Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• API caching strategies and best practices

  API caching can increase the performance and response time of an application, but only if it's done right. Learn about some of the caching tools and techniques worth implementing. Continue Reading

• Low-code tool n8n bridges gap between AI models and business

  Many organizations struggle to realize AI projects. N8n aims to bridge the gap between AI engineers and business users, empowering non-technical staff to build AI workflows. Continue Reading

• AI agents are accelerators, not developer replacements

  The central challenge with integrating AI into application development isn't its capacity to assist, but rather the extent to which we can confidently delegate control. Continue Reading

• Insomnia vs. Postman: Comparing API management tools

  Insomnia has a streamlined interface and focus. Postman has extensive features for end-to-end development. Choosing comes down to the team's needs and the project's complexity. Continue Reading

• Refactor vs. rewrite: Deciding how to fix problem software

  At some point, all developers must decide whether to refactor code or rewrite it. Base this choice on factors such as architectural soundness, time, money and goals. Continue Reading

• Understanding API proxy vs. API gateway capabilities

  API proxies and gateways help APIs talk to applications, but it can be tricky to understand vendor language around different tools' functionalities.Continue Reading

• Why use Rust? Explore the benefits of Rust development

  Rust continues a meteoric rise in popularity following a 2024 White House endorsement. But what are the benefits of Rust that make it such an alluring choice?Continue Reading

• Using AI and machine learning for APM

  Discover how organizations can streamline operations and improve operational analytics by using AI and machine learning in their application performance monitoring environments.Continue Reading

• Explore these 7 popular API gateway tools

  Plenty of vendors have jumped on the API gateway trend, which can make it difficult to choose the right one for you. We examine the key features of seven popular gateway tools.Continue Reading

• APM vs. observability: Key differences explained

  If you're debating using application performance monitoring or observability to gather data and improve the user experience, consider these differences between them.Continue Reading

• 8 benefits of APM for businesses

  Application performance monitoring helps development teams identify and resolve performance problems, which leads to various business benefits for organizations.Continue Reading

• Application performance monitoring vs. management

  Explore the nuances between application performance monitoring and application performance management, especially in enhancing application efficiency and the user experience.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of using generative AI for API testing

  GenAI has the potential to reduce the API testing effort and improve the coverage and quality of testing. But finding the right patterns and workflows is critical to performance.Continue Reading

• Reverse proxy vs. load balancer: How do they compare?

  If reverse proxies were plantains, load balancers would be bananas. Despite surface similarities, the two services work in different ways and support varying use cases.Continue Reading

• Exploring cell-based architecture vs. microservices

  Cell-based architecture takes fundamental concepts related to microservices and applies them across the entire software environment to make more fault-tolerant, scalable systems.Continue Reading

• Django vs. Flask: Comparing Python web frameworks

  Django's batteries-included approach might be excessive for small projects. Flask is lightweight, but a lack of built-in tools can add to development time. Analyze the tradeoffs.Continue Reading

• Webhook security: Risks and best practices for mitigation

  Webhook security is an ongoing process, with responsibility shared between providers and consumers to protect against threats and ensure a secure webhook ecosystem.Continue Reading

• Webhook vs. API: Which mechanism is better?

  Moving data in one direction? Choose a webhook. Need applications to communicate with each other? Use an API. But first, compare both methods in function, cost, security and more.Continue Reading

• 10 dying or 'dead' programming languages

  In a rapidly evolving landscape, these 10 programming languages are becoming increasingly obscure. Learn how programming languages die despite their former prominence.Continue Reading

• A beginner's guide to learning new programming languages

  Rust or Ruby? Go or Groovy? As the competitive IT landscape evolves, developers can enhance their skills and career potential by learning new programming languages.Continue Reading

• Why and how to manage microservices without API gateways

  Managing microservices without API gateways might be uncommon, but not unheard of. Consider the benefits, downsides and available auxiliary tools before taking an alternate approach.Continue Reading

• When not to use microservices: 4 challenges to consider

  The switch from microservices to monolith could save costs and improve performance. Explore key considerations and questions to ask when deciding the right architecture for an app.Continue Reading

