Application development planning
To ensure long-term success, developers must think critically about application design, development, implementation, testing and maintenance phases. In this section, our experts dig into how software teams can implement application development planning, including tools and management techniques.
Top Stories
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Tip
19 Nov 2021
How a microservices chassis regulates cross-cutting concerns
Those who've implemented a microservices architecture know that it presents a formidable collection of cross-cutting concerns to manage. Luckily, a microservices chassis might help. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Nov 2021
Programming in Ruby: A critical look at the pros and cons
While Ruby showcases an impressive spread of beneficial features, there are still specific shortcomings that may explain why its adoption numbers have been conspicuously erratic. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Nov 2021
The distributed monolith: What it is and how to escape it
Do you suspect that your attempt at microservices left you with distributed monolith application design? There are some telltale signs -- and, thankfully, a few ways to escape it. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Oct 2021
PHP 8 features that prove it's for more than just web
Looking to keep up with the demand for increasingly sophisticated development capabilities, PHP 8 brings interesting new integrations that transcend the realm of web development. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2021
8 fundamental microservices security best practices
Despite the benefits, microservices will introduce profound security issues. We review the biggest microservices security challenges and eight strategies used to combat them. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Sep 2021
Follow 6 key steps to deploy microservices in production
To succeed with microservices, IT organizations need to rethink the way they design and deploy applications -- and not all the necessary changes are technical ones. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2021
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
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News
31 Aug 2021
Docker Desktop pricing changes in bid to boost revenue
Docker Desktop is now part of all Docker subscriptions, including a new Business tier with added security, but enterprise users of the free version will have to start paying. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Aug 2021
The functional programming paradigm at enterprise scale
Many enterprise-level architects rely on an object-oriented approach, but there are good reasons and practical ways to introduce functional programming within large-scale systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2021
.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
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Feature
05 Aug 2021
An A-to-Z guide to a microservices architecture transition
This comprehensive guide to microservices explains everything: comparisons to monolithic architectures, the role of APIs and containers, and design and deployment best practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2021
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
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Tip
29 Jul 2021
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
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Feature
22 Jul 2021
An intro to the 5 SOLID principles of object-oriented design
In this primer on SOLID, we'll examine the five principles it embodies, the practices they encourage and the reasons these concepts matter. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2021
How to handle typical event-driven architecture failures
Adding events to an architecture can pose plenty of problems. Review some common event-driven architecture failures development teams face, and some strategic fixes for them. 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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Feature
22 Jun 2021
To master software design patterns, perspective is everything
Elisabeth Robson and Eric Freeman, authors of 'Head First Design Patterns,' outline their quest to teach software design patterns and show developers the right way to learn them. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2021
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
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Tip
09 Jun 2021
Build apps with these cloud architecture diagram examples
Cloud changes the way IT teams build an application's architecture. Follow these diagram examples, using top cloud providers, to help guide your project. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
20 May 2021
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
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News
29 Apr 2021
Atlassian Open DevOps beats 'good enough'
Atlassian's new Open DevOps strategy taps best-of-breed DevOps tools for integration into a single toolchain to ease the burden for software development teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Apr 2021
Feature toggles: A simple fix for complex release cycles
While development teams should always strive to improve app functionality, unchecked collections of feature releases can quickly cause trouble. Feature toggles may be the answer. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Apr 2021
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
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Tip
31 Mar 2021
Micro apps: A simple way to add sophisticated features
When building a new web or mobile app seems like overkill, micro apps might be the most practical way for developers to add niche features and functionality. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2021
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
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Opinion
16 Mar 2021
Fight microservices complexity with low-code development
Software developers are in a constant battle with complexity. Microservices hold promise as ready-to-assemble app components, but low-code development might be a better approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Mar 2021
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
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Tip
08 Mar 2021
Get to know 4 microservices versioning techniques
Are you struggling to apply updates consistently across distributed services? Here are four microservices versioning techniques that can help. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Feb 2021
10 microservices patterns all architects should know
Choosing the right design pattern is a critical part of managing a microservices-based architecture. Here are 10 distributed design approaches that all architects should know. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2021
App interface design principles all developers should know
The first step in choosing the right app interface design is to understand the options available to developers. Dive deeper into these popular design concepts and approaches. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2021
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
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Tip
04 Feb 2021
The basics of monitoring and observability in microservices
We examine how monitoring and observability help development teams keep a distributed architecture from coming unraveled by individual failures and performance bottlenecks. 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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Tip
23 Dec 2020
Webhooks explained simply, and how they differ from an API
Webhooks and APIs seem to both accomplish the same goal. So what's the difference? We review what a webhook does, how it differs from an API, and where it is the right design choice. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Dec 2020
The CAP theorem, and how it applies to microservices
Learn the fundamentals of the CAP theorem, how it comes into play with microservices and what it means for your distributed architecture design choices. 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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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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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
02 Jun 2020
How to start using a BDD framework
Why bother with behavior-driven development? Learn how this Agile-focused development framework can help bolster application quality, and explore tooling that can help. Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2020
DockerCon 2020 showcases tighter alliance with Microsoft
Docker has introduced an integration with Azure Container Instances that developers can use to run Docker commands in ACI and switch from desktop development to the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 May 2020
Refactor vs. rewrite: Deciding what to do with 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
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Tip
13 May 2020
How to fuse domain-driven design and microservices
Domain-driven design helps organizations create business capabilities with the architecture that microservices need. Here's how to merge DDD into your development process. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2020
How to plan and execute a migration to microservices
Ready for a migration to microservices? Here are the steps your development team can take to gradually transition your existing monolithic applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Mar 2020
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
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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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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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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
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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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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Tip
28 Jan 2020
The fundamental benefits of programming in Rust
Why does Rust continue to rise in popularity? We examine the features of this composable, cross-platform language that make it a valid competitor to C-based coding. 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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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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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
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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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
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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Answer
30 Sep 2019
How do you choose between SDKs and APIs for enterprise apps?
Explore the pros and cons that differentiate SDKs and APIs from each other and come to understand what types of applications call for SDKs, APIs or both. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2019
Unravel asynchronous inter-service communication in microservices
See why microservices need to communicate with each other asynchronously. Then, see how to surmount the challenges of inter-service communication in microservices architecture. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Aug 2019
Digital business upends the CIO and enterprise architect role
IDC analyst Mike Rosen explains how new digital business pursuits amplify enterprise architects and CIOs into newly amplified roles that put business goals and requirements first. Continue Reading
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Quiz
28 Apr 2017
Quiz: Five questions about today's enterprise architecture models
Trends surrounding today's enterprise architecture models seem to change at a head-spinning rate. See what you know about these modern architecture trends. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Aug 2015
What is the best pattern to use for data persistence?
When designing an application, developers must decide how to implement data persistence. Brad Irby explains which data persistence pattern to consider. Continue Reading
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Quiz
29 Oct 2013
Big data quiz: What do you know about large data sets?
Think you know everything about large data sets? Prove it by taking this quiz. Continue Reading