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
06 Mar 2020
TDD vs. BDD vs. ATDD and other Agile development techniques
Agile development doesn't always start with, well, development. Put tests before coding in TDD, BDD and other Agile techniques to minimize waste and focus on the user. Continue Reading
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News
06 Mar 2020
Developers vie for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure certs
Oracle hopes to attract new developers to its cloud platform with its new developer certification for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, as it trails AWS, Microsoft and Google in market share. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2020
Apple subsidiary delivers Claris Connect no-code tool
Claris Connect, the latest product from Claris, the enterprise software subsidiary of Apple, targets nonprogrammers at SMBs to help them build apps by stitching services together. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Mar 2020
Consider these key microservices caching strategies
Data caching is a key part of ensuring microservices have easy access to the data they need. We review a few key caching strategies. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2020
How to create clear, collaborative user story maps
Messy or unclear user story maps quickly lead to confusion and contention. Read on to learn how to structure your maps and create a shared understanding of them. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2020
How do software developers and architects work together?
Work is more fun when developers and architects have a relationship that is collaborative, not adversarial or absentee. Here's how real teams join forces to build quality software. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2020
5 FAQs on the low-code approach
Low-code might be the future, but it faces a learning curve in the present. Learn about low-code, no-code and citizen development basics with these FAQs. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2020
Rapid7 adds Snyk security to its portfolio
The Snyk security vulnerability database brings an extra layer of protection to Rapid7 by helping developers find and fix vulnerabilities early in the software development process. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2020
3 microservices resiliency patterns for better reliability
The flipside of microservices agility is the resiliency you can lose from service distribution. Here are some microservices resiliency patterns that can keep your services available and reliable. Continue Reading
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Podcast
27 Feb 2020
Heed these core Scrum values to see measurable change
Why isn't Scrum paying off in faster software development and better user satisfaction with the product? Perhaps you adopted the framework without the values, says Ryan Ripley. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2020
The future of UX research: Measure the unquantifiable
Applications capture more information than ever about their users, from heart rate to tone of voice. Prepare for a connected software future with qualitative UX measurements. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2020
Fundamental patterns for service discovery in microservices
Service discovery is a huge part of managing a microservices-based application. We examine helpful service discovery patterns developers can use for clean service interaction. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2020
Why projects fail in the citizen developer model
It's easy for citizen developers to start a software project, but difficult to augment or maintain it. Watch out for these four issues that ruin most no-code projects. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2020
Genuitec's CodeTogether helps developers collaborate on code
CodeTogether, a new development tool from Genuitec, empowers developers to collaborate on writing and debugging code to build applications as part of development teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Feb 2020
How to use Selenium IDE for record and playback testing
Testers can use a tool like Selenium IDE for test automation to efficiently check web app interfaces. Here's how to put the open source tool to work in no time. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2020
5 big microservices pitfalls to avoid during migration
Too many development teams make these failure-inducing mistakes during a switch to microservices. Learn where things go wrong, and the best ways to avoid problems. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2020
New tool fixes app accessibility glitches
The new Applause Accessibility Tool helps developers write better apps for disabled users by automatically finding and fixing app accessibility issues in their code as they write it. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2020
Synopsys Code Sight combines SAST, SCA testing in the IDE
Synopsys' Code Sight IDE plug-in provides capabilities for simultaneous static application security testing (SAST) and software composition analysis (SCA). Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Feb 2020
Learn 5 defensive programming techniques from experts
How do you become a good programmer? Accept that you have bad programming habits. The authors of 'The Pragmatic Programmer' share tips for defensive code creation. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2020
Pegasystems' Pega Express empowers citizen developers
Pegasystems' new Pega Express low-code application development methodology helps business users and citizen developers to quickly create applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2020
Is microservices adoption right for your organization?