• web services

  Web services are a type of internet software that use standardized messaging protocols and are made available from an application service provider's web server for a client or other web-based programs to use.Continue Reading

• EAI (enterprise application integration)

  Enterprise application integration (EAI) is the process of connecting an organization's business applications, services, databases and other systems into an integrating framework that facilitates communications and interoperability.Continue Reading

• A review of 7 software architecture visualization tools

  Visualization tools like Visio and Draw.io can provide a lot of benefits when it comes to software architecture design and management, but choosing the right one is important.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of a layered architecture pattern

  Layered architecture patterns provide a consistent and secure way to organize code when implemented correctly. However, the way those layers interact should remain a top concern.Continue Reading

• The growing link between microservices and WebAssembly

  The microservices architecture has become popular, but it runs into complexity and cost challenges. Implementing WebAssembly can alleviate those worries.Continue Reading

• What to know about GraphQL vs. REST performance

  Both GraphQL and REST aim to simplify API development, but they handle data differently. Carefully consider how those differences might affect performance.Continue Reading

• Three-tier vs. microservices architecture: How to choose

  The microservices approach is well suited to an app that needs a high level of modularity. When is the added complexity worth it, and how do you make that call?Continue Reading

• Making sense of cross-platform, distributed cloud app dev

  Cross-platform, distributed cloud app development methods are innovative in how they can quickly deliver code. Their adoption also adds complexity to coding and management.Continue Reading

• Haskell vs. PureScript: The difference is complexity

  Haskell and PureScript each provide their own unique development advantages, so how should developers choose between these two popular programming languages?Continue Reading

• Top developer relations trends for building stronger teams

  Learn about enterprise trends for optimizing software engineering practices, including developer relations, API use, community building and incorporating security into development.Continue Reading

• Microservices vs. headless architecture: A brief breakdown

  Microservices and headless architectures are both techniques capable of providing flexibility and modularity, but how do you make a wise choice between them?Continue Reading

• 9 programming languages for smart contract development

  There are languages expressly for smart contract development, but you can also use general-purpose languages like C++ and Java. Here's how they differ, and advice on how to choose.Continue Reading

• The past, present and future of AI coding tools

  Though AI-assisted software development has seemingly hit a historical turning point, things like intelligent code completion, static code analysis arguably led the way.Continue Reading

• A healthy perspective on software architecture scalability

  It's easy to overlook architecture scalability and focus instead on application performance and cost. But architectural scalability is the basis for some important benefits.Continue Reading

• When REST API design goes from helpful to harmful

  REST may be a somewhat non-negotiable standard in web API development, but has it fostered overreliance? Learn why other design styles could -- and should -- get an equal chance.Continue Reading

• Azure Logic Apps: How it compares to AWS Step Functions

  Developers can use Microsoft Azure Logic Apps to build, deploy and connect scalable cloud-based workflows. Learn how it measures up to other cloud platforms and AWS Step Functions.Continue Reading

• Rust vs. Go: A microservices-based language faceoff

  Rust and Go both offer language features geared toward microservices-based development, but their relative capabilities make them a better fit for some scenarios than others.Continue Reading

• Why contract testing can be essential for microservices

  Developers face numerous struggles trying to perform traditional, end-to-end integration testing on microservices. Contract testing presents a potential alternative.Continue Reading

• The advancing role of data-centric developers

  More than ever, increases in data-centric developer reliance, data sources and users push developers to understand IT purchasing to provide more value to data.Continue Reading

• A breakdown of new features in Micronaut 3

  Micronaut 3.0's updates to annotation changes bean management and injections may intrigue developers working on coding paths and error handling for microservices.Continue Reading

• Top 12 application performance monitoring tools

  Discover the basic capabilities to evaluate when choosing an APM tool, and then review a list of APM vendors to help you get started with your selection process.Continue Reading

• How Broadcom's merger with VMware will affect developers

  Broadcom's acquisition of VMware may seem like a straightforward business move, but some key details surrounding the deal point to big potential shakeups in the market.Continue Reading

• The ups and downs of using an internal developer platform

  IDPs can provide a productive and secure environment for development teams. Consider the pros and cons to see if an internal developer platform is right for your organization.Continue Reading

