Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Top 12 application performance monitoring tools

  Discover the basic capabilities to evaluate when choosing an APM tool, and then review a list of APM vendors to help you get started with your selection process. Continue Reading

• APM vs. observability: Key differences explained

  If you're debating the use of application performance monitoring and observability to gather system data and improve the user experience, we break down the approaches. Continue Reading

• 5 benefits of APM for businesses

  An APM platform monitors a company's application infrastructure, hence helping to optimize app performance, improve end-user experience and even ensure proper SLA compliance. Continue Reading

• Using AI and machine learning for APM

  Discover how organizations can streamline operations and improve operational analytics by using AI and machine learning in their application performance monitoring environments. Continue Reading

• How Broadcom's merger with VMware will affect developers

  Broadcom's acquisition of VMware may seem like a straightforward business move, but some key details surrounding the deal point to big potential shakeups in the market. Continue Reading

• 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

• A brief breakdown of declarative vs. imperative programming

  While imperative programming is both an established and approachable method of coding, the declarative model is gaining appeal as demands for complex, flexible features increase.Continue Reading

• 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

• Using the BFF pattern to keep UIs flexible and reliable

  BFF is a simple design pattern that can help developers address UI-related challenges, such as problematic coupling, overfetching of data and inconsistent error handling.Continue Reading

• Open vs. closed APIs: 4 crucial factors you should examine

  Open and closed APIs both have their respective upsides and downsides. To choose the right approach, developers must examine four critical technical and business-level factors.Continue Reading

• The pros, cons and challenges of containerized microservices

  Containerized microservices are certainly a popular deployment approach, but are they the best? They can be, provided you overcome the unique challenges they present.Continue Reading

• SPML (Services Provisioning Markup Language)

  Services Provisioning Markup Language (SPML) is an open source XML-based standard that facilitates the exchange of account provisioning information among applications, services and organizations.Continue Reading

• 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

• EAI (enterprise application integration)

  Enterprise application integration (EAI) is the task of uniting the databases and workflows associated with business applications to ensure that the business uses the information consistently and that changes to core business data made by one ...Continue Reading

• web services

  Web services are a type of internet software that use standardized messaging protocols and are made available from an application service provider's web server for use by a client or other web-based programs.Continue Reading

• Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)

  An enterprise service bus (ESB) is a software platform used to distribute work among connected components of an application.Continue Reading

• The architectural impact of RPC in distributed systems

  It has become increasingly important for software architects to understand the mechanics behind remote procedure call (RPC), particularly its role in distributed architectures.Continue Reading

• Service mesh vs. API gateway: Where, why and how to use them

  While they're both central to inter-application communication processes, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between a service mesh and an API gateway.Continue Reading

• 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

• .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

• Synchronous vs. asynchronous communications: The differences

  Synchronous execution requires parties or components to work simultaneously in real time, while asynchronous communications don't need anyone to wait around for a reply.Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Is integration platform as a service right for you?

  Is iPaaS a helpful platform for your enterprise software integration needs or just an unnecessary tool that adds complexity to the environment?Continue Reading

• Event-driven vs. message-driven: It comes down to complexity

  While the goal doesn't change, how do message-driven and event-driven design approaches really differ? More importantly, how do you choose the right approach?Continue Reading

• Review these top enterprise iPaaS benefits and challenges

  Have you considered using an iPaaS to integrate your various apps? Understand where iPaaS works, and runs into challenges, to help prepare for a successful iPaaS implementation.Continue Reading

• The reasons to use (or not use) sidecars in Kubernetes

  Sidecar containers provide a great relief to developers who need to manage large clusters of containerized applications at scale. But is it always the right approach?Continue Reading

• 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

• Do the disadvantages of service-oriented architecture matter?

  While it doesn't carry the shiny appeal of microservices, there's no reason to believe that SOA is totally down for the count. In fact, sometimes it's an essential approach.Continue Reading

• 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

• 5 dead programming languages we should never forget

  These five programming languages may fade into obscurity over the next decade, but the profound influence they've had on modern development should not be forgotten.Continue Reading

• application service provider (ASP)

  An application service provider (ASP) is a company that offers individuals or enterprises access to applications and related services over the internet.Continue Reading

• 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

• The difference between front-end and back-end developers

  While front-end and back-end application development are two parts of a greater whole, the specifics of each career present some stark differences between them.Continue Reading

• Can a loosely coupled architecture reduce technical debt?

