Application management tools and practices
Thanks to the ever-increasing importance of web, mobile, cloud and a variety of other application types, keeping a portfolio of business-related applications has become more challenging than ever. Learn from seasoned software experts about the complex details surrounding modern application management tools and practices.
Top Stories
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Tip
21 Dec 2022
Top observability tools for 2023
Observability tools can give developers and IT administrators better insight on applications to improve delivery, performance and customer experience -- and avoid potential issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Nov 2022
Signs of a Golden Hammer antipattern, and 5 ways to avoid it
The Golden Hammer antipattern can sneak up on a development team, but there are ways to spot it. Learn the signs, as well as some direct steps a team can take to avoid it. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Oct 2022
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
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News
22 Sep 2022
Sisense adds trio of new embedded analytics capabilities
A new integration with Git, a multi-tenant environment and enhancements to the Extense Framework are designed to further the embedded BI capabilities of the vendor's platform. 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
17 Jun 2022
7 principles of observability in modern applications
Organizations must keep these seven principles top of mind when monitoring and organizing data to institute observability practices that resolve problems quickly. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2022
Observability vs. monitoring: What's the difference?
Although observability and monitoring are different concepts, they aren't mutually exclusive; both provide IT administrators with valuable insights on their systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jun 2022
Common use cases for observability
These use cases for observability enable an organization to dig deeper into its systems monitoring and analysis to get ahead of potential issues and alert IT staff. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jun 2022
8 observability best practices
Observability enables organizations to analyze data on a continuous basis and act on it quickly. Learn best practices for implementing the technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jun 2022
Frameworks for an observability maturity model
Observability helps developers and IT operations teams identify and fix system issues. And with the right setup, it can improve on itself over time to catch potential problems. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jun 2022
9 steps to implement in an observability strategy
As distributed software systems grow in scale and complexity, things like monitoring and debugging can become a tangled mess. Here are nine ways to bolster your observability plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2022
The 3 pillars of observability: Logs, metrics and traces
Logs, metrics and traces offer their individual perspectives on system performance. When analyzed together, they provide a complete picture of your infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2022
6 ways to perform microservices load testing
While it's not easy to conduct load testing in hectic microservices environments, certain best practices can help testing teams ensure fair and equal distribution of workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Feb 2022
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
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Tip
25 Jan 2022
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
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Tip
21 Dec 2021
12 DevOps KPIs you should track to gauge improvement
What's missing from your DevOps workflow? Cold, hard, impartial numbers. Track these key metrics to ensure DevOps processes achieve stated goals. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Dec 2021
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
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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
03 Aug 2021
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
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Feature
27 Jul 2021
Resilient software strategies all developers should know
Failures are unavoidable. However, the right software design and development choices can help minimize their impact, isolate problems and speed recovery times. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 May 2021
3 ways to maximize business process automation benefits
As business automation continues to take the enterprise by storm, there are a few ways software teams can better prepare themselves to confidently kick-start BPA initiatives. 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
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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Tip
04 Jan 2021
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
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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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Tip
07 Oct 2020
A basic overview of micro front ends
Microservices enable independent app-dev teams, asynchronous app updates and precise troubleshooting. If these benefits sound good for your UI, consider a micro front end. Continue Reading
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News
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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News
15 Jul 2020
New performance monitoring tool alerts developers in real time
New performance monitoring feature in Sentry's error tracking and release integration platform helps developers find and fix performance issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Apr 2020
The 5 essential elements of an RPA strategy
RPA's benefits can be wiped out by an improper implementation. Give your business a sound RPA strategy and roadmap before you rush in. Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2020
COVID-19 unemployment claims up demand for COBOL programmers
There is an urgent need for COBOL programmers amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated the U.S. economy and overwhelmed unemployment insurance systems in some states. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Apr 2020
Microservices availability tips for pandemic's scaling challenge
Surges in app user activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced architects to make immediate decisions around service availability and performance, especially for distributed architectures. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2020
