
Cloud Native Compass
The podcast that helps you navigate your way through Kubernetes and Cloud Native trends.
Latest episodes

Jun 26, 2025 • 42min
AI-Augmented Programming
Discover how AI is revolutionizing coding practices! The hosts share personal journeys and debates on the merits and challenges of AI tools. Real-world examples showcase AI's role in simplifying front-end development and enhancing productivity. Delve into the environmental implications of AI technologies and the need for responsible usage. The discussion also highlights AI-generated documentation, transforming how developers relate to their projects. Tune in for an engaging mix of insights and humor!

Jun 19, 2025 • 49min
Observability for Developers: What You Need to Know?
Observability for Developers: What You Need to Know?In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of observability in microservices with Adriana Villela, a principal developer advocate at Dynatrace and an OpenTelemetry maintainer. Adriana shares insights about the importance of properly instrumenting code, managing technical debt, and balancing the environmental impact of observability data. She also delves into practical advice for getting started with OpenTelemetry and the importance of community contributions. Join us to pick up practical tips on improving your observability practices — and learn how to make smarter decisions that help you sleep better at night, even while running complex distributed systems. 00:00 Introduction to Observability01:22 Meet Adriana Villela03:40 The Role of Developer Advocacy06:27 Challenges in Observability08:05 Understanding OpenTelemetry15:07 Manual vs. Auto Instrumentation20:25 Best Practices for Instrumentation22:58 Understanding Instrumentation Importance23:29 Defining Observability24:14 Cost and Environmental Impact of Tracing25:57 Effective Observability Practices28:23 Choosing the Right Technology Stack32:37 Balancing Cost and Data Storage39:36 Learning and Contributing to OpenTelemetry47:20 Final Thoughts

Jun 12, 2025 • 48min
The Future of Sustainability in Open Source
The Future of Sustainability in Open Source Can open source ever truly be sustainable?In this mind-bending episode, Hazel Weakly guides us through the social, economic, and emotional layers of open source communities. We dig into governance, funding models, trust, burnout, and what it means to scale collective ownership—without losing your mind. Hazel Weakly: The Nivenly Foundation Fellow, Member of CNCF’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing WG, Software Developer | Leader Hosts: David Flanagan and Laura Santamaria 00:00 Introduction to Open Source Sustainability01:28 Meet Hazel Weakly02:56 The Challenges of Open Source Sustainability09:17 Maintainer Burnout and Governance17:01 Funding Models and Economic Realities27:26 Community Health and Conflict Resolution40:46 The Future of Web Browsers as Public Utilities47:07 Conclusion and Farewell

Apr 3, 2025 • 40min
Atlantis: The Terraform Automation Powerhouse
In this episode David and Laura explore the world of Atlantis, the Terraform automation tool, with special guest Jose (PePe) Amengual, a core contributor and maintainer of the Atlantis project. We discuss the origins, features, and future of Atlantis, along with its role in production engineering and its integration with various VCS systems.00:00 Introduction00:14 Terraform Automation and Project Atlantis00:35 Pepe’s Journey with Project Atlantis03:40 What is Atlantis?22:05 Security Aspects of Atlantis11:09 Future of Atlantis

Mar 27, 2025 • 30min
Java for Serverless Functions
Java for Serverless Functions In this episode of Cloud Native Compass, hosts Laura and David explore the world of Java for serverless functions with special guest Otávio Santana. Otávio, a seasoned Java developer and Kubernetes expert, shares his insights into the modernization of Java, its ecosystem, and its place in the cloud native landscape. We discuss Java's evolution, the misconceptions surrounding it, and why it remains a powerful tool for developers today.00:00 Introduction to Java for Serverless Functions00:07 Meet Otavio Santana: Java Champion and Kubernetes Expert04:28 Java's Evolution and Modernization06:12 Java in the Cloud Native Landscape16:56 Java Ecosystem and Frameworks18:37 Java's Flexibility and Community Support28:14 Java in Kubernetes and Future Prospects29:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mar 20, 2025 • 53min
Dapr: The Future of Microservices
Mark Fussell, co-founder and CEO of Diagrid, discusses the revolutionary impact of Dapr on microservices. He explains how Dapr simplifies development through accessible APIs and addresses challenges like communication in distributed systems. The episode highlights the actor model's role in state management and the advantages of lightweight actors for scalability. Mark also touches on the integration of Dapr Agents and the significance of platform engineering, showcasing how these innovations can enhance developer productivity and facilitate microservices adoption.

Mar 13, 2025 • 37min
Simplifying Kubernetes Adoption Challenges
Struggling to Learn Kubernetes?Here’s How to Stay MotivatedIn this episode of Cloud Native Compass, host David Flanagan talks with Koray Oksay, a Kubernetes consultant, trainer at Kubermatic, CNCF Ambassador, and organizer of KCD Istanbul. From this episode, you’ll learn how to overcome the challenges of learning new technologies, how to find motivation, and how to use real-world projects to improve skills. The guest shares personal experiences—how he moved from struggling with Perl and Python to using them effectively in production.Don’t miss this chance to learn from a seasoned professional!00:00 Introduction and Missing Co-Host00:25 Meet Koray: Background and Experience01:59 Journey into Kubernetes and Cloud Native04:55 Challenges in Adopting Kubernetes06:17 Training and Skill Levels in Kubernetes12:20 Tools and Best Practices in Kubernetes17:44 Choosing the Right Tools for Your Needs19:23 Preferred Tools and Final Thoughts20:35 Introduction to KKP and Managed Kubernetes21:10 Public Cloud vs On-Prem Kubernetes Management21:56 Customization and Freedom in Kubernetes24:04 Future Technologies in Kubernetes and Cloud Native25:07 The Complexity of Kubernetes27:01 Cluster Management Best Practices33:31 Getting Started with Kubernetes: Tips and Resources39:23 Final Thoughts and Community Involvement

