Application Architecture
Top Stories
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Tip
30 Jul 2026
Automated testing is not a magic bullet
Test automation rarely serves as a shortcut to faster testing. Its greatest value lies in improving software quality, expanding coverage and enabling testers to focus on high-value work. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2026
Rethink how you screen senior developers to produce better mentors
Traditional coding tests often miss the qualities that matter most in senior developers. Explore a hiring approach focused on code review, mentoring and practical problem solving. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Dec 2020
Using the saga design pattern for microservices transactions
We explore how the saga design pattern can support complex, long-term business processes and provide reliable rollback mechanisms for multistep transaction failures. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Dec 2020
How to make remote pair programming work
Two heads are better than one when you're writing software code. Learn how to get those two developers working together from separate locations in a remote pair programming session. Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2020
New Agile 2 development aims to plug gaps, complement DevOps
The new Agile 2 initiative aims to address problems with the original Agile Manifesto and give greater voice to developers who are disenfranchised in existing Agile environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Nov 2020
Software development outsourcing throughout the lifecycle
Whether to accelerate a project or overcome a particular skills gap, it might make sense to engage an external specialist to bolster your software development efforts. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Nov 2020
Cypress vs. Selenium: Compare test automation frameworks
Testing a complex application front end? What about a web app written in Ruby? Pick a test automation framework -- Selenium or Cypress -- that fits the project. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Nov 2020
How to master microservices data architecture design
Microservices have data management needs unlike any other application architecture today. You'll need the right set of knowledge, mechanisms and design principles to succeed. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2020
Navigating the evolving BPA tools market
The BPA market tool landscape is still maturing, but organizations should prepare themselves to adopt it. Review the basics of BPA and learn how to start building your automation strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Nov 2020
How to test micro apps
Micro apps are limited in functionality, but they still require a full slate of tests. Learn how micro apps and microservices differ, the benefits driving micro app adoption, and how to test them. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Nov 2020
Basics of the pairwise, or all-pairs, testing technique
Pairwise testing can improve test coverage without increasing wait times. Consider the QA technique's benefits, challenges and role within a test suite. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Nov 2020
The vicious cycle of circular dependencies in microservices
Modular design is impossible so long as circular dependencies lurk in your architecture. So how can you break problematic coupling between otherwise-independent components? Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Nov 2020
4 innovations in software development and testing to watch
These methods and technologies change the way developers and testers do their jobs -- or even what their duties are. Explore innovations related to AI, the flow of work and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Nov 2020
4 mobile app security threats all developers must face
Mobile apps carry their own set of code-based vulnerabilities and entry points, meaning developers need to step up their secure development, coding and deployment practices. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Nov 2020
Why is unit testing important for developers?
Through unit testing, software developers know source code works at the atomic level. Read why unit testing is important and valuable, as well as how it can ease the debugging process. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Nov 2020
9 tried-and-true open source frameworks for development
No matter which type of application you are developing or what your priorities are, there is likely an open source framework that caters to your needs. Continue Reading
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Podcast
09 Nov 2020
Jeff Gallimore: Psychological safety for remote teams
Can chatter about household appliances contribute positively to digital transformation? Jeff Gallimore thinks so. Here's his take on psychological safety for remote dev teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2020
Microservices logging best practices every team should know
Creating a log system for distributed microservices is a task much easier said than done. Joydip Kanjilal offers a few best practices to shore up microservices logging processes. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Nov 2020
How to create an effective software architecture roadmap
For large-scale initiatives that span the enterprise, a well-planned software architecture roadmap allows development teams to navigate projects safely and efficiently. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2020
Django vs. Node.js: Pick the right web development framework
Understanding the differences between Django and Node.js comes down to understanding their data capabilities and the programming languages that make up each one's history. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2020
Harness these three types of developer collaboration tools
More than ever, developers must work as a team to achieve business goals. Here are three types of collaboration tools to help developers work with ease. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Oct 2020
Understanding the modular monolith and its ideal use cases
While it isn't always the right fit, a modular monolith can often provide a happy medium between the simplicity of a traditional monolith and the complexity of microservices. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2020
How to improve the developer experience
Developer experience matters in the fast-paced and customer-focused culture of DevOps teams. Software development leaders from major corporations share their tips for a good DX. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2020
Waterfall vs. Agile vs. iterative development explained
Componentized software architectures gave way to new forms of software development. Learn when to implement simple iterative development versus wholesale changes with Agile. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2020
How to hold Three Amigos meetings in Agile development
Three Amigos is an Agile development strategy to keep projects on track with specifications, timeline expectations and more. Here's how to host the meetings, and who should join in. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2020
