Explore the intricacies of scalable systems in this 48-minute conference talk from GOTO Aarhus 2012. Delve into the core concepts of system scaling, cost-effectiveness, and performance optimization with High-Performance Computing Specialist Martin Thompson. Learn about cache-oblivious algorithms, battling contention, and the Disruptor pattern. Discover strategies for connection multiplexing, capacity planning, and efficient logging practices. Examine the importance of separating read and write operations, utilizing SSDs and Memcache, and embracing simplicity in system design. Gain insights into mechanical sympathy, structural engineering principles applied to software, and the significance of load testing. Understand the economics of performance and the value of collaborative teamwork in building scalable systems.