Application modernization is an important topic, as many businesses are looking to modernize their applications in order to stay competitive and meet the changing needs of their customers. There are many different aspects of application modernization, including updating the technology, improving the user experience, and optimizing performance. Some potential topics for blogs on application modernization could include:
- The benefits of modernizing applications, including increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved performance
- The different approaches to application modernization, such as re-platforming, refactoring, or re-architecting
- Case studies or examples of successful application modernization projects
- Tips for planning and implementing an application modernization project
Re-platforming
What is re-platforming? What does it mean to modernize an application using re-platforming?
Re-platforming is the process of moving an application from one platform to another. This can involve changing the operating system, programming language, or underlying infrastructure that the application runs on. Re-platforming is often done as part of an application modernization effort, as it can help to improve the performance, scalability, and maintainability of the application.
There are a few different reasons why a business might choose to re-platform an application:
- To take advantage of new features or capabilities: For example, a business might re-platform an application to a newer version of an operating system or programming language that has more advanced features or capabilities.
- To improve performance or scalability: Re-platforming to a more powerful or efficient platform can help to improve the performance and scalability of an application.
- To reduce maintenance costs: Maintaining an older or outdated platform can be expensive, so re-platforming to a newer platform can help to reduce maintenance costs.
Re-platforming can be a complex and time-consuming process, as it involves moving all of the code and data from one platform to another. It’s important to carefully plan and test the re-platforming process to ensure that the application continues to work correctly on the new platform.
Re-platforming can be best understood with a few examples. Let me share one such example.
Re-factoring
What is re-factoring? What does it mean to modernize an application using re-factoring?
Re-factoring is the process of changing the internal structure of an application without altering its external behavior. This means that the application will continue to function the same way for users, but the code and design of the application will be improved to make it more maintainable, scalable, and efficient. Re-factoring is often done as part of an application modernization effort, as it can help to improve the long-term sustainability and performance of the application.
There are a few different reasons why a business might choose to re-factor an application:
- To improve code quality: Re-factoring can help to remove duplicated code, improve code readability, and reduce the complexity of the application, which can make it easier to maintain and improve in the future.
- To improve performance: Re-factoring can help to optimize the code and design of the application, which can improve its performance and scalability.
- To make the application easier to maintain: By improving the code and design of the application, re-factoring can help to make it easier to maintain and update in the future.
Re-factoring can be a time-consuming process, as it involves making changes to the code and design of the application. It’s important to carefully plan and test the re-factoring process to ensure that the application continues to function correctly and that the changes are effective.
Lets look at an example of refactoring to understand it better.
Re-architecting
- To take advantage of new technologies: Re-architecting can allow a business to incorporate newer or more advanced technologies into the application, which can improve its performance and capabilities.
- To improve performance or scalability: Re-architecting can help to optimize the architecture of the application, which can improve its performance and scalability.
- To make the application easier to maintain: By redesigning the architecture of the application, re-architecting can help to make it easier to maintain and update in the future.
Which AWS resources are used for replatforming, refactoring, rearchitecting?
There are a variety of AWS resources that can be used in the process of re-platforming, re-factoring, or re-architecting an application. Some of the resources that may be relevant to these processes include:
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2): EC2 is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It can be used to host applications that are being re-platformed, re-factored, or re-architected.
- Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS): RDS is a web service that makes it easy to set up, operate, and scale a relational database in the cloud. It can be used to store data for applications that are being re-platformed, re-factored, or re-architected.
- Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS): ECS is a fully managed container orchestration service that makes it easy to run and manage containerized applications in the cloud. It can be used to host applications that are being re-platformed, re-factored, or re-architected, especially if those applications are designed to run in containers.
- Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR): ECR is a fully managed container registry that makes it easy to store, manage, and deploy Docker container images. It can be used to store and manage the images for applications that are being re-platformed, re-factored, or re-architected, especially if those applications are designed to run in containers.
These are just a few examples of the AWS resources that may be relevant to re-platforming, re-factoring, or re-architecting an application. There are many other AWS resources that could be useful depending on the specific needs and requirements of the application and the process being used.
If I am replacing MSSql with open source PostGres – which category does that fall under? Replatforming, refactoring or re-architecting?
Migrating from MSSQL to Postgres would likely fall under the category of re-platforming, as it involves moving an application from one platform (MSSQL) to another (Postgres). Re-platforming typically involves moving an application from one operating system or infrastructure to another, and it can involve changes to the technology stack, data model, and overall design of the application. In the case of migrating from MSSQL to Postgres, the database platform would be changing from a proprietary database management system to an open-source one.
Re-factoring and re-architecting are also possible approaches to modernizing an application, but they typically involve making changes to the internal structure of the application rather than moving it to a new platform. Re-factoring involves changing the code and design of the application to make it more maintainable and efficient, while re-architecting involves redesigning the architecture of the application. Depending on the specific needs and goals of the modernization effort, any of these approaches (or a combination of them) could be appropriate.
To see more details of migrating from MsSQL to PostGres, click here. This shows how $1.4m were saved by this migration.