The 7 crucial RPA developer skills
As enterprises move in on RPA, they need developers who can juggle both the business and technical sides of automation. Here are seven essential RPA developer skills. 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
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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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
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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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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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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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
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
29 Oct 2019
The right (and wrong) way to think about code refactoring
Code refactoring keeps code clean, sharp and efficient -- ideally without changing any of its functionality. Learn how to refactor code without interrupting your deployment pipeline. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2019
Invoke these 3 commandments of microservice applications
Unlock a microservice app's potential with a three-pillared approach centered on a thorough component directory, absolute service flexibility and reliable backwards compatibility. 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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Tip
19 Aug 2019
What semantic monitoring can and can't do for microservices
Semantic monitoring can identify microservices performance problems, catch bugs in transactions and ensure uptime. But when you test in production, you'd better know what you're doing. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jul 2019
Streamline CI/CD with the Jenkins Blue Ocean tool
Organizations that run Jenkins may find that plugins complicate their CI/CD pipeline. Here's how the continuous delivery tool Blue Ocean can help keep things on track. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2019
Analyst details why pros and cons of serverless architecture matter
Get an expert's take on the top three pros and cons of serverless architecture, including the potential cost savings, but also rearchitecting work involved for existing applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jun 2019
Use event processing to achieve microservices state management
What good are stateless microservices for stateful processing? Bring complex event processing into the mix to manage microservices state through scaling and failures. Here's how. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jun 2019
How to pick the right application wireframing tool
Determine the best application wireframing tool for mobile and website projects based on team collaboration, prototype complexity and other real-world factors. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jun 2019
8 practical serverless design patterns for enterprise devs
Serverless app teams can turn to architecture patterns to guide the way to a successful product. Learn the criteria to narrow your options and the key differences between eight patterns. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 May 2019
Insurer's cloud application modernization approach gets real
Helvetia views its enterprise architecture from all angles to automate and raise efficiency on the back end, improve customer experience on the front end and secure data throughout. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 May 2019
Address goals with various enterprise architecture strategies
Enterprise architects have a range of frameworks at their fingertips, but their role also entails creating consensus and understanding between business and technical stakeholders. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 May 2019
Discover practical serverless architecture use cases
While architects and developers were slow to find practical use cases for serverless, numerous enterprise trends should drive the need for this architecture style. Continue Reading
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Guide
26 Feb 2019
How serverless works to usher in a new era of applications
Dive into this architecture-centric guide on serverless computing that includes API management tips and advice on when to implement serverless microservices designs. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2019
Enable an antilatency cloud event processing architecture
Event-based applications cannot tolerate unreliable networks or latency. Consider an architecture that puts some event processing local to the source to alleviate cloud traffic. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Jan 2019
What tools help with microservices Salesforce development?
It's not always easy to develop Salesforce apps with microservices. Developers and admins should evaluate CI/CD tools that support microservices development in the Salesforce world. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Oct 2018
3 ways to prep microservices applications for big data
It's easy for the expansion of big data to spin out of control in a distributed architecture. Think carefully about database management to avoid performance-killing bottlenecks. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2018
Understand business logic to fortify microservices design
Before software teams introduce microservices, they must take a critical look at the business logic that frames their architecture because, as contexts change, so does the logic. Continue Reading
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News
14 Aug 2018
BP Logix BPM tool packs AI features in latest release
With BP Logix's latest BPM platform release, predictive analytics comes to BPM without a posse of data scientists. The AI tools inside could fill BPM's machine learning gap. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jul 2018
Utilize microservices to support a 5G network architecture
To satisfy next-level network promises, 5G networks should be supported by a microservices-based infrastructure, as monolithic architectures won't meet demands. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jul 2018
Middleware tools demand to peak in 2018, before iPaaS ascends
Gartner predicts that enterprise on-premises middleware will go out with a $30B bang this year. Ready to plan cloud middleware migration projects? Think iPaaS and MWaaS. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jul 2018
Serverless vs. containers: What's best for event-driven apps?
