Systems | Development | Analytics | API | Testing

Container technologies are always evolving — and we're not talking Tupperware here. Over the past years, service mesh has emerged as a crucial component for managing complex, distributed systems. As organizations increasingly adopt Kubernetes for orchestrating their containerized applications, understanding how to effectively implement and utilize a service mesh within this environment becomes paramount.

Ephemeral environments transform software development by providing temporary, isolated spaces for testing and deploying microservices without affecting production. Given its robust orchestration capabilities, Kubernetes excels at creating these temporary environments, allowing teams to efficiently manage and scale containerized applications. By integrating tools like Helm and Kustomize, developers can maintain a codified version of their app and its dependencies.

Enterprises are continually seeking innovative ways to optimize their pricing models and drive revenue growth. Usage-based billing, where customers pay based on their actual consumption, has emerged as a compelling strategy. Unlike traditional flat-fee models, usage-based billing aligns more closely with customer needs and behaviors, offering flexibility and scalability that are crucial in a competitive market.

Testing is checking if your code works the way it’s supposed to. When you write a program, you have an idea of what it should do. Testing is the process of making sure it does that. It’s like double-checking your work. In this article, we’re diving into the world of React testing using two powerful tools: Jest and React Testing Library. We’ll explore how these tools work together to create robust, reliable tests for your React applications.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is kind of a big deal. And when things are a big deal, they're ripe to be exploited. Fortunately, mounting concerns about AI security and privacy are met by plenty of guidance on best practices from the good folks in the open source world. The OWASP AI Security Project has emerged as a crucial initiative, offering developers clear, actionable guidance on designing, creating, testing, and procuring secure and privacy-preserving AI systems.

Storing information in a relational database and sharing it via a RESTful API is a very common scenario these days. Depending on your RDBMS (relational database management system), this may take a lot of development effort. One solution that attempts to simplify the process is the PostgREST web server add-on for PostgreSQL. If your organization uses the PostgreSQL database, PostgREST quickly adds basic CRUD (create, read, update, delete) functions in an easy-to-use RESTful HTTP interface.

Whether you’re working in the marketing department or the operations department, you’ve probably heard a lot about APIs and API integrations. API integration is the process of connecting different software systems or applications through their respective APIs to enable them to communicate and share data seamlessly. These have become the “buzz” terms of IT departments in recent years as more enterprises embrace the trend toward digital transformation.

Understanding API design is crucial for modern software development. Two popular approaches are GraphQL and REST. These technologies shape how data is exchanged and used over the internet, but they differ significantly in how they allow clients to interact with the server and retrieve data. Let's compare them in this article!

Check out Ken Ahrens and Scott Moore as they discuss some blockers of developer productivity when building in Kubernetes, and how removing environment and data challenges can reduce toil and frustration! You can catch the full podcast on Scott’s page here: Scott Moore: Hey everybody out there in internet meme land. It’s time to hide your kids and hide your wife because it’s time for the SMC Journal podcast. Some of you will get that joke. Others will not.