The non-tech skills of software development project managers
Teams are key to the success of any enterprise software project, but development teams don't run themselves. Managers need the right skills to keep their employees on track. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2020
Enterprise architecture tools add pandemic-related updates
The COVID-19 pandemic spurs vendors of enterprise architecture products to add new online and mobile capabilities and promote business functionality to address changing customer needs. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Oct 2020
How to implement Scrum the right way
Not sure where to start with Scrum? Check out a book that covers Scrum implementation from pre-development work through retrospectives, and details the frameworks to scale Scrum. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Oct 2020
How to start managing software development teams like a pro
Team performance is vital to a software project's success. Avoid these common management challenges and learn about the key metrics that help monitor your team's effectiveness. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Oct 2020
How and why to do parallel testing
Parallel testing can be a boon to test coverage and test execution times. But while the practice is quite adoptable, testers still need a well-thought-out implementation strategy. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Oct 2020
Book details API design best practices
APIs are designed for people you've never met to solve problems you didn't know existed. With that in mind, how do you design and build them well? Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Oct 2020
How static and dynamic code analysis boost app security
Catch security vulnerabilities before they catch up to you. Here's how static and dynamic source code analysis help address application concerns, and the difference between the approaches. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Oct 2020
Regression testing vs. UAT: Goals and techniques
Regression tests and UAT ensure software quality and both require a sizeable investment. Learn when and how to perform each one, and some tips to get the most out of your effort. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Oct 2020
A basic overview of micro front ends
Microservices enable independent app-dev teams, asynchronous app updates and precise troubleshooting. If these benefits sound good for your UI, consider a micro front end. Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2020
New LeanIX EA module can ease linking IT to business goals
LeanIX's new Business Transformation Management module tries to simplify planning through its 'GitHub for IT architecture' approach and Apple Time Machine-like visualization tool. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2020
Ardoq architecture tool adds new Scenarios planning module
The new Scenarios module in Ardoq's enterprise architecture tool enables customers to model and analyze potential future states in a collaborative way. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2020
Learn what to test in a mobile application
A lot goes into making sure an end user can interact with a mobile app seamlessly. Here are five ways to make sure a mobile app functions properly, without code or device challenges. Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2020
The Open Group finalizes Open Agile Architecture standard
The Open Group published a new standard to provide guidance and best practices for enterprise architects transitioning to Agile methodologies for digital transformation. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2020
Essential mobile app development tools and programming languages
Learn about the tools available for hybrid and native iOS and Android mobile app development and testing, as well as the programming languages developers use. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Sep 2020
Functional vs. nonfunctional requirements in software engineering
Learn the meaning of functional vs. nonfunctional requirements in software engineering, with helpful examples. Then, see how to write both and build a product that users will love. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2020
Learn how to perform TDD with a simple example
Fizz, buzz -- no, it isn't cocktail hour, although we don't mind if you pour one. It's time to learn test-driven development with a simple example. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2020
Apache, Spring and Mule: Explore 3 top integration frameworks
A good integration framework should underpin every application strategy. Apache Camel, Spring Integration and Mule ESB can simplify integration at scale. We deconstruct them here. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2020
Software accessibility testing: Standards, strategy and tools
Assistive technology ensures that all customers can access software easily. Don't overlook this important element of software quality. Here's how to test software accessibility. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Sep 2020
The basics of software coupling metrics and concepts
To move toward a distributed, modular architecture, development teams need to carefully investigate software coupling concepts and learn how to measure dependency complexity. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2020
3 dramatic ways to increase developer productivity
Developers work best when distractions are at a minimum, yet most organizations simply aren't doing their part to reduce them. Be brave and try these three aggressive methods. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Sep 2020
4 alternatives to end-to-end testing microservices
Microservices architectures deserve better than end-to-end testing. See how methods like contract testing, subsystem testing and more can fill the end-to-end test void. Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2020
Google Cloud's new app platform aims for no-code edge
Google Cloud brings low-code application development and API management to its new Business Application Platform, but robotic process automation isn't yet in the mix. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Sep 2020
A lesson on how to test microservices locally
Microservices are small pieces of a big picture, so they're difficult to test in isolation. Use these tips to run unit and integration tests locally on microservices. Continue Reading
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Quiz
16 Sep 2020
Application performance monitoring tools and metrics quiz
Sharpen your pencil; it's APM quiz time. Test your knowledge of application performance monitoring and management, including tools, systems, concepts and best practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Sep 2020
MVC vs. MVVM: 2 architecture patterns for modularity
Both the MVC and MVVM design patterns separate front-end and back-end application components, but each one has unique methods of interface manipulation and abstraction. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Sep 2020