• A brief breakdown of declarative vs. imperative programming

  While imperative programming is both an established and approachable method of coding, the declarative model is gaining appeal as demands for complex, flexible features increase.Continue Reading

• The ups and downs of low-code microservices development

  Low-code may not be the most sophisticated of development techniques, but it can often fit the bill for software teams looking to build microservices applications.Continue Reading

• Using the BFF pattern to keep UIs flexible and reliable

  BFF is a simple design pattern that can help developers address UI-related challenges, such as problematic coupling, overfetching of data and inconsistent error handling.Continue Reading

• Open vs. closed APIs: 4 crucial factors you should examine

  Open and closed APIs both have their respective upsides and downsides. To choose the right approach, developers must examine four critical technical and business-level factors.Continue Reading

• The pros, cons and challenges of containerized microservices

  Containerized microservices are certainly a popular deployment approach, but are they the best? They can be, provided you overcome the unique challenges they present.Continue Reading

• SPML (Services Provisioning Markup Language)

  Services Provisioning Markup Language (SPML) is an open source XML-based standard that facilitates the exchange of account provisioning information among applications, services and organizations.Continue Reading

• Will .NET 6 features bridge the gap between .NET frameworks?

  Microsoft's original .NET Framework has come a long way, but will the new iterations of this framework be enough to convince developers to leave it behind?Continue Reading

• What is Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)?

  An enterprise service bus (ESB) is a software platform used to distribute work among connected components of an application.Continue Reading

• The architectural impact of RPC in distributed systems

  It has become increasingly important for software architects to understand the mechanics behind remote procedure call (RPC), particularly its role in distributed architectures.Continue Reading

• Service mesh vs. API gateway: Where, why and how to use them

  While they're both central to inter-application communication processes, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between a service mesh and an API gateway.Continue Reading

• Should you adopt an API-first approach to development?

  While the code-first approach certainly works, its appeal is fading as architectures become increasingly complex webs of software. Learn why the API-first approach is catching on.Continue Reading

• .NET vs. Node.js: What they are, and which to choose

  The choice between using .NET and Node.js for application development shouldn't be a difficult one but requires a solid understanding of each approach's pros and cons.Continue Reading

• Synchronous vs. asynchronous communications: The differences

  Synchronous execution requires parties or components to work simultaneously in real time, while asynchronous communications don't need anyone to wait around for a reply.Continue Reading

• Microservices vs. SOA: Choose the right app architecture

  This primer explains the ins and outs of a microservices vs. SOA architecture: when and where to use either one, and how both are evolving, thanks to containers.Continue Reading

• How microservices and containers work, apart and together

  Microservices and containers are two methods that enable companies to more efficiently create and deliver applications. Here's how they work -- and when they're best used together.Continue Reading

• Microservices vs. APIs: How they differ and work together

  Enterprises still rely on monolithic systems, but apps increasingly require speed, scale and flexibility. Here's how microservices and APIs achieve that, separately and together.Continue Reading

• Static vs. dynamic typing: The details and differences

  What are the key differences between static typing and dynamic typing, and what role do their differences play in the decision to use one programming language over another?Continue Reading

• Is integration platform as a service right for you?

  Is iPaaS a helpful platform for your enterprise software integration needs or just an unnecessary tool that adds complexity to the environment?Continue Reading

• Event-driven vs. message-driven: It comes down to complexity

  While the goal doesn't change, how do message-driven and event-driven design approaches really differ? More importantly, how do you choose the right approach?Continue Reading

• Review these top enterprise iPaaS benefits and challenges

  Have you considered using an iPaaS to integrate your various apps? Understand where iPaaS works, and runs into challenges, to help prepare for a successful iPaaS implementation.Continue Reading

• The reasons to use (or not use) sidecars in Kubernetes

  Sidecar containers provide a great relief to developers who need to manage large clusters of containerized applications at scale. But is it always the right approach?Continue Reading

• The role of DevOps practices in application design

  Fancy architecture diagrams and aesthetically pleasing code are nice things to have. But they don't mean much without the support of DevOps-centric design practices.Continue Reading

• Do the disadvantages of service-oriented architecture matter?