Assess whether your org will benefit from microservices, and use this expert advice to take the initial steps to make a successful architectural and cultural transition. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Feb 2020
Real-world developers' low-code examples focus on productivity
Two enterprise IT organizations share the benefits their dev teams gained from different low-code platforms, the process issues the tools exposed and how teams can get started. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Feb 2020
Popular microservices testing tools developers should know about
Testing microservices gets messy as services are independent and communicate often. Here are tests necessary for microservices, and popular tools developers use to perform them. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Feb 2020
Adopt the 4 foundations of Agile collaboration
Foster a positive team environment and culture to accomplish the collaboration goals of Agile. Here's how to synchronize teams and boost efficiency, as well as tools that help. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
LightStep targets developers with new observability tool
LightStep hones its observability software with its new Service Health for Deployments feature, which helps developers find and fix service health issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2020
3 reasons testers need a QA manager in Agile
Agile teams without a QA manager prioritize developers' perspectives -- even to the software's detriment. Here are three ways in which a QA manager offers value to Agile teams, and how they support testers. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2020
Rethinking change control in software engineering
The traditional method of application change control won't fly in a modern, DevOps environment. Here's how we can rethink the process in a time where rapid app development rules. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
Iowa caucus app fiasco a cautionary tale for all enterprises
App testing is crucial to ensuring that mobile apps are ready for mission-critical systems such as the mobile app that failed during the Iowa caucuses. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Feb 2020
A few fundamental microservices team structure strategies
A microservices architecture can be quite a culture shock to unprepared enterprises. Here's how you can prepare your team to make microservices part of development processes. Continue Reading
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Quiz
31 Jan 2020
Quiz yourself on Agile project management principles
Agile started out as a simple concept, which grew into a full-blown development methodology with many styles. Take this quiz to see how much you know about Agile project management. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2020
Pick user-centric software performance testing metrics
Unlike other types of tests, performance tests gauge how well an application works -- not whether it fails. Testers must pay close attention to these metrics to keep end users happy. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
31 Jan 2020
Organize your team with an Agile scaling frameworks comparison
It's not easy to get Agile right, let alone replicate an individual team's success. For enterprises looking for a wide-scale transition, an Agile scaling framework might do the trick. Continue Reading
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Podcast
31 Jan 2020
How Python makes automating security tasks a snap
Security professionals with coding skills can get a lot done in not a lot of time. Hear why Python suits beginners and how it puts security and developers on the same team. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Jan 2020
Experts explain how AWS Lambda works internally
AWS Lambda introduces its fair share of benefits and problems. In case you missed it, here are three expert tips to help serverless functions find a comfortable place within your software systems. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2020
Google App Maker to shut down in wake of AppSheet buy
Google App Maker, the company's low-code development tool, will be shut down in January 2021. Google offers users alternative options for users to switch to as App Maker sunsets. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
29 Jan 2020
Project management tools and strategies: Gantt charts, PERT charts and PM planning tools
In project management, charts can visualize work in progress -- and there are many ways to do so. Learn how Agile teams use Gantt, PERT, burn down and other charts to stay on track. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jan 2020
How to write a good software bug report
When it comes to defect reporting, the more detail, the better. Here's how to produce defect reports that get bugs fixed fast. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2020
The 3 fundamentals of hybrid cloud architecture management
When an enterprise chooses hybrid cloud, it needs to ensure the application harmonizes between the two environments. Review these three tips on architecture, integration and APIs. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2020
RapidAPI, MongoDB answer the call for GraphQL support
As developer demand for GraphQL continues to grow, vendors such as MongoDB and RapidAPI are adding support for the API query language in their core products. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2020
Pros and cons of monolithic vs. microservices architecture
Developers interested in shifting to microservices should seriously consider whether a monolithic approach may be the smarter choice. Here are the key factors to consider. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2020
Developers could ease DevOps deployment with CircleCI Orbs
With a new suite of 20 CircleCI integrations known as Orbs, CircleCI targets developers who wish to simplify the automation of their deployments from their CI/CD pipelines. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2020
Jira Roadmaps connect to Confluence, await Code Barrel
Atlassian rolled out fresh updates to its Jira Roadmaps feature and set the stage for further workflow refinements and integrations with other Atlassian software in 2020. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jan 2020
How to patch your open source software vulnerabilities
No matter how big your software vulnerabilities backlog has grown, here's how you can tackle it, and get on the path to continuous security monitoring. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jan 2020
Weigh these RPA benefits and challenges against APIs
APIs are a safe, reliable way for applications to execute a workflow. But they're not always available. Here's how to craft an integration strategy around APIs, RPA and even people. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Dive into functional testing and non-functional testing approaches
Don't get trapped in a white or black box -- or the gray area in between. Here's why functional and non-functional app testing are complementary ways to ensure end user satisfaction. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Use intrusive testing to push software to, and past, its limits
Grab your sledgehammer and get to work with destructive software testing. Here's how to use these intrusive methods to identify points of failure before software reaches users. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2020
Advantages of monolithic architecture that prove it isn't dead
Don't rush to break up a monolith too quickly without considering what you might lose in the process. We examine why a monolithic architecture is sometimes the smarter choice. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2020
IBM expands patent troll fight with its massive IP portfolio
IBM has contributed more than 80,000 patents to the LOT Network, a group of more than 600 companies that IBM has joined to fight patent trolls and their often frivolous lawsuits. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jan 2020
The 6 IDE features to use for tool selection
The best IDE for a project depends on the languages programmers use, how the platform integrates with code repositories and other tools, and many other factors. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2020
Google buys AppSheet for low-code app development
Google has bought AppSheet, maker of a low-code platform that line-of-business employees can use to create cross-platform mobile applications. Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Jan 2020
5 software testing books QA professionals should dig into
