Transforming Software Development in the Age of Cloud Computing

The arrival of cloud computing has changed the way businesses handle data manipulation and processing at its core, altering software development as we know it. Enter development, a modern practice where applications are developed, deployed and managed by way of cloud infrastructure in ways not possible before.

Developers embracing developmental principles are able to build software that is adaptable, robust and essentially comes with the inbuilt ability to remain flexible with changes within today’s rapidly evolving digital space.

Cloud Native Application Development Trends

The trend of application development is on the rise. According to Gartner it is projected that over 95% of workloads will be hosted on cloud native platforms by 2025. This growth signifies a shift from non cloud methods towards embracing cloud native architectures as the preferred deployment model.

In a conversation with TechnologyAdvice, Carl Coryell Martin, USTs Senior Director of Cloud Advisory highlighted the potential of native application development. He emphasised the importance of native applications in delivering value quickly and efficiently thereby reducing developer workload and enabling rapid feedback loops.

Despite this trend USTs recent report reveals that 95% of IT and business decision makers faced challenges in adopting native technologies in 2023. The issues identified in the survey underscore the need for approaches to overcome hurdles like integration, visibility and reliability for a transition to modern development practices.

Addressing these challenges effectively can maximise the benefits derived from embracing technologies. A software development company like Yalantis focuses on developing software for the cloud by using cloud technology to build durable and effective applications that cater to the needs of today’s digital era.

Advantages of Cloud Native Development

Improving DevOps Efficiency – Cloud methodologies improve the DevOps pipeline by speeding up growth, release and operations as a total to reduced software development process. This move to automated testing/deployment is an improvement on how software was delivered with more frequent and a higher quality of releases.

Simplified Application Development – Today, the application assembly and integration powered by low code are creating LCAPs, Low Code Application Platform Citizen Developers. Additionally, empowering non-technical users to contribute directly to development democratises the process and results in more nimble application creation that’s better tailored for changing requirements.

Embracing Kubernetes – Kubernetes is the key ingredient in a container orchestration solution and provides benefits like automating microservices deployment, management or scaling. Problems will occur with Kubernetes integration in systems and storage complexity management, but a crucial advantage of containers is the level of portability they provide – guaranteeing consistent app deployment across any infrastructure.

Reduced Vendor Lock-In – Cloud applications are meant to be deployed across different cloud environments so your business has the flexibility and you do not get locked into any specific vendor; opt for development either way, if anything it de-risks a scenario where we become dependent on one CSP then our freedom to transform ourselves without constraints is no longer available.

Scalability – One notable benefit of cloud native development is scalability. In an on premises setting expanding an application typically involves initial investments, manual adjustments and intricate reconfigurations. With native applications scaling can be automated and dynamically managed by the cloud provider enabling applications to handle varying workloads without compromising performance.

Resilience – Another important advantage is resilience. Cloud native applications are engineered to be resilient in the face of failures; they can continue functioning when certain components encounter issues. This resilience is achieved through techniques such as redundancy load balancing and automatic failover; all integrated into the architecture of systems. Businesses benefit from increased availability and reduced downtime ensuring that essential services remain operational in the face of disruptions.

Challenges in Cloud Native Development

Although native development offers advantages it comes with its share of challenges. Managing a distributed system is complex as applications are broken down into microservices leading to an increase in components that need management. Sophisticated orchestration tools like Kubernetes are necessary to handle deployment, scaling and operation across cloud environments.

Security is a concern in native development. Safeguarding information becomes more intricate with data and services scattered across cloud environments. Robust security measures such as encryption, identity management, access control and continuous monitoring are imperative to mitigate threats.

Furthermore, transitioning to development often necessitates a cultural shift, within organisations. Conventional development methods and mindsets should be replaced by a DevOps approach, where development and operations teams collaborate closely to consistently and reliably deliver software. This shift can pose challenges for organisations, with established processes and legacy systems.

The Evolution of Cloud Native Development

As cloud computing advances too will the realm of native development. New technologies such as serverless computing, which allows applications to run without the need for managing servers and edge computing, which brings computation closer to the data source are expanding the capabilities of applications.

Serverless computing signifies an advancement in native development. By abstracting the infrastructure serverless empowers developers to concentrate on coding while the cloud provider takes care of scaling and maintenance. This not reduces burdens but also accelerates development and deployment processes.

Cloud native development represents more than a transition; it embodies a fresh perspective on how software is developed, deployed and maintained. By harnessing the full potential of the cloud organisations can create applications that’re more scalable, resilient and adaptable than before.

While challenges exist the advantages of development outweigh the hurdles significantly positioning it as a crucial strategy for any business aiming to excel in today’s cloud centric landscape. As the cloud landscape advances continuously so do opportunities for innovation; those embracing an approach will be well equipped to lead in this digital era.