As a silver member of the worldwide CNCF community,we are happy to announce that CodeNOW has been engaged locally in the CNCF meetups in Prague this year.

We have already participated in 2 events this year, a Panel discussion about Platform engineering at Microsoft office in Prague this February  and in April Meetup about Microservices at the Prague office of CodeNow.

• PLATFORM ENGINEERING Panel discussion.
• Online records are  available on the CNCF community YouTube channel.
• Brief summary of HARMONIZING BUSINESS AND IT: Leveraging Microservices and Domain-Driven Design

This session targets those aiming to elevate their software delivery and drive impactful change within their organization. Through real-world experiences, learn how these powerful methodologies can reshape your IT strategy—empowering more dynamic business operations and addressing key design and data challenges.

Bridging Business and IT
Petr Svoboda, CEO of CodeNOW, showcased how Domain-Driven Design (DDD), microservices, and platform engineering unite business leaders with IT assets. This holistic approach bridges gaps, enabling smarter collaboration.

Revolutionizing Software Development with Microservices

Starting with the basics, microservices break down applications into smaller, manageable services, each focused on a specific business function. This modular approach:

• Enhances scalability by allowing each service to scale independently.
• Increases resilience, as failures in one service don’t impact the whole system.
• Improves flexibility, supporting continuous delivery and faster updates.

Integrating Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

Building on this, Domain-Driven Design (DDD) structures microservices around business capabilities. This alignment ensures that microservices meet strategic goals. By defining bounded contexts and using a ubiquitous language, development becomes more organized and efficient.

Overcoming Monolithic Challenges

Moving from theory to practice, traditional monolithic systems often face issues like single points of failure and slow deployment cycles. By decoupling functions, microservices transform these cumbersome systems into agile, scalable solutions. 

Common Issues with Monoliths:

• Single Point of Failure: A failure in one part of the system can cause the entire application to crash.
• Slow Deployment: Updating any part of the system requires redeploying the entire application, leading to longer deployment cycles.
• Complex Maintenance: Interdependencies make the system harder to maintain and troubleshoot.

Enhancing Communication with Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)

To further improve system efficiency, Event-Driven Architecture (EDA) allows services to communicate asynchronously through events. This approach:

• Decouples services, reducing dependencies.
• Enhances scalability by handling high volumes of data.
• Boost responsiveness, improving real-time reactions and user experience.

Automation and DevOps Practices

Automation tools like Kubernetes and Docker are crucial for managing microservices. Implementing DevOps practices such as:

• CI/CD automates build, test, and deployment processes.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) ensures consistency and reduces errors.
• Monitoring and logging provide visibility and help identify issues quickly.

Leveraging Cognitive Solutions

Incorporating cognitive solutions, such as AI and ML, further enhances decision-making processes. These technologies are used for:

• Predictive analytics to forecast trends.
• Automated operations to optimize resources and reduce costs.
• Enhanced user experiences through personalized recommendations.

Practical Implementation Insights

Petr provided actionable insights for implementing microservices:

• Start Small: Begin with a modular monolith and transition gradually.
• Focus on Business Capabilities: Align microservices with business functions.
• Own Your State: Ensure each microservice manages its own data.

Conclusion

By integrating microservices and cognitive solutions, businesses achieve greater scalability, flexibility, and efficiency. At CodeNow, we drive innovation in cloud-native solutions, helping clients achieve their goals through cutting-edge technology.

‍The PLATFORM ENGINEERING Panel discussion at Microsoft office 28th February, 2024 Prague

‍Brief summary from the CNCF meetup:

Platform engineering meetup at Microsoft office 28th February, 2024 Prague
Link to video record

The panel discussion on platform engineering brought together four distinguished experts from the tech industry, each sharing their insights and experiences from their respective domains. The conversation delved into the evolving landscape of platform engineering, highlighting its critical role in enhancing developer productivity, ensuring robust security measures, and navigating the complexities of modern software development.

Introduction to Panelists and Their Perspectives

- Filip, Senior Softwaare Engineer, with his tenure at Microsoft, underscored the importance of building internal developer platforms that simplify operational complexities, allowing developers to focus on innovation and creativity

- Adam Skotnický, CEO and founder of Titan Cloud, traced the evolution of platform engineering from its roots in data center architecture to the forefront of cloud-native technologies, emphasizing the transformative impact of Kubernetes.

- Petr Svoboda,  CEO of CodeNOW, drawing from two decades of experience as an architect, highlighted the strategic significance of platform engineering in facilitating successful digital transformations across various industries.

- Zdenek Váňa, through his lens as a DevOps and Cloud team leader, offered practical insights into the day-to-day challenges of implementing platform engineering principles, stressing the importance of community engagement and open-source tools.

Key Discussion Themes

The dialogue covered a wide range of topics, each contributing to a multifaceted understanding of platform engineering:

1. Defining Platform Engineering: The panelists explored the essence of platform engineering, agreeing on its role in abstracting technical complexities and enabling developers to deliver high-quality software efficiently.

2. The Balancing Act: A significant portion of the discussion revolved around balancing the needs and expectations of developers with the operational demands of platform engineering, emphasizing the importance of proactive communication and alignment.

3. Security at the Forefront: Security emerged as a pivotal theme, with the panelists discussing strategies to embed security practices into the platform development lifecycle, from static and dynamic code analysis to container vulnerability scanning and runtime monitoring.

4. The Future of Platform Engineering: Looking ahead, the conversation touched on the potential of emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning to automate and optimize platform operations, underscoring the need for continuous innovation.

5. Challenges and Adaptability: The panelists reflected on the challenges posed by licensing changes in open-source tools, advocating for adaptability and the potential of community-driven forks to mitigate risks.

6. GitOps and Automation: The merits and challenges of adopting GitOps were debated, with viewpoints ranging from its potential to streamline operations to concerns over its complexity and implementation hurdles.

Concluding Thoughts

The panel discussion concluded with a consensus on the transformative potential of platform engineering, not only as a technical discipline but as a strategic asset that empowers developers and drives innovation. The insights shared by the panelists painted a comprehensive picture of platform engineering's current state and its promising future, highlighting the importance of adaptability, security, and community engagement in navigating the complexities of the field.

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