Today, a team of developers could be scattered across the globe yet work seamlessly together to build and deploy software. Updates and fixes can roll out faster without interrupting users. And it will still cost less to maintain and manage these systems. What are these systems? These are applications built in the cloud environment, aka cloud-native applications.
This article will explore cloud-native applications, their key features, and how they differ from cloud-based applications. We’ll also provide some examples for better understanding.
Interested in a more in-depth study? Read to the end because we’ll discuss a cloud computing course that can help you launch a career in this field.
What is Cloud-Native Software?
Cloud-native software refers to software developed using a cloud’s capabilities and embedded in the cloud’s architecture. You access the cloud features and utilize them for the end-to-end development, operation, and management of the cloud-native software.
Cloud-native software is created, tested, modified, and deployed in the cloud. It may only have a minor dependence on local systems and is not restricted by the hardware’s limitations.
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Examples of Cloud-Native Applications
Several renowned brands are cloud-native applications.
Netflix
The leading video streaming platform, Netflix, uses Docker for containerization and Kubernetes for container orchestration. The microservices architecture helps them scale their infrastructure quickly while they can test and deploy updates without affecting streaming worldwide.
Spotify
This audio streaming giant offers services that can be accessed on any device with an internet connection, such as a tablet, laptop, or mobile phone. It uses microservices and containerization to create a library of songs and podcasts. Further, due to its cloud-native nature, you can continue your listening experience from any point, irrespective of the device.
Pinterest is a popular cloud-native bookmarking and ideation platform. Its vast catalog of photos and images is managed using containerization. By leveraging cloud infrastructure and microservices, Pinterest can deliver personalized recommendations. Further, it can deploy particular updates to a region while providing uninterrupted service to other regions.
Airbnb
Airbnb, the world’s largest online marketplace for homestays and rentals, is built using the AWS cloud infrastructure. It manages its website and mobile app interfaces using AWS’s cloud-native functionalities. This helps Airbnb manage user payments, reservations, and searches. It can be scaled according to seasonal increases or decreases in demand. Further, it can track data based on demographics for strategic goal-setting.
Why Consider Cloud-Native Apps?
Cloud-native applications have emerged as a widespread option for developers in recent times. Here are some of the key reasons for their popularity.
- Cloud-native applications are reliable due to their dependence on multiple microservices and containerization. An error in one microservice does not translate into a failure for other services that continue their operations.
- You use containers for migrating microservices between the infrastructures of multiple vendors. Thus, vendor lock-in is prevented, rendering the applications vendor-neutral.
- You can isolate the services using the microservice architecture. This way, you can evaluate and modify the applications separately and understand their functioning. You can also test them without any code change affecting the adjacent applications.
- Automation plays a huge role in simplifying the management of cloud-native applications. You can automatically monitor the components, microservices, and other features. You can track their updates and automate the flagging of anomalies. Due to the division of the applications into sub-services, you can select a particular microservice to manage at a time.
- Cloud-native applications encourage collaboration and ideation as developers can work on a single app and contribute to the development process without an overlap of ideas.
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Key Features of Cloud-Native Applications
Cloud-native applications possess key features that provide a strong foundation for developing high-quality software. Let us take a look at some of these key features.
Microservice Architecture
Cloud-native applications rely on microservice architecture to provide isolated pieces of code that can be modified, and updates are required. Software developed as such a discrete piece of code is advantageous as the microservices remain independent of and do not modify or affect each other.
Containerization
Containerization is a key feature that helps build scalable and resilient software. A container is essentially a package of multiple microservices. Its function is to provide cloud functionality without relying on cloud virtual servers every time.
APIs
Application programming interfaces, or APIs, are services that help smooth communication between the application and the user. As the cloud-native application receives user requests from multiple devices, it needs specialized APIs such as representational state transfer (REST) APIS or NATS. Further, Google provides an open-source remote procedure call (gRPC) that enables internal communication between the microservices.
Languages and Frameworks
Cloud-native applications can be built on more than one framework using multiple languages. However, selecting the right combination goes a long way in ensuring the deployment of an error-free and high-quality product. You can choose the combination based on the runtimes and the required functionality of the services.
For example, using Java for the MicroProfile framework works the best, while Spring works well with SpringBoot. You can also select languages such as Ruby, Python, or PHP, with frameworks such as Ruby on Rails or ASP.Net.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
IaC lets you manage the infrastructure using automation for coding, deployment, version control, configuration, and delivery. You can choose between virtual, elastic, and shared infrastructure. IaC helps with quick updates and low time-to-market, as developers can work on the entire development process due to the availability of all the functionalities in one place.
These features help create a cloud-native application that is resilient, agile, scalable, and flexible. Its resilience stems from the serverless architectures and automated CI/CD processes that help manage dynamic workloads.
Microservices and containerization help provide the agility required to recode and retest the software in line with the user demands and provide faster updates. Further, it is modular and capable of quickly absorbing modifications while providing a seamless service.
Cloud-Native vs. Cloud-Based Apps
At first, cloud-native and cloud-based applications may seem the same, as both of them are managed and accessed from a cloud service. However, there is one key distinction.
A cloud-based application is an application that has been developed usign traditional methods. Its code and architecture is created on usual operating systems and are not ‘native’ to the cloud. It has been migrated to the cloud for a better reach and to enhance the capabilities.
Thus, a cloud-based application leverages only a part of the cloud capabilities that lee users access and use parts of it. Its scalability has limitations as the changes may not get integrated into offline and online versions at the same time. This also requires the developers to be present at a particular location for the primary development of the software.
In contrast, a cloud-native software has been entirely built using the cloud infrastructure. It uses as many capabilities of the cloud service, such as scalability, and flexibility. It is written, modified, tested, and deployed on the cloud. It consists of unique features that can be integrated using solely cloud services. The availability of the development process online enables a global collaboration and organizations can tap talent from any corner of the world.
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How to Build a Cloud-Native Application
Now that we know the amazing functionalities of cloud-native applications, let us go through the steps you need to take to build one.
- Establish the business goals and the need for the application
- Narrow down the target group and gather information about the existing applications
- Understand user requirements and define the functionalities to be included in the application
- Explore various architectures and platforms and choos eht eone most suitable to your objectives
- Evaluate the platform for the tools, features, and prices
- Select the capabilities that you need for the application
- Create the code on the platform with the help of cloud-native designs, infrastructure, templates, and code libraries
- Base your application on the frameworks relevant to the microservice architecture so that all components of your application work in synergy
- Use testing procedures native to the cloud to identify the flaws and bugs in the code Create environments that can simulate the worst-case scenarios and test code sections in the environments
- Deploy the application in the cloud-native environment and set up alerts to monitor and flag issues that users encounter
Building such an application requires an individual to be proficient in coding and programming languages and have a basic knowledge of cloud computing. Several courses can help you grow your skills in this field. The question is – how do you choose the best out of them?
Boost your Career by Learning How to Work with Cloud-Native Applications
Cloud-native applications are here to stay. The flexibility and easy accessibility render them the preferred alternatives to traditional software. Add to it the agility afforded to the development process, and you have an option that works for both users and developers. Hence, aspiring cloud computing professionals must hone their skills in cloud-native applications.
A great way to do so is to complete a well-structured cloud computing course that trains you in cloud computing and fundamentals of AWS and Microsoft Azure clouds. Our course is aligned with the concepts required for certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect and AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator.
Industry experts will guide you through critical skills such as containerization, orchestration, VPC design and implementation, and serverless computing. You can choose from a suite of electives such as AWS SysOps training, DevOps on Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Architect certification.
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