Application development and management
APIs continue to be one of the biggest parts of effective application and architecture management. Proper API management involves a combination of proper design considerations, testing techniques, documentation and secure processing. In this section, we take a hard look at top-of-mind API management concerns, as well as both standardized and emerging API protocols.
Top Stories
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Feature
10 Jan 2023
What is low-code? A guide to enterprise low-code app development
Learn how low-code concepts and practices code can help enterprise developers be more efficient, create valuable apps more quickly and contribute to broader business initiatives. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jul 2022
10 application performance metrics and how to measure them
You've deployed your application, now what? To keep your application performing well, you need to track various metrics. Take a look at these ten critical KPIs. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Aug 2021
The 4 Golden Signals, and how to put them into practice
There's nothing easy about monitoring distributed systems, but the right metrics can help. Here's how to put the Golden Signals of software reliability to work. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Aug 2021
Rust rises in popularity for cloud-native apps and environments
Rust is making a name for itself in cloud. See why developers are putting in the effort to adopt the programming language for cloud-native development. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2021
5 cloud design patterns to create resilient applications
Review five popular design patterns for cloud application development and how they solve a range of common challenges that IT teams face. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Mar 2021
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
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Feature
27 Jan 2021
5 tips for stronger development team management
Being a competent manager and leading a successful software development team isn't as easy as it looks. Explore the skills, tools and best practices that can strengthen your current workforce. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2021
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
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News
10 Dec 2020
GitHub Universe announcements hint at a bigger plan
Stronger automation and new corporate partnerships with open source developers are major additions to GitHub's strategy announced at the GitHub Universe virtual event. 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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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
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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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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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
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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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
31 Aug 2020
A breakdown of object-oriented programming concepts
Object-oriented programming has set a dominant example of proper data management for complex software and web apps. Learn about the basics of this approach and its role in Java. 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
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
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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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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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
29 Jun 2020
Why COBOL modernization matters, and how devs can react
With COBOL expertise in high demand and low supply, it may be time for devs to think about how much they really know about this language. We explore why COBOL skills still matter. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2020
What is the strangler pattern and how does it work?
The strangler pattern allows software teams to retire legacy systems incrementally and avoid the pitfalls of major rewrites. We examine this pattern and detail the steps involved. Continue Reading
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Answer
25 Jun 2020
Compare the 2 common types of technical debt
While enterprises often incur technical debt inadvertently through inexperience or poor management, sometimes, developers will plan technical debt to establish a market presence. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jun 2020
4 best practices for creating architecture decision records
An ADR is only as good as the record quality. Follow these best practices to establish a dependable ADR creation and maintenance process. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 May 2020
A review of top software architecture visualization tools
Developers need access to up-to-date software diagrams and documentation. Here are seven tools, from Visio to Mermaid, that provide visual models of code and design patterns. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 May 2020
2020 conferences for software developers and architects
Fortunately, you can't lose your badge at a virtual conference. Check out our list of both online and in-person conferences, including DockerCon, API World and Microsoft Build. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Apr 2020
5 core components of microservices architecture
Before you build a microservices application, take a closer look at the components of the architecture and their capabilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Mar 2020
5 key software testability characteristics
How do you design the software components for comprehensive testing? Start with these fundamentals of software testability -- from mocks and stubs to infrastructure-as-code. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Mar 2020
14 top mobile app KPIs that advance development
No matter its purpose, a mobile application must meet expectations from users and corporate stakeholders. Here are 14 mobile app KPIs that you need to know. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2020
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
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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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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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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
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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Tip
17 Dec 2019
Use these 8 tools to deploy microservices on Azure
IT teams deploy microservices to quickly build and scale apps, but it can get complicated fast. Check out these Microsoft Azure tools and best practices to get started the right way. Continue Reading
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Guide
12 Dec 2019
A guide to open source technology in application development
The open source community continuously adapts to address the latest application development and deployment needs of organizations large and small. What can these tools do for you? Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
BI for mobile remains a challenge for vendors
While some BI vendors have developed effective mobile apps that provide concise insights, those that have attempted to recreate their desktop dashboards on phones have struggled. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2019
3 serverless development strategies for stateful applications
Serverless developers can connect stateless functions to state information in several ways, without introducing debilitating latency to the application design. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jun 2019
Simplify Java-based development with the Kotlin language
What makes Kotlin popular among Java professionals? Explore the attributes of this functional programming language that's equipped for both traditional Java and Android developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jun 2019
