Made for the Cloud: Cell-based Architecture, Ballerina Language, and Choreo Platform
Aug 28, 2023
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The podcast discusses WSO2's innovative approaches to software development, including their domain-driven Cell-based Architecture, Ballerina language, and Choreo platform. The advantages of cell-based architecture and domain-driven design are highlighted. The language Ballerina is described as a practical approach to functional programming, offering asynchronicity and handling service integrations well. The key features of Corio, a cloud-based platform, are explored. The potential of Corio and Ballerina in solving SaaS problems and integrating AI capabilities is discussed.
Cell-based architecture simplifies application development by grouping workloads into cells and using cell gateways for communication.
Ballerina programming language offers a practical approach to functional programming with asynchronicity and efficient service integrations.
Choreo cloud platform extends the capabilities of Ballerina, providing features like multi-environment CI/CD, API management, and integration with various cloud providers.
Deep dives
Introduction to WSO2 and its Open Source DNA
WSO2 is an open source company that has been following open source standards since its inception. The company started with a focus on web services and has contributed to various web services specifications as well as the Apache Foundation.
Asanka Abhisingha's Journey to CTO and the Role of CTO in WSO2
Asanka Abhisingha, the current CTO of WSO2, started his career as a COBOL programmer and has since evolved with the changing technologies over the past 20+ years. Before becoming CTO, he worked closely with previous CTOs and gained insights from customer portfolios and industry experts. As CTO, he focuses on the external architecture of WSO2 and acts as a spokesperson for the company.
The Motivation behind Ballerina and Choreo
Ballerina is a programming language developed by WSO2 to simplify the creation of cloud-native applications and digital experiences. It provides built-in support for data types like JSON and XML, as well as simplifies network programming and security governance. Choreo, on the other hand, is an internal developer platform that extends the capabilities of Ballerina. It offers features like multi-environment CI/CD, API management, and integration with various cloud providers. The purpose of both Ballerina and Choreo is to simplify application development and reduce platform engineering complexities.
Cell-based Architecture and its Benefits
Cell-based architecture is a new architecture style introduced by Asanka Abhisingha that enhances existing architecture styles like microservices and event-driven architecture. The architecture focuses on grouping workloads into cells and using cell gateways for communication. With a strong emphasis on domain-driven design, cell-based architecture aligns with organizational structures and provides a way to connect design, development, and deployment. It offers simplicity, scalability, and alignment with business domains, making it an effective architecture style for enterprises.
AI, SAS, and the Future of WSO2
Asanka Abhisingha acknowledges the increasing role of AI and machine learning in various industries. He sees AI as a tool that can enhance productivity and simplify tasks. WSO2 is keeping a close watch on AI trends and aims to integrate relevant capabilities into its product stack. While the future of AI is still uncertain, Asanka believes in the importance of having APIs and integrations as the foundation for feeding data into language models. WSO2 will continue to observe, adapt, and harness AI technologies to provide value to its customers.
Vaughn and Asanka—WSO2's CTO— discuss a relatively radical and fresh approach to cloud applications and services development. The tools include the domain-driven Cell-based Architecture, the Ballerina programming language, and the Choreo cloud platform. This purpose-built trio is composed as one powerful offering to give software engineers the ability to focus their efforts on delivering cloud-native applications and services. Of course, engineers are not required to use the Ballerina programming language. They may use Java and any other choice of language. Yet, those looking for a practical approach to functional programming that offers asynchronicity and handles service integrations well, Ballerina is a language worth trying. Together, this architecture-language-platform trio deserves consideration for use in your future enterprise.
Asanka Abeysinghe, WSO2's CTO, is a technology visionary with over 20 years of experience designing and implementing scalable distributed systems, microservices, and business integration solutions. He advances WSO2's corporate reference architecture, collaborates with customers and industry analysts, and drives the company's technology mission. Asanka is also a contributor to the Apache Software Foundation and a sought-after speaker at global events.
