2018
- **Duration:** 24:02
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock

## Summary

In this 2018 episode of Developers Having Coffee With, Shpock CTO Stefan Lingler details the technical and operational evolution of the secondhand marketplace app from launch to over 10 million active users. Lingler shares how the backend architecture and engineering culture adapted to rapid scaling, transitioning from a reactive startup mode to a structured, OKR-driven environment. He highlights the necessity of remaining flexible in system design, advising that teams always "scaled for peak" traffic events like TV commercials rather than over-engineering for a hypothetical two-year horizon. To combat technical debt amid high growth, Shpock dedicates 1.5 days of their 10-day release cycle entirely to code cleanup, proving that legacy code management can seamlessly integrate with feature development. Communication bottlenecks are actively mitigated through impromptu 5-to-10-minute cross-team meetings that instantly resolve requirement ambiguities between product and engineering. Furthermore, user experience remains the top priority during infrastructure changes, with the team utilizing shadow deployments to ensure zero-downtime database migrations, even during complex MongoDB upgrades. Beyond technical strategy, Lingler emphasizes the human element of scaling a tech organization, noting that hiring should prioritize an applicant's "eagerness to learn" and cultural fit over an encyclopedic knowledge of specific stacks. The conversation also explores Shpock’s commitment to diversity, ranging from recruiting via the Refugees Code program to employing 30 different nationalities, with Lingler actively advocating for increased gender representation in backend engineering. Ultimately, he champions a developer culture where cross-functional transparency, pragmatic problem-solving, and a focus on the user drive continuous innovation.

**Keywords:** mobile backend architecture, cross-team alignment meetings, OKR methodology, technical debt management, zero-downtime database migration, shadow deployments, traffic peak scaling, agile release cycles, engineering team structuring, backend developer hiring, tech workforce diversity, inclusive tech recruiting, legacy code refactoring, startup scaling phases

## Chapters

1. **Transitioning into backend engineering from web development** (00:00) — Choosing a backend role over mobile app development during early startup phases.
1. **Structuring and scaling the backend engineering team** (01:38) — Splitting backend developers into domain-specific teams helps distribute accountabilities while keeping product connection.
1. **Resolving misalignment with fast cross team meetings** (03:30) — Bringing members from different departments into short alignment meetings prevents week-long miscommunications.
1. **Managing daily priorities and establishing team alignment** (04:37) — Using objective and key results frameworks ensures developers understand priority changes driven by market needs.
1. **Balancing technical debt and clean code practices** (07:02) — Dedicating specific days in the release cycle to refactoring prevents the buildup of unmanageable legacy code.
1. **Scaling infrastructure for peak application traffic patterns** (08:55) — Aligning database technology choices with immediate scaling needs avoids over-engineering for distant future requirements.
1. **Maintaining product control during major company acquisitions** (11:14) — Retaining internal ownership of product roadmaps ensures continued focus on user innovation after corporate acquisition.
1. **Achieving zero downtime during major database migrations** (14:00) — Utilizing shadow deployments and background migration processes avoids service interruptions during infrastructure upgrades.
1. **Hiring backend developers with strong cultural fit** (15:54) — Assessing an eagerness to learn and aligning expectations remain critical when recruiting engineering talent.
1. **Expanding team diversity through refugee coding programs** (17:49) — Partnering with coding bootcamps for refugees brings new talent while navigating complex work permit requirements.
1. **Integrating third-party payment systems for marketplace transactions** (20:02) — Developing embedded marketplace checkout experiences through direct beta partnerships with major payment providers.
1. **Balancing flexible working hours and office presence** (21:28) — Offering flexible scheduling accommodates personal appointments while maintaining the collaborative speed of an office environment.
1. **Improving gender diversity in backend engineering teams** (22:50) — Actively encouraging female applicants helps enrich technical decision-making and software development processes.

## Related Moments

- [Audience Q&A on remote engagement and startup culture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100146-five-ways-to-break-silos-in-your-engineering-organization) (from "Five Ways to Break Silos in Your Engineering Organization")
- [Pivoting product strategy toward platform engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100122-how-agentic-devops-gave-us-dev-time-back) (from "How Agentic DevOps gave us Dev time back")
- [Speaker background and shifting from developer to Scrum Master](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/862-diversity-as-a-growth-and-happiness-factor-in-agile-development) (from "Diversity as a Growth and Happiness Factor in Agile Development")
- [Discussing backend technical stacks and balanced performance evaluations](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/730-migrating-half-a-million-users-to-a-new-payment-service-provider) (from "Migrating half a million users to a new payment service provider")
- [Behind the scenes of large tech event organization](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1785-cat-herding-with-lions-and-tigers-christian-heilmann) (from "Cat Herding with Lions and Tigers - Christian Heilmann")
- [Transitioning from internships to full-stack backend engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100361-hacking-ios-and-developing-for-airbnb-with-nicolas-haunold-software-engineer-at-airbnb) (from "Hacking iOS and Developing for Airbnb with Nicolas Haunold, Software Engineer at Airbnb")

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