Get realistic about your multi-cloud strategy aspirations
Multi-cloud is attractive to software teams that want to expand their development toolboxes, but be careful about the complexity it can add to your overall development lifecycle. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2019
Explore Clojure programming language and its multithread style
Discover the fundamentals of the Clojure programming language and its Java-specific uses and tool pairings to see if this multithread programming approach is a fit for your team. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2019
4 tips to tackle common microservices testing problems
Flaky tests put code quality -- and development team morale -- at risk. Proliferating microservices stress out test environments, so use these techniques to keep everything running. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 May 2019
How to create a stateful application with service brokers, DTP
Complex state control issues come with the territory of stateful application design. Learn useful concepts that manipulate state and enable a stateful app to work as envisioned. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 May 2019
Exploring the versatility of Groovy programming
Java developers should peruse Groovy's programming features, such as dynamic typing with static type checks, DSL builders and more. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2019
Customers respond to Docker Hub security breach
A Docker Hub data breach was top of mind at DockerCon this week, but users mostly waved off its broad impact as enterprises generally have their containers on lockdown. Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2019
Docker Enterprise suite overhaul eases container uptake
Docker is working to help enterprises ease their way into using containers with a suite of services and pre-integrated capabilities in products in Docker Enterprise 3.0. Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2019
Docker on ARM pushes cloud app development to the edge
Docker's deal with ARM expands the container company's reach to include developers who build applications on the RISC architecture for edge devices. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Apr 2019
Continuous architecture combats dictatorial EA practices
To thrive today, Agile businesses must outgrow the architecture review board and enterprise silos to create an integrated culture of continuous planning and management. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Apr 2019
The key differences between stateless and stateful microservices
Not all services are the same. Learn about the fundamental differences between a stateful and a stateless microservice and the appropriate scenarios for each. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Apr 2019
When event-driven messaging is the right choice
Event-driven messaging and API messaging both have their place in application architecture. In this Q&A, a Gartner analyst explains when you might choose one over the other. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Apr 2019
How to create an efficient container-based architecture
Containers can introduce as many problems as they solve. In case you missed it, these four articles offer practical advice for consistent and structured container implementations. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Apr 2019
What are TOGAF benefits for large enterprises' architectures?
Enterprise architects should value a standardized architecture framework, especially during microservices adoption. Here's how TOGAF helps control enterprise software development processes. Continue Reading
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Answer
01 Apr 2019
When should I choose between serverless and microservices?
Serverless and microservices work well together, but they still have their unique qualities. We review their main differences and where one might accomplish goals the other can't. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2019
How does Ballerina stack up as a cloud-native programming language?
While WSO2 has high hopes for its microservices-centric and cloud-native programming language, what do developers think of the current version of Ballerina? Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Mar 2019
Practical ways to automate microservices' CI/CD processes
Development teams need to make applications extensible and agile. Microservices bring those goals in sight, but an automated CI/CD pipeline is the key to success. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Mar 2019
Use the Ballerina language to ease into cloud microservices
With native integration features, Ballerina promises to take care of lower-level technological considerations, while developers focus on building features. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Mar 2019
Achieve application state management in microservices designs
Discover the how-tos for managing state in microservices applications, and then evaluate prevalent front-end and back-end state management approaches. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Feb 2019
Expect microservices implementation to break down IT norms
No role is safe during a transition to microservices. JP Morgenthal, distributed architecture expert, enumerates the ways in which a microservices implementation shakes up IT teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2019
How Jenkins X updates this CI/CD tool for the cloud, Kubernetes
Jenkins wasn't built for the cloud or Kubernetes, but that's not so for Jenkins X. Here's how users can keep their favorite CI/CD tool to build modern cloud apps and work with containers. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2019
These tools help build microservices in Java
Depending on the mission, developers need to align their tool choices with one of two paths for Java microservices. Here's what you need to know. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jan 2019
The fundamentals of Micronaut and microservices development
The Micronaut framework offers developers an efficient way to build distributed applications, particularly thanks to quick startup capabilities, a multipurpose CLI and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jan 2019
4 development tools that bridge the architect-developer gap
There can be a frustrating divide between the role of software developer and architect in any organization. There are ways to bridge that chasm, and one of these four tools just might help. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2019
How to prepare your own container development kit
A container development kit helps confederate containerized application development and transition developed components between clusters. Here's how to create your own. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Jan 2019
How to build microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud
Spring Boot and Cloud can certainly help developers tackle microservices, but it's not for everybody and, unfortunately, there are a few important limitations to consider. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Dec 2018
3 serverless platform approaches to consider
There are several ways to approach serverless, and each has pros and cons. Learn where cloud, open source and the more traditional platforms fit into the serverless conversation. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Dec 2018
3 ways to minimize critical container vulnerabilities
Containers are complex, and it takes some work to keep your container components and images safe from attack. Here are three critical container development security practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Dec 2018
Practical ways to implement function as a service
Developers are ready to work with function as a service but still need some guidance. Learn about FaaS implementation models and which FaaS platform offering is for you. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Dec 2018
5 tips to help effectively manage container components
The layered approach is commonly used with Docker containers, but it's important to keep container components under control. Here are five crucial tips. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Oct 2018