Serverless and containers give teams new options to host event-driven applications, but each has pros and cons. Decide which platform is best for your app to avoid a costly mistake. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jul 2018
Why digital process automation is now essential to BPM
The increased speed of application development has made automation in BPM a necessity. Learn about digital process automation and how it can help businesses meet that need. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jun 2018
Unpacking the event-driven microservices approach
Event-driven applications can be beneficially combined with microservices architectures, and finding the best method to merge them relies on analyzing orchestration options. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2018
When is serverless technology best for app modernization?
Serverless has emerged as a viable option for app modernization, but it's not always a perfect fit. Rich Sharples, Red Hat senior director, explains the considerations to take. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 May 2018
Modernizing legacy applications with minimal strain
Many different challenges can occur as a result of modernizing legacy applications. Luckily, there are a multitude of options at your disposal to overcome these obstacles. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Apr 2018
DevOps is key to low-code BPM, digital process automation
Low-code BPM and emerging digital process automation tools empower business-side app development. But without BPM developers and DevOps management, automation can lead to chaos. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Apr 2018
How can microservices help modernize legacy applications?
Can microservices help modernize legacy applications? An expert lists ways microservices help developers break the monolith into functional services. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Mar 2018
How AWS Lambda functions and API Gateway aid modernization
Some organizations avoid modernization because of changes that need to be made to servers. But using AWS Lambda with API Gateway offers a way to modernize without the provisioning. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2018
How microservices, lambda and functional computing differ
While the terms lambda, functional computing and microservices may get intertwined, it's important to understand what makes them unique. Here, we dive into the differences. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2018
How to evolve architecture with a reactive programming model
Looking to modernize your enterprise architecture? Learn why reactive programming and event-driven process management will be the foundation of this change. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Feb 2018
2018's cloud middleware migration surge will aid developers
An expected surge of migrations from on-premises middleware to cloud middleware will bring automated support for hybrid integration and lower costs. Will MwaaS or iPaaS win? Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2018
How component-based software engineering spurs innovation
Demands for digital transformation in business may ring hollow to some architects. However, componentization can play a key role in making business innovation a reality. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2017
Open source philosophy goes well beyond software -- and into our lives
According to advocates, open source software is just the first step in a larger movement -- one that aims to make open source an integral part of our daily lives. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Apr 2017
Microsoft Azure App Service lets developers build cloud applications
For businesses looking to modernize legacy apps, Microsoft Azure App Service hosts several features that let users create web, mobile and Azure API apps in the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2017
State and threading: Key concepts in a .NET microservices architecture
There are a number of reasons why implementing a .NET microservices architecture presents a challenge. Tom Nolle explains how to marry .NET and microservices. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Feb 2017
How to keep microservices performance from going south
Microservices can streamline development, but at what cost? Kurt Marko discusses the potential performance impacts and how to implement proper microservices performance management. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Feb 2016
Consistency is critical in a business rules management system
As much as business rules management can help an organization streamline operations, a general misunderstanding of business rules is hurting efforts. Steve Weissman explains why. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Sep 2015
How do you modernize legacy apps for mobile devices?
Here are several options for incorporating mobile apps as part of a legacy system modernization effort. Approaches include vendor apps and writing APIs. Continue Reading
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Quiz
12 Aug 2015
Test your knowledge on code refactoring
Code refactoring has been heralded as an effective way to modernize applications, especially for mobile. Take this quiz to find out what you really know. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Jul 2015
What are the best ways to prevent refactoring problems?
How do refactoring problems come about, and is there a way to predict them? Contributor Brad Irby has the answers. Continue Reading
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Quiz
25 Jun 2015
What do you really know about app modernization?
Increasing demands for cloud- and mobile-ready applications are making legacy modernization efforts more critical than ever. This quiz will test your knowledge on modernization techniques and the ways to avoid common project pitfalls. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Apr 2014
Updating COBOL programs: Pitfalls to avoid when going from COBOL to C
To keep operational expenses low, keep these modernization considerations in mind when dealing with COBOL programs. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Oct 2012
Backend as a Service players, users and trends
Today, Backend as a Service (BaaS) vendors vie with alternatives for mobile apps that must deftly integrate back and front ends. Continue Reading