A Whale of a Problem

A developer shares a story about the dangers of over-relying on a single 'whale' client, illustrated by a company that spun up a dedicated server for one customer complaining about slow APIs — only to discover the real issue was unreliable mobile connectivity while driving. The author reflects on personal experiences with whale clients at two employers, including Facebook dictating support processes and Porsche monopolizing a startup's roadmap, arguing that diverse revenue streams are healthier than dependence on one dominant client.