In Kubernetes management, infrastructure work is tricky
While Kubernetes has a lot to offer when it comes to deployment and container management, developers still need tools that help with infrastructure management. Continue Reading
- 25 Oct 2018
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Tip
24 Oct 2018
How to choose between serverless and containerized microservices
Explore the intricacies of serverless microservices and container microservices to discover which development requirements are crucial to your ultimate decision. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Oct 2018
Some tricks to help manage load balancing in microservices
Load balancing is a critical, and potentially thorny, part of cloud-native microservices management. Consider these methods and tools that can help address these challenges. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Oct 2018
How to approach mobile optimization with less risk
Microservices and containers can help boost mobile optimization, but it's not automatic. Development teams must think carefully about tooling choices, API creation and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2018
How Java EE development has kept up with microservices
Java EE is mature technology, but it will continue to evolve in ways that can fit nicely into a microservices architecture. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Sep 2018
Docker and Kubernetes monitoring tools that work on microservices
What does it take to manage your containers? Explore a wide range of monitoring tools specifically suited for Docker and Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Sep 2018
How to match microservices middleware to your mission
Microservices middleware strategies require an understanding of goals, state control and other key factors. Discover everything you should consider and how it affects your needs. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Aug 2018
Microservices development will fail with monolithic mindset
Enterprises that build microservices with traditional development tools and practices can run into problems in configuration and dependency management. Continue Reading
- 21 Aug 2018
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Tip
07 Aug 2018
Achieve reactive microservices architecture with minimal effort
Reactive systems philosophy lends itself to microservices architecture because it stresses four core principles of responsivity, resilience, elasticity and message-driven communication. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jul 2018
How gRPC improves microservices load balancing on Kubernetes
Kubernetes networking can be a challenge, but the gRPC protocol can help software pros focus on the application logic rather than worry about how to handle network request calls. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jul 2018
How to control state for so-called stateless microservices
How do you control state in a stateless microservices environment? Front-end and back-end state control can be two viable approaches, and one requires less work than the other. Continue Reading
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Quiz
22 Jun 2018
Test your knowledge of serverless computing
It's time to get familiar with the term serverless and everything it encompasses. Test your knowledge on serverless computing and how it will impact your software projects. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jun 2018
Modern deployment models put a new spin on componentization
Developers can use containers, serverless and microservices to strengthen app composability, but there are tradeoffs to consider. Discover the brave new world of componentization. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jun 2018
How to ease the pain of Kubernetes upgrades with automation
Although Kubernetes aims to automate container management, Kubernetes upgrades are still a tedious, manual process. Learn about the tooling that helps automate this task. Continue Reading
- 18 Jun 2018
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News
14 Jun 2018
Docker Desktop templates ease container app dev
Docker targets a bigger pool of enterprise developers with enhancements to the Docker dev tool set that lets developers design apps graphically rather than through the command line. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jun 2018
A comparison of microservices and functional programming concepts
While often seen together, microservices and functional programming are two different animals. Find out where these disciplines overlap and, more importantly, where they don't. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 May 2018
The pros and cons of serverless architecture
The serverless trend may hold advantages for developers, but consider the trade-offs. There are many aspects of serverless computing that developers should understand. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 May 2018
How a SaaS provider made microservices deployment safely chaotic
Remind was blindsided by performance issues with its microservices-based SaaS, until the company decided to sabotage its own product -- at scheduled times, in staging -- with a different kind of test. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 May 2018
Front-end microservices offer flexibility for developers
Looking to create a stronger and more transparent relationship between front-end and back-end components? Learn how microservices can help make that dream a reality. Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2018
Tufin Orca automates security for containers and microservices
Tufin's policy-based security automation tool fortifies DevOps environments, as it integrates with CI/CD tools, scans for threats, and secures containers and microservices. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2018
Moving data from a monolith to microservices architecture
Monolithic apps may contain a wealth of data within them. Moving to microservices means you need a plan for storing, accessing and backing up in a microservice database. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Apr 2018
Implementing microservices architecture best practices
Addressing the performance issues of microservice architectures can be quite challenging. Yet, using the right tools or practices at the right time and place will give you a boost. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2018
IBM Microclimate platform speeds up microservices app dev
IBM's new microservices development platform is a comprehensive, cloud-native option for developers to build, test and deploy applications in the IBM Cloud Private environment. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Feb 2018
How can Chaos Monkey testing help with microservices?
Resilience testing isn't just for infrastructure. Architects can adopt this disaster recovery testing strategy to build more reliable microservice applications. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Sep 2017
What's the difference between IaaS and PaaS to developers?
Before making a decision about IaaS vs. PaaS for development, organizations should know the major differences. Here we examine the differences between the two. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2017
What is the future of container deployment?
Container deployment continues to evolve with the help of VM models, microservices and DevOps. Learn how the container architecture can impact your business goals. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2016
What alternatives to HTTP are there for microservices?
Using HTTP as the bus for traffic between microservices can create some unwanted impacts, including more TCP/IP overhead. Mark Betz goes over some useful alternatives to HTTP. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Nov 2014
Web services vs. cloud services: Are they the same?
Learn how Web services and cloud services differ, and how working together impacts business efficiency. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Dec 2013
Deciding why and when to use an integration framework
An integration framework is an important tool for managing the movement of data between applications and organizations. Continue Reading