  While there are a lot of factors that impact technical debt, the level of coupling found in the underlying software architecture is often a primary culprit.Continue Reading

• 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

• mobile application development

  Mobile application development is the set of processes and procedures involved in writing software for small, wireless computing devices.Continue Reading

• An application architect's chief roles and responsibilities

  Today's application architect isn't just a high-caliber developer, but an experienced leader with both the technical and business chops to propel an organization's software strategy.Continue Reading

• 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

• 4 reasons Dart is still a language worth learning

  Despite a perception that it is dead, there are a few reasons Dart is still a language worth learning. We explore a few reasons why it may not be as obsolete as some think.Continue Reading

• Explore 6 popular API gateway tools and how to choose one

  Plenty of vendors have jumped on the API gateway trend, which can make it difficult to choose the right one for you. We examine the key features of six popular gateway tools.Continue Reading

• Guide to building an enterprise API strategy

  In today's digital world, businesses increasingly rely on APIs to deliver data and services. Follow this comprehensive guide to build a successful enterprise API strategy.Continue Reading

• Microservices design patterns and tools to watch in 2021

  Building upon years of momentum, architects are well in the swing of transitioning from the monolith to microservices. Here are three of the top trends they'll face in 2021.Continue Reading

• 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

• Examining the low-code market's race for citizen developers

  Low-code and no-code vendors are fighting viciously for the favor of citizen developers. Examine the reasons for this trend and the market moves that reveal these vendors' motives.Continue Reading

• 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

• Enterprise application trends that will impact 2021

  The past year evoked a wave of new software needs, especially in the wake of COVID-19 and increased needs for availability. Here are some 2020 trends that will take shape in 2021.Continue Reading

• Objective-C vs. Swift: The war for iOS development supremacy

  While Objective-C still holds the crown, Swift is quickly mobilizing to rule iOS development. Let's examine and compare the most compelling features of each language.Continue Reading

• A head-to-head GraphQL vs. REST performance faceoff

  Both GraphQL and REST aim to simplify API development processes, but which one is right for your project? Find out by examining this API design style faceoff.Continue Reading

• Navigating the evolving BPA tools market

  The BPA market tool landscape is still maturing, but organizations should prepare themselves to adopt it. Review the basics of BPA and learn how to start building your automation strategy.Continue Reading

• 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

• Django vs. Node.js: Pick the right web development framework

  Understanding the differences between Django and Node.js comes down to understanding their data capabilities and the programming languages that make up each one's history.Continue Reading

• Apache, Spring and Mule: Explore 3 top integration frameworks

  A good integration framework should underpin every application strategy. Apache Camel, Spring Integration and Mule ESB can simplify integration at scale. We deconstruct them here.Continue Reading

• MVC vs. MVVM: 2 architecture patterns for modularity

  Both the MVC and MVVM design patterns separate front-end and back-end application components, but each one has unique methods of interface manipulation and abstraction.Continue Reading

• Learn the benefits of microservices orchestration

  Orchestration plays a vital role in a microservices architecture, especially when it comes to communication, workload management and architecture readability.Continue Reading

• The top software developer skills, tools and certifications

  Now tasked with managing complex enterprise software systems, the depth of skills and breadth of knowledge needed by developers has never been more profound.Continue Reading

• Orchestration vs. choreography in microservices architecture

  Orchestration and choreography are related, but they each have their own role to play. Get to know the basics of these service call approaches, including the use cases for each.Continue Reading

• 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

• Craft an application integration strategy and pick the best tool

  Application integration is easier said than done. Learn how to navigate this challenging process -- particularly, if you're integrating legacy applications with new applications.Continue Reading

• 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

• 5 major reasons to adopt an API management platform

  Why adopt an API management platform? Examine when it makes sense to adopt a platform, and five major ways they can actually assist your DevOps teams.Continue Reading

• 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

• A review of top software architecture visualization tools

  Developers need access to up-to-date software diagrams and documentation. Here are seven tools, from Visio to Mermaid, that provide visual models of code and design patterns.Continue Reading

• Kotlin vs. Swift: An open source programming language face-off

  Take a look into what Kotlin and Swift have to offer in terms of cross-platform capabilities, library support and ease of use. Also, review their major strengths and limitations.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between Python and Ruby?