There's no cookie-cutter crash course on software testing. However, these five books can get beginners on the right path to better quality software. Continue Reading
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Video
13 Jan 2020
Get to work with Python in this PyCharm tutorial
IDEs make it a lot easier to work with programming languages like Python. In this video PyCharm tutorial, learn how to use features to catch syntax errors, debug issues and run code. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jan 2020
Follow these 10 fundamental microservices design principles
The right design principles enable microservices adopters to build an application from autonomous, cohesive components that can scale seamlessly. Here are 10 to follow. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2020
Appian buys robotic process automation tools platform
With its acquisition of Novayre Solutions SL, Appian brings robotic process automation (RPA) to its customer base of enterprise low-code app developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2020
How to improve API documentation with Swagger and OpenAPI
Discover why developers should take advantage of Swagger tooling and the OpenAPI specification to streamline API design, documentation and management, especially for RESTful APIs. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jan 2020
GraphQL vs. REST choice steers microservices development
GraphQL vs. REST: That is the question as teams tackle microservices architecture design, and at Pantheon, the choice came with both business boons and technical debt. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2020
3 event sourcing patterns that ease app processing
Examine the pros and cons of three event sourcing patterns that solve certain problems but can introduce new ones in an event-driven architecture. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2020
How user story mapping aids requirements gathering in Agile
Agile requirements are dynamic, not static. Collaborate on user story maps to make sense of frequently evolving customer needs, and put a Scrum Master at the center of it all. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jan 2020
How the .NET Core platform advances cloud-based app deployment
The capabilities of .NET Core keep developers interested. We break down the reasons why that's the case. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
31 Dec 2019
5 predictions for 2020 software architecture trends
The past decade brought big changes to app development and management. Now, our contributors predict what the biggest software architecture trends of 2020 will be. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Dec 2019
How to train junior developers in 5 steps
Junior developers thrive on trust and training -- even if you're wary of the former and have little time for the latter. Here's how to get inexperienced programmers tuned up fast. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2019
How to tackle 5 common event bus pattern problems
The event bus pattern has quickly become a necessity, but it's not a free ride. Here are five common problems you'll face when you rely on an event bus. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Dec 2019
Vendors make a splash in 2019 service mesh implementation rush
There was a surge of service mesh options that hit the market in 2019, and two significant events helped shape its outcome. Expect to see Envoy and Istio steal the stage in 2020. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
27 Dec 2019
What's in store for software development trends in 2020?
New year, new IT priorities. While not all initiatives stick, these development and testing trends will shape how teams create, evaluate and deploy software. Get ahead of the curve. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2019
How to get DevOps into compliance, and vice versa
IT organizations that are serious about DevOps, especially with integrated release pipelines, need compliance and governance workflows that dovetail with the app delivery approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Dec 2019
4 DevOps communication principles to get teams talking
One of DevOps' supposed benefits is better collaboration and communication, but it doesn't come out of nowhere. Address these communication challenges to get everyone on the same page. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2019
Automation, UX among top software development goals for 2020
New Year's resolutions are a way to take stock of where we are, and where we want to be. Programmers, QA testers, UX designers and others share their software dev goals for 2020. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2019
5 can't-miss software development news stories of 2019
Before you finalize your 2020 plans, take a minute to catch up on app-dev news stories that will shape the next year. Here are the five top news stories for 2019, with analysis. Continue Reading
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Podcast
20 Dec 2019
DevOps in the enterprise requires focus on security, visibility
App dev, quality and delivery challenges constantly pop up in DevOps implementations. Hear how overworked IT professionals deal with these challenges, and how tools can help -- or not. Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2019
Manual mainframe testing persists in the age of automation
Mainframe testing is still done manually by many IT shops, despite mainframe modernization and digitization efforts that benefit from automated software testing methods. Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2019
Azure confidential computing, AWS aim to better secure cloud data
Microsoft's confidential computing for Kubernetes and AWS' upcoming Nitro Enclaves both aim to give IT pros ways to create isolated compute environments for sensitive data. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Dec 2019
How to do API testing to improve application quality
APIs run apps, so it's essential to test them beyond simple connectivity. Study these API testing basics, like when to run such tests, and the benefits of giving this task to QA. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Dec 2019
How to test microservices for functionality and compliance
If you're new to microservices testing practices, understand that traditional techniques won't work anymore. We examine how to approach four critical microservices tests. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Dec 2019
This 90-year-old business crushed application integration problems
By putting a microscope to a 90-year-old manufacturing company's digital transformation project, find out how application integration problems materialize and how to solve them. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Dec 2019
Apigee vs. Mulesoft: An API management platform face-off
Mulesoft and Apigee are two of the most widely used API management platforms around. This article places them side by side to compare their pros and cons. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2019
How software prototyping beats requirements gathering
How do you know which features to code into the software you're developing? Application teams share tips on how to deliver ROI with prototyping, UX research and a design week. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Dec 2019
Business process automation software requires a strategy
Organizations of all sizes can benefit from automation, but they need to move beyond tactical deployments. To really make use of BPA software, a strategic approach is needed. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Dec 2019
Why workflow automation isn't really about cost cutting
BPA can reduce expenses and boost efficiency. Its real value, though, is in how it can drive innovation throughout a company and provide a competitive advantage. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Dec 2019
When business process automation benefits the whole company
Here's what you need to know about BPA tooling, from how it works, how it helps and how to consider potential providers. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2019
The benefits of Python are plenty, but it's not for everyone
Python boasts plenty of features that make it a go-to object-oriented language. But is it always the right choice? We take a look at what you should know about coding with Python. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2019
5 vital QA skills for software testers
As testing extends throughout the SDLC, QA engineers do much more than execute a quick functionality check. Pick up these skills to ensure an effective, team-wide approach to quality. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Nov 2019
Is RPA the future of test automation?