Feb 28, 2025 • 38min
Cloud Server-Side WebAssembly
In this episode, David and Laura catch up with Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj from Fermyon to break down the latest in WebAssembly. They’ll cover how it’s changing cloud computing, what’s new with Spin and WASI, and why devs should care. Tune in for some great insights!Click here to watch a video of this episode.
Creators & Guests
David Flanagan - Host
Laura Santamaria - Host
Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj - Guest
(00:00) - Introduction to Server-Side WebAssembly
(00:25) - Technical Difficulties and Banter
(01:01) - Guest Introduction: Mikkel Mørk Hegnhøj
(02:00) - WebAssembly Evolution and Spin 3.0
(05:02) - WASI and WebAssembly Components
(10:23) - WebAssembly in Kubernetes
(16:26) - Spin 3.0 Features and Future Directions
(19:25) - Distributed Promises and WebAssembly
(19:58) - Frameworks and Programming Languages in WebAssembly
(20:58) - Polyglot Development and Experimentation
(22:40) - Practical Use Cases for Polyglot Programming
(24:37) - Enterprise Benefits of WebAssembly
(25:29) - Component-Based Deployment in Kubernetes
(28:20) - Developer Experience with Spin and WebAssembly
(33:28) - Open Telemetry Integration in Spin V3
(35:50) - Future of Spin and WebAssembly
(37:40) - Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

Jan 30, 2025 • 39min
Navigating Kubernetes: Insights, Challenges, and the Release Cycle with Kat Cosgrove
In this episode of Cloud Native Compass, hosts David Flanagan and Laura Santamaria dive deep into the complexities of the Kubernetes release cycle with guest Kat Cosgrove. Kat, a sub-project lead for SIGrelease in the Kubernetes project, shares her experiences and discusses issues such as burnout, handling drive-by PRs, and the nuances of managing a fast-moving open source project. They explore the structure of the release team, the challenges of maintaining CI stability, and the ever-evolving nature of contributing to Kubernetes. Alongside tech talk, the trio reminisces about their work history, the challenging debates over project management, and the quirks of maintaining open source projects. Kat also recommends a book, a movie, and an album, providing a well-rounded blend of tech insights and personal favorites.Click here to watch a video of this episode.
Featuring
David Flanagan - Host
Laura Santamaria - Host
Kat Cosgrove - Guest
(00:00) - Introduction
(00:08) - Meet the Hosts and Guest
(01:24) - Kubernetes Release Process Overview
(03:22) - Challenges in Kubernetes Release Management
(04:08) - Team Structure and Roles
(06:29) - Open Source Contributions and Burnout
(11:06) - Managing CI and Bug Triage
(15:28) - Release Delays and External Dependencies
(16:51) - Press Embargoes and Publicity
(20:46) - AI in Open Source Documentation
(22:13) - The Challenges of Open Source Contributions
(23:06) - The Auto PEP 8 Incident
(23:49) - The Overwhelming Decisions of Maintainers
(24:01) - The Etiquette of Open Source PRs
(26:39) - Personal Experiences in Open Source
(28:56) - The Accidental Involvement in Kubernetes
(32:17) - The Chaos of SIG Release
(34:31) - Kubernetes 2.0 and Backwards Compatibility
(37:07) - Book, Movie, and Album Recommendations
(38:51) - Conclusion and Farewell

Jan 16, 2025 • 56min
From Kubernetes to Cloud Run: Chainguard's Journey
Exploring Cloud Migrations & Infrastructure Strategies with Jason Hall of ChainguardClick here to watch a video of this episode.
In this episode of the Cloud Native Compass podcast, hosts David Flanagan and Laura Santamaria chat with Jason Hall, Principal Engineer at Chainguard. They delve into Chainguard's migration from Kubernetes and Knative to Cloud Run, discussing the reasons behind the move, cost considerations, managing technical debt, and best practices for infrastructure management. The conversation also covers the benefits of using Cloud Run, their strategic use of BigQuery for event logging, and insights into least access security models. Tune in to learn more about navigating cloud-native environments and optimizing infrastructure.Creators & Guests
David Flanagan - Host
Laura Santamaria - Host
Jason Hall - Guest
(00:00) - Introduction
(00:52) - Jason Does Stuff
(01:32) - Chainguard's Migration Journey
(02:18) - Challenges with Kubernetes and Knative
(04:33) - Adopting Cloud Run
(12:15) - Multi-Region Deployment with Cloud Run
(19:26) - Security and Authorization Practices
(27:29) - Operational Decisions and Cost Considerations
(33:07) - Debunking Kubernetes Myths
(33:24) - The Illusion of Free Services
(33:42) - Scaling Challenges and Solutions
(37:00) - Convincing Leadership to Address Technical Debt
(39:41) - Developer Environments in the Cloud
(43:18) - Cloud Run vs. BigQuery Debate
(47:20) - Security and Logging Best Practices
(52:56) - Future Plans and Focus Areas
(54:45) - Final Thoughts and Farewells