What is cloud native application development ?

Today, the need for flexibility and portability of applications leads to a different way of understanding web development. While the cloud is gaining in popularity for hosting information systems, cloud-native applications are becoming more and more attractive. Their specific and modular architecture allows them to be deployed quickly. This development model adapts to market needs.

Even when the number of users grows, the native cloud application remains responsive with a hosting cost that remains attractive. What are the characteristics of this type of application, its advantages and how to develop it ?

 

What is a cloud native application ?

A cloud-native application is derived from technologies that enable applications to be built and run in private, public or hybrid cloud environments. This results in applications that are scalable and always available. They are flexible and modular, providing an enhanced experience. The resulting systems are resilient and easy to modify. Thanks to the cloud, their management is fully automated.

Cloud-native technologies are based on the following pillars :

• Microservices;
• Containers ;
• APIS;
• Serverless functions.

Microservices refer to a type of architecture and an approach to web development. While most architectures are monolithic, the development of microservices brings more flexibility. Microservices are independent components that form the structure of the application. They are deployed and managed separately, but work in synergy. They can be deployed quickly and easily modified to fit the needs of the business.

Containers are virtualization processes. They bundle applications together and isolate them from their runtime environment. They benefit from portability that allows them to run in different environments while remaining unchanged.

Developers then package the code directly into the containers. Scaling of applications is done automatically if necessary.

In a cloud-native architecture composed of microservices, applications are decomposed into simple and independent elements. These are the APIs or Application Programming Interfaces. They are used as integrations so that your IS technologies can communicate and interact by exchanging data.

Cloud native applications can also evolve in a serverless architecture. In this model of cloud computing, development is done in a much faster way. It allows you to build and run cloud-native applications without having to manage servers; this approach allows you to prototype an application quickly, in production conditions, by delegating the management of the underlying infrastructure to the cloud solution provider.

You want to migrate to a cloud environment and benefit from a scalable architecture that meets the needs of your IS. Castelis accompanies you to offer you a custom-made IT infrastructure.

 

Why cloud native ?

Cloud native application development has many advantages :

• This web development model takes less time than traditional application development. It ensures a rapid transformation of your application ideas into commercially available products.
• It accelerates change while reducing risk. Old applications can be updated and new ones created quickly.
• This way, application development evolves with the market. Delivering the right applications at the right time has become a reality.
• It offers better scalability. Despite the increasing number of users in very different regions and on a multitude of devices, the application remains responsive.
• Even in the event of an infrastructure failure, a cloud-native application can stay online: it’s a resilient model for your organization.

 

How to develop a cloud application ?

You want to develop a cloud application. You need to choose the best type of deployment and make sure you have a cloud-compatible database.

 

What type of deployment should I choose ?

To develop a native cloud application, you must choose a deployment type :

• IaaS ;
• SaaS ;
• PaaS.

IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service. The provider gives you a virtual machine and an operating system. They only take care of connectivity, service provisioning and security guarantees. This leaves you in control of the entire system. However, you need to install the necessary application servers, software and databases.

To create the application, you will have to rely on a team of system administrators or on your own knowledge if you master web development. You are responsible for the availability of the service.

SaaS or software as a service puts everything at your disposal except the application data. It is a mode of deployment that constrains cloud native applications, because the entire program is provided and the possible modifications to developers remain minimal and constrained to the framework that the solution provider allows (interactions via API, restricted module additions, etc.).

PaaS is a platform as a service. It provides a complete environment: server, database, operating system. It is an environment that has been specifically created for developers. It is the ideal type of deployment for developing cloud applications. It allows you to focus on the code without having to manage other tasks. In addition, dedicated application features are available, such as updating them according to the user’s request.

As a web developer, the PaaS solution is therefore the one to choose for developing native cloud applications.

 

Choose a database compatible with the cloud

Databases must be compatible with cloud application development. Their location is critical. Should you host your application database on the same server or on a separate container? The main issue that will arise will be the security of access to the database.

The best solution is to deploy your application on a PaaS solution. Indeed, your provider provides you with the possibility to host the database necessary for the deployment of the application in the cloud in complete security.

 

Surround yourself with experts who understand the cloud environment

To develop your cloud native application, surround yourself with experts who master the cloud environment, business applications and web development.

Castelis accompanies you to deploy your IS infrastructure and offers you various fully customizable solutions. Whatever the technologies de développement nécessaires pour votre application sur mesure : framework, CMS… Castelis has been a specialist in cloud solutions for over 10 years and is therefore able to offer you the best options according to your needs and your situation.

 

Need more information or specific support ? Contact-us, Castelis’ custom development experts are at your disposal.