IT organizations will use test automation, RPA and low-code development tools to create, assess and automate complex processes in the near future. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Nov 2019
What to look for in code review tools
Code review gums up the Agile, iterative works. Assisted and automated code review tools improve quality, and there's a mix of products out there for different workflows and needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Nov 2019
Assess low-code platform pros and cons
Some see low-code platforms as intuitive and time-saving, but security and compliance concerns could negate those benefits. See where low-code tools stand with these pros and cons. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Nov 2019
Low-code platforms face off: Mendix vs. OutSystems
Low-code products target different audiences. So, will traditional or citizen developers use low-code platforms more in the future? We pit Mendix vs. OutSystems to explore each approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Nov 2019
An introduction to combining CQRS and event sourcing
Combining CQRS and event sourcing is a powerful way to maintain data speed and consistency for web-scale applications. Learn about the pros and cons of pairing these two processes. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2019
Kubernetes tools vendors vie for developer mindshare
Developers in the cloud-native industry running Kubernetes environments say they need more and better Kubernetes tools to get around some of the complexity of the platform. Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2019
IBM's latest Kubernetes tools ease use for cloud developers
IBM's new open-source Kubernetes tools help lower the barrier to entry for developers to use Kubernetes to build, deploy, manage and move workloads to the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Nov 2019
Scaling microservices takes conceptual skills and good tooling
Independent scalability is a major benefit of microservices, and simultaneously a complex and challenging thing to implement. Scale microservices with a focus on users' priorities. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Nov 2019
How to perform test automation maintenance
Automated tests run on their own, but they need a little help to stay in shape. Proactively address test automation maintenance with initiatives in these two key areas. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2019
6 quick facts about a Java microservices architecture
Building microservices in Java may not be as simple as it seems. Here are six quick facts and tips that will help you with Java-based microservices development. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2019
Make people, not tools, the focus of DevOps initiatives
You can buy a DevOps tool for almost everything -- except people challenges. Learn what high-performing practitioners do to make DevOps culture productive. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2019
API gateway comparison: Kong vs. Tyk
API gateways help organizations smooth out interactions among microservices. This side-by-side rundown of Kong vs. Tyk will help you choose which tool fits your business' needs. Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2019
Atlassian products aid BizDevOps, but integration work remains
IT pros have found Atlassian tools useful for BizDevOps initiatives but would like more integration and consolidated points of management among them in the future. Continue Reading
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Podcast
06 Nov 2019
Prioritize DevOps and Agile outcomes, not transformation
Tools are easy; people are difficult. So, when it comes to an Agile or DevOps transformation, focus on the desired outcomes, not the process changes, as we discuss in this podcast. Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Nov 2019
What should we make of ESB architecture in a distributed world?
Did microservices really kill the ESB? Or could it be that the push to asynchronous communication only makes application architects need centralized management more than ever? Continue Reading
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Podcast
04 Nov 2019
Why it's time to take IT burnout seriously
Disengaged or apathetic employees are a sign of weak culture -- not weak people. In this podcast, Dr. Christina Maslach shares what IT job burnout looks like and how to address it. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2019
Atlassian CISO Adrian Ludwig shares DevOps security outlook
Atlassian's CISO believes that eventually, application security mechanisms will be absorbed completely into Agile and DevOps tools -- including his own company's products. Continue Reading
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Answer
31 Oct 2019
What are the benefits of event-driven architecture patterns?
See how event-driven architecture patterns can set up an enterprise application for adaptability in a way that monolithic architectures can't. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2019
A low-code platform can do a lot, but it has limits
If you're ready to jump into low-code development, you'll want to know what these platforms can help you accomplish and how to sidestep common troubles. Continue Reading