Serverless: If I want to modernize my application using Serverless technology, what would that typically entail? How much cost would I save using Serverless?
- Identify the parts of the application that are suitable for running in a serverless environment. This might include workloads that are event-driven or have variable usage patterns, as serverless technology is particularly well-suited for these types of workloads.
- Rewrite or refactor the application code as necessary to run in a serverless environment. This might involve breaking the application into smaller, independent functions or changing the way that the application handles data and resources.
- Deploy the application to a serverless platform, such as AWS Lambda or Azure Functions. This will typically involve creating and configuring the necessary resources, such as functions, event sources, and execution roles.
- Test and monitor the application to ensure that it is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of your business. This might involve setting up monitoring and logging tools and establishing a process for continuous integration and delivery.
How much cost would I save using Serverless technologies?
It can be difficult to predict exactly how much cost you would save by using serverless technology, as it depends on a variety of factors, including the size and complexity of your application, the resources that it consumes, and the pricing model of the serverless platform that you use.
In general, serverless technology can help businesses save on costs in a few different ways:
- Pay-per-use pricing: With serverless technology, you only pay for the resources that you use, rather than paying for a fixed amount of capacity upfront. This can help to reduce costs for applications that have variable usage patterns or that experience spikes in traffic.
- No need to manage infrastructure: With serverless technology, you don’t have to worry about managing the underlying infrastructure, such as servers or virtual machines. This can help to reduce costs associated with infrastructure management, such as maintenance, patching, and scaling.
- Automatic scaling: Serverless platforms can automatically scale your application up or down based on demand, which can help to optimize costs. For example, if your application experiences a sudden spike in traffic, the serverless platform will automatically provision additional resources to meet the demand, and then release those resources when the traffic subsides.
Overall, the cost savings that you can achieve with serverless technology will depend on your specific use case and the needs of your application
By moving to serverless, will I save more on people cost or on infrastructure cost?
By moving to serverless technology, you may be able to save on both people costs and infrastructure costs. Here are a few ways that serverless technology can help businesses save on these types of costs:
- People costs: By using serverless technology, you can potentially reduce the number of people required to manage the underlying infrastructure of your application. This is because serverless platforms handle tasks like infrastructure management, scaling, and patching automatically, so you don’t have to allocate as many resources to these tasks.
- Infrastructure costs: With serverless technology, you only pay for the resources that you use, rather than paying for a fixed amount of capacity upfront. This pay-per-use pricing model can help to reduce costs for applications that have variable usage patterns or that experience spikes in traffic. Additionally, because serverless platforms automatically scale your application up or down based on demand, you may be able to save on costs associated with overprovisioning or underprovisioning resources.
Ultimately, the specific cost savings that you can achieve with serverless technology will depend on your specific use case and the needs of your application. It’s a good idea to carefully assess your current costs and usage patterns to understand how serverless technology could impact your overall cost structure.
What are the factors that could impact the costs and benefits of modernizing an application?
There are a number of factors that could impact the costs and benefits of modernizing an application, including the specific needs and goals of the business, the current state of the application, and the specific modernization approach that is taken.
To make a more informed decision about whether to modernize an application, it would be helpful to have a clearer understanding of the current costs and benefits of the application, as well as the expected costs and benefits of modernizing it. For example, it would be helpful to know:
- What are the current costs of the application, including people costs (e.g., salary, training, and development) and infrastructure costs (e.g., servers, storage, and networking)?
- What are the current benefits of the application, including revenue, efficiency, and customer satisfaction?
- What are the expected costs and benefits of modernizing the application, including the cost of the modernization effort and the ongoing costs of running the modernized application?
Once you have a clearer understanding of these factors, you can then compare the expected costs and benefits of modernizing the application to the current costs and benefits to determine whether it makes sense for your business to proceed. You may also want to consider other factors, such as the level of risk associated with the modernization effort and the impact that the modernization could have on your business’s operations and competitive position.
Is it a good idea to get the application assessed for modernization via a third party consultant or should the assessment be done in-house?
There are pros and cons to both approaches, and the best option for your business will depend on your specific needs and resources. Here are a few factors to consider when deciding whether to get your application assessed for modernization via a third party consultant or to do it in-house:
- Expertise: A third party consultant may have more expertise and experience in assessing applications for modernization than your in-house team. This can be especially beneficial if your in-house team is not familiar with the specific technologies or approaches that are relevant to the modernization effort.
- Objectivity: A third party consultant may be able to provide a more objective perspective on the modernization potential of your application. This can be helpful if you are looking for an unbiased assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your application.
- Time and resources: Assessing an application for modernization can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. If your in-house team is already stretched thin, or if you don’t have the necessary expertise or resources to conduct the assessment in-house, hiring a third party consultant may be a more efficient option.
- Cost: Hiring a third party consultant can be more expensive than conducting the assessment in-house. However, the cost of the assessment may be offset by the cost savings or revenue gains that result from the modernization effort.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to get your application assessed for modernization via a third party consultant or to do it in-house will depend on your specific needs and resources. It may be helpful to weigh the pros and cons of each approach and to consider the specific goals and constraints of your business when making this decision.