  In this article, we explore the genesis of these two programming languages, notable characteristics and differences, and where each language might be headed.Continue Reading

• 4 trends for Kubernetes cloud-native teams to watch in 2020

  Today's software architectural landscape seems to change like the weather. Stay ahead of the curve with these cloud-related trends, including GitOps and service meshes.Continue Reading

• 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

• Consider these key microservices caching strategies

  Data caching is a key part of ensuring microservices have easy access to the data they need. We review a few key caching strategies.Continue Reading

• service-oriented architecture (SOA)

  Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a software development model that allows services to communicate across different platforms and languages to form applications.Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 3 event sourcing patterns that ease app processing

  Examine the pros and cons of three event sourcing patterns that solve certain problems but can introduce new ones in an event-driven architecture.Continue Reading

• 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

• Vendors make a splash in 2019 service mesh implementation rush

  There was a surge of service mesh options that hit the market in 2019, and two significant events helped shape its outcome. Expect to see Envoy and Istio steal the stage in 2020.Continue Reading

• Apigee vs. Mulesoft: An API management platform face-off

  Mulesoft and Apigee are two of the most widely used API management platforms around. This article places them side by side to compare their pros and cons.Continue Reading

• The benefits of Python are plenty, but it's not for everyone

  Python boasts plenty of features that make it a go-to object-oriented language. But is it always the right choice? We take a look at what you should know about coding with Python.Continue Reading

• API gateway comparison: Kong vs. Tyk

  API gateways help organizations smooth out interactions among microservices. This side-by-side rundown of Kong vs. Tyk will help you choose which tool fits your business' needs.Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of event-driven architecture patterns?

  See how event-driven architecture patterns can set up an enterprise application for adaptability in a way that monolithic architectures can't.Continue Reading

• The benefits -- and tradeoffs -- of a mobile SDK

  A mobile SDK can do wonders for mobile app development. But how does it work, and what are the pitfalls to watch out for when you take this approach?Continue Reading

• Compare microservices deployment patterns for best strategy

  To solve pesky deployment woes, match your app to a microservices deployment pattern, like single service instance per host, multiple service instances per host or even serverless.Continue Reading

• 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

• ICYMI: How to select and manage serverless APIs effectively

  Explore how API selection and API management in a serverless architecture can make all the difference between getting results and having your project fall flat.Continue Reading

• Software reliability engineering practices for distributed apps

  Learn how these four software reliability engineering concepts -- inventories, monitoring, observability and Pareto analysis -- can aid API management and application performance.Continue Reading

• 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

• API workflow design patterns for microservices scenarios

  When it comes to workflow systems for microservices, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Learn about the API workflow pattern options that can set you straight.Continue Reading

• Why would I use Micronaut framework instead of Java?

  Micronaut is JVM-based, so what does it bring to application development and test that the Java framework doesn't already address?Continue Reading

• The essentials of refactoring a monolith to microservices

  Enterprise apps are complex, long-lived and vital to the business. In short, they're excruciatingly difficult to modernize. If you address these prerequisites, it will hurt less.Continue Reading

• 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

• 3 serverless development strategies for stateful applications

  Serverless developers can connect stateless functions to state information in several ways, without introducing debilitating latency to the application design.Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• Simplify Java-based development with the Kotlin language

  What makes Kotlin popular among Java professionals? Explore the attributes of this functional programming language that's equipped for both traditional Java and Android developers.Continue Reading

• 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

• Get realistic about your multi-cloud strategy aspirations

  Multi-cloud is attractive to software teams that want to expand their development toolboxes, but be careful about the complexity it can add to your overall development lifecycle.Continue Reading