creating scalable applications in Java

[Thomas]

Recently I faced a problem: I needed to convert a small Java application into a scalable one, so that it could withstand the increased load. I started to think how to optimize the architecture and immediately realized that my old approaches would not work here. The story is funny - the load grew because the project "for friends" suddenly attracted the interest of a local business. I decided to implement microservices, but in the process I ran into a bunch of questions. Can anyone share their experience on how best to approach designing such systems? How to minimize risks and accommodate future growth?