Learn how to Architect Cloud-native Applications

As a beginner, it is quite easy to feel overwhelmed by the idea of architecting Cloud Native applications. If you don’t know where to start this is the right place. In this blog, I will point out the beginner concepts that you should start learning a little about.

After that, you can simply start with a little project of yours you begin your journey as a Cloud Architect.

If you want to start learning how to architect cloud-native applications, here are a few steps you can take:

First, familiarize yourself with the principles of cloud-native architecture, such as using microservices and containers, and the benefits they offer.
Choose a cloud platform to work with, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and become familiar with its available tools and services.
Learn about container orchestration platforms, such as Kubernetes, and how they can be used to manage the deployment of your application.
Gain practical experience by building and deploying a simple cloud-native application on a cloud platform. You can use online tutorials and resources to guide you through the process.
As you gain more experience, consider taking more advanced courses or certification programs to deepen your understanding of cloud-native architecture and best practices.

It’s also essential to keep up to date with the latest developments in cloud-native architecture and stay engaged with the broader community of developers and architects working in this field.

Tiers of Cloud-native Application

Which approach is best for your application will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It’s often useful to start with a monolithic architecture and then consider refactoring into micro-services or serverless as the application grows and evolves.

There are several approaches you can take when architecting different tiers of your application:

Monolithic Architecture: In this approach, all components of the application are bundled together in a single codebase and deployed as a single unit. This can be easier to develop and deploy, but can also make it more difficult to scale and maintain the application as it grows.
Microservices Architecture: In this approach, the application is broken down into smaller, independent components, or microservices, that can be developed and deployed separately. This can make it easier to scale and maintain the application, as well as allowing different parts of the application to evolve independently.
Serverless Architecture: In this approach, the application is built using functions that are triggered by events, such as an HTTP request or a change in a database. The cloud provider handles the underlying infrastructure, scaling the functions as needed. This can be a cost-effective approach, but can also be more complex to design and troubleshoot.

Layers of Application Architecture

Cloud native architecture typically involves several layers, including:

Presentation Layer: This is the user-facing interface of your application, such as a web or mobile interface.
Business Logic Layer: This layer contains the code that performs the core functions of your application, such as processing data, making calculations, and interacting with external services.
Data Access Layer: This layer handles the storage and retrieval of data, including interacting with databases and other storage systems.
Infrastructure Layer: This layer consists of the underlying infrastructure that supports your application, including the servers, storage, and networking resources.
Platform Layer: This layer includes the cloud platform and any related tools and services that you are using to build and run your application, such as container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.

It’s important to note that the specific layers and components of a cloud native application may vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of the application.

Core Principles

The core principles of cloud native architecture include:

Micro-services: Breaking down the application into smaller, independent components, or micro-services, that can be developed and deployed separately. This makes it easier to scale and maintain the application, as well as allowing different parts of the application to evolve independently.
Containers: Packaging the application and its dependencies into a container, which can be easily deployed and run on any infrastructure.
Automation: Using tools and processes to automate the build, test, and deployment of the application.
Resilience: Designing the application to be resistant to failure and able to recover quickly from any disruptions.
Observability: Monitoring the performance and behavior of the application in order to identify and resolve issues.
Continuous Delivery: Using a pipeline to continuously build, test, and deploy the application, allowing for faster delivery of new features and improvements.

By following these principles, you can build applications that are scalable, reliable, and easy to maintain in a cloud environment.