  While it doesn't carry the shiny appeal of microservices, there's no reason to believe that SOA is totally down for the count. In fact, sometimes it's an essential approach.Continue Reading

• Why microservices and IoT apps are perfect together

  The development of IoT apps certainly presents its fair share of challenges, but the benefits that microservices bring might be an antidote to those struggles.Continue Reading

• application service provider (ASP)

  An application service provider (ASP) is a company that offers individuals or enterprises access to applications and related services over the internet.Continue Reading

• Diagrams.net vs. Lucidchart: A few things to consider

  While UML diagramming is a relatively universal approach, not all visualization tools are made for the same crowd. Diagrams.net and Lucidchart offer a good example of this.Continue Reading

• The difference between front-end and back-end developers

  While front-end and back-end application development are two parts of a greater whole, the specifics of each career present some stark differences between them.Continue Reading

• Can a loosely coupled architecture reduce technical debt?

  While there are a lot of factors that impact technical debt, the level of coupling found in the underlying software architecture is often a primary culprit.Continue Reading

• A quick rundown of 3 layered architecture design styles

  N-layer, hexagonal and onion are all layered architecture styles, but each one features its own unique spin on distributed design and modular development.Continue Reading

• An application architect's chief roles and responsibilities

  Today's application architect isn't just a high-caliber developer, but an experienced leader with both the technical and business chops to propel an organization's software strategy.Continue Reading

• NetBeans vs. Eclipse: 5 key comparison points for these IDEs

  When implementing IDEs into an application architecture, Eclipse and NetBeans are often top contenders. But is one of these IDEs really better than the other?Continue Reading

• 4 reasons Dart is still a language worth learning

  Despite a perception that it is dead, there are a few reasons Dart is still a language worth learning. We explore a few reasons why it may not be as obsolete as some think.Continue Reading

• Guide to building an enterprise API strategy

  In today's digital world, businesses increasingly rely on APIs to deliver data and services. Follow this comprehensive guide to build a successful enterprise API strategy.Continue Reading

• Microservices design patterns and tools to watch in 2021

  Building upon years of momentum, architects are well in the swing of transitioning from the monolith to microservices. Here are three of the top trends they'll face in 2021.Continue Reading

• The differences between SVN and Git that matter

  Not sure how to pick between Git and SVN for your versioning needs? We break down the key differences between these tools, including their most potent benefits and drawbacks.Continue Reading

• Examining the low-code market's race for citizen developers

  Low-code and no-code vendors are fighting viciously for the favor of citizen developers. Examine the reasons for this trend and the market moves that reveal these vendors' motives.Continue Reading

• BPM vs. BPA: The differences in strategy and tooling

  The differences between BPM and BPA come down to process complexity, an organization's proficiency with software code and how quickly the business must see ROI.Continue Reading

• Enterprise application trends that will impact 2021

  The past year evoked a wave of new software needs, especially in the wake of COVID-19 and increased needs for availability. Here are some 2020 trends that will take shape in 2021.Continue Reading

• Objective-C vs. Swift: The war for iOS development supremacy

  While Objective-C still holds the crown, Swift is quickly mobilizing to rule iOS development. Let's examine and compare the most compelling features of each language.Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 5 major reasons to adopt an API management platform

  Why adopt an API management platform? Examine when it makes sense to adopt a platform, and five major ways they can actually assist your DevOps teams.Continue Reading

• Kotlin vs. Swift: An open source programming language face-off

  Take a look into what Kotlin and Swift have to offer in terms of cross-platform capabilities, library support and ease of use. Also, review their major strengths and limitations.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between Python and Ruby?

  In this article, we explore the genesis of these two programming languages, notable characteristics and differences, and where each language might be headed.Continue Reading

• 4 trends for Kubernetes cloud-native teams to watch in 2020

  Today's software architectural landscape seems to change like the weather. Stay ahead of the curve with these cloud-related trends, including GitOps and service meshes.Continue Reading

• A concurrent programming faceoff: Erlang vs. Elixir

  Do you want the strong data integrity of Erlang, or the flexibility of Elixir? We explore the pros and cons of each in this head-to-head language matchup.Continue Reading