The Cloudcast

Guillermo Rauch (@rauchg, CEO at @vercel) talks about simplifying life for front-end developers, the Next.js JavaScript framework, and the balance between great developers, great teams and great collaboration. SHOW: 541CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:CBT Nuggets: Expert IT Training for individuals and teamsSign up for a CBT Nuggets Free Learner account Spot by NetAppMore Cloud, Less Cost (Spot by NetApp)SHOW NOTES:Vercel (Homepage)Next.js Framework (Homepage)Topic 1 - Welcome to the show. Tell us a little bit about your background as a developer and entrepreneur. How did you eventually get to be leading Vercel?Topic 2 - Vercel is a platform that’s designed to make life better for front-end developers. As a developer, how do you get in the head of what other developers want and need? Topic 3 - With so many choices of languages, frameworks, clouds, etc., what do you find are the most important things about your platform to focus on? Topic 4 - Is the goal to create great developers, or great collaborative environments, or do you primarily focus on the end result (e.g. great websites) and work backwards? Topic 5 - Let’s talk about Next.js and why it’s grown in popularity with developers. Topic 6 - What are some of the areas that are evolving or exciting for front-end developers over the next couple years? 

This time of year, many people in the tech industry look to change jobs. What are some tips and tricks if you’re looking for roles in Cloud Computing? SHOW: 540CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Datadog Monitoring: Modern Monitoring and AnalyticsStart monitoring your infrastructure, applications, logs and security in one place with a free 14 day Datadog trial. Listeners of The Cloudcast will also receive a free Datadog T-shirt.Teleport Access Plane: Quickly access any computing resource anywhereTry Teleport for freeCloudZero - Cloud Cost Intelligence for Engineering Teams LEARNING CLOUD COMPUTING:Here are some great places to begin your cloud journey, if you're interested in getting hands-on experience with the technology, or you'd like to build your skills towards a certification. CBT Nuggets - Training and CertificationsA Cloud Guru - Training and CertificationsCloud Academy - Training and CertificationsKatakoda - Self-Paced, Interactive LearningGitHub - Code Samples and CollaborationSHOW NOTES:How long to stay in a tech jobTech Salary Report (Dice, 2021)Best Tech Cities (Learn to Code)WHY DO PEOPLE CHANGE JOBS THIS TIME OF YEAR?Many companies are in Q3/Q4. Oftentimes they are re-adjusting for the year, or planning for the next year. The fall trade shows (VMworld, re:Invent, etc.) are happening.  TECHNICAL SKILLS, PEOPLE SKILLS, and PICKING PRIORITIESPeople are staying in their jobs shorterMore companies are being flexible about where you work - but stay tuned! Certifications are always valuable, and easier to get than