Learn the benefits of microservices orchestration
Orchestration plays a vital role in a microservices architecture, especially when it comes to communication, workload management and architecture readability. Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2020
Oracle moves OpenJDK to Git and GitHub
As Git and GitHub gain momentum with a majority of developers, Oracle has moved the OpenJDK repository to the Git source code management system and GitHub hosting platform. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Sep 2020
How to approach Agile team organization
Should an Agile team have an architect? Does cross-functional mean constantly changing? How do teams set velocity and quality? Get the answers to set up and lead Agile teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Sep 2020
How to calculate project completion times
Good project managers deliver on schedule, despite the challenges they encounter. Become a time and resource management pro and deliver on the expected completion date. Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2020
Mendix looks to change the low-code landscape
At Mendix World, low-code app dev platform provider Mendix laid out plans to build up its ecosystem of third-party low-code tools in hopes of broadening its appeal to developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Sep 2020
Why development team membership should change regularly
Static development teams might be hurting your company. But too much reorganization can cause chaos. Here's how to strike a balance that keeps teams engaged and innovative. Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2020
Microsoft, VMware make Azure Spring Cloud GA
Azure Spring Cloud has reached general availability as a service that enables Spring Boot developers to build and run Java apps on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Sep 2020
How to craft a cloud testing strategy
As more applications and workloads ascend to the cloud, organizations need to validate performance, functionality and other metrics. Here's a primer on testing in the cloud -- and on the cloud. Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2020
Developers must consider low-code app security
Security is baked into most low-code development platforms, but developers still need to pay attention to security issues and test for vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Aug 2020
Common functional testing types explained, with examples
Not sure what to check during an integration test, or whether to combine regression and user acceptance testing? Learn what these functional test types cover, and when to do them. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2020
A primer on the clean architecture pattern and its principles
Stability is a crucial aspect of application architecture. Learn how clean architecture can straighten out your dependencies and make an app that is built to last. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2020
How Lean value stream mapping cuts delay, boosts efficiency
You have a backlog, work in short sprints, and track metrics on test coverage and defect rates -- so why does it still take so long to move code to production? Try visualizing it. Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2020
TypeScript's co-creator speaks out on TypeScript 4.0
A co-creator of Microsoft's TypeScript programming language says TypeScript 4.0 improves developer productivity and moves toward first-class status in the JavaScript ecosystem. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Aug 2020
The top software developer skills, tools and certifications
Now tasked with managing complex enterprise software systems, the depth of skills and breadth of knowledge needed by developers has never been more profound. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Aug 2020
4 ways to minimize test automation maintenance
Test automation maintenance is inescapable. Here are four ways to reduce maintenance and ensure software testing is as effective as possible. Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2020
Snyk, Accurics secure infrastructure as code
Snyk has introduced a new tool to help developers secure their infrastructure-as-code configurations. Accurics also upgraded its infrastructure-as-code security tool. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2020
Orchestration vs. choreography in microservices architecture
Orchestration and choreography are related, but they each have their own role to play. Get to know the basics of these service call approaches, including the use cases for each. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Aug 2020
Assess TestRail vs. Zephyr test management tools
TestRail and Zephyr offer test management capabilities and integrate with tools that development teams rely on, like Jira. Check out features and user reviews for each product. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Aug 2020
23 software development metrics to track today
High-performance, engaging, secure apps don't happen by accident. Measure these KPIs to improve the software development process and software quality. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2020
Application architecture changes force IT to adjust focus
IT teams should focus on developer needs to control security and cost management and prevent vendor lock-in as businesses demand faster application turnaround, a consultant advises. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2020
Mirantis buys Lens Kubernetes IDE to reach developers
With the Lens Kubernetes IDE in hand, Mirantis wants to connect directly to a developer base that is becoming more influential in the enterprise. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Aug 2020
Styles, protocols and methods of microservices communication
As application architectures grow in complexity, messaging must become a priority. Review the two types of microservices communication and the primary protocols involved. Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2020
Salesforce Apex developers tap into CircleCI's CI/CD engine
CircleCI has teamed up with Salesforce to help developers building applications on Salesforce's Java-like Apex development platform tap into the CircleCI CI/CD engine. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Aug 2020
A developer guide to software localization
Software has become as multilingual and multicultural as the world itself. Localizing your code can keep your company from a potentially disastrous cultural blunder. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Aug 2020
Explore 10 popular open source development tools
Whether you're writing, managing, building or deploying source code, there is an open source development tool to help do the job. Check out these quick tool intros to get you started. Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2020
IBM's OpenAPI Comment Parser helps devs document APIs
IBM's OpenAPI Comment Parser gives developers a new tool to simplify the process of documenting APIs, so that developers down the line will be able to use them with less effort. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Aug 2020
User acceptance testing best practices for Agile teams
Dig into the basics of user acceptance testing, including who handles the task, what should go into test criteria and other best practices. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Aug 2020
Agile FAQ: Get started with these Agile basics
Check out these tips on Agile basics for a quick catch-up or a great head start on maximizing the value of using Agile methods in your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Aug 2020
10 of the best programming languages to learn in 2020
Different jobs call for different programming languages, and the wrong choice could cause your project to fail. Add these tools to your must-learn list so you are prepared for any assignment. Continue Reading
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Video
05 Aug 2020
5 advantages of GitLab CI/CD pipelines
Products can ease the oft-cumbersome CI/CD process. In this video tutorial, walk through five ways GitLab enables and eases CI/CD for DevOps teams and professionals. Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2020
Deloitte, Unqork team up to bring no-code to the enterprise
Deloitte has partnered with no-code development platform provider Unqork to help enterprise customers that are undergoing digital transformations and app modernizations. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Aug 2020
Decomposing a monolithic database for microservices
When breaking up a monolith, it's critical to decompose your database alongside your new distributed services. We explore how to do this and avoid creating a distributed monolith. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Jul 2020
Follow Google's lead with programming style guides
Code style guides shield developers from dangerous programming approaches and confusion. Here's how Google cultivates style guides, and why you should too. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jul 2020
Navigate service discovery in a microservices architecture
Microservices move rapidly, making streamlined service discovery a must. Learn more about the specific types of discovery approaches and how to determine a strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jul 2020
7 techniques for better Agile requirements gathering
Avoid headaches when you gather software requirements. Learn these seven Agile techniques to understand requirements without reverting to Waterfall. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2020
Altova debuts debugger for low-code applications
Low-code app development could gain a quality boost from Altova and its debugger for low-code applications, which helps developers catch and fix bugs in the development process. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2020
How to work with custom low-code application components
No- and low-code development platforms meet more enterprise app needs when they're customized. However, custom work can mean just as much programming as before you bought the tool. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jul 2020
4 must-have API management components
APIs don't manage themselves. Get to know these key API management components to ensure your applications perform as intended. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2020
Snyk shows developers top-priority vulnerabilities
Snyk's new prioritization capabilities help developers decide which security vulnerabilities to address first in order to shore up enterprise systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2020
Craft an application integration strategy and pick the best tool
Application integration is easier said than done. Learn how to navigate this challenging process -- particularly, if you're integrating legacy applications with new applications. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jul 2020
What does DevOps mean for development and operations?
Get answers to your questions about what DevOps means to development and operations teams, how DevOps works, DevOps vs. Agile and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jul 2020
GitKraken vs. Sourcetree: Pick a Git GUI that fits dev needs
Git GUIs give developers a visual means to manipulate source code repositories. Learn why GitKraken and Sourcetree are popular options among developers, and where each stands out. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2020
A comparison of 6 top programming languages
Choosing the right programming language can be tough. We place six popular languages head to head: Python vs. Ruby, Kotlin vs. Swift and Erlang vs. Elixir. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2020
JFrog taps partners, adds features to bolster DevOps platform
JFrog fills gaps in its DevOps platform with new features and partnerships with tool providers to help developers ship secure code and use issue-free open source code. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jul 2020
Follow this Dockerfile tutorial to create a dev environment
Containers can help establish consistent dev environments. In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how to write a Dockerfile and run containerized applications. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2020
New performance monitoring tool alerts developers in real time
New performance monitoring feature in Sentry's error tracking and release integration platform helps developers find and fix performance issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jul 2020
How to prevent accidental complexity in software development
Software products contain both essential and accidental complexity. To fight accidental complexity, avoid overambitious designs, coding flaws and other common problem areas. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Jul 2020
If software architects' soft skills fail, so does the business
Mark Richards and Neal Ford, authors of 'Fundamentals of Software Architecture,' share real-life examples of why architects must communicate well, and explain how to do it. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jul 2020
Effective QA practices for RPA bot maintenance
Effective RPA QA ensures your bots don't go haywire. Learn how RPA bots fail, effective QA workflows to fix them, and how, when and where human testers should get involved. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jul 2020
Top 5 benefits of Jenkins for CI/CD pipelines
Many software teams continue to use open source Jenkins for CI/CD, despite other platforms on the market. Here's how Jenkins fits what teams look for in CI/CD tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jul 2020
Top software documentation tools and how to use them
The best software documentation helps frame development projects and improve existing offerings. Learn the ins and outs of popular software documentation types and tools. Continue Reading
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Quiz
07 Jul 2020
Test your knowledge of iPaaS tools and strategies
Do you understand everything you should about iPaaS? This quiz will test your knowledge of iPaaS tools and fundamental capabilities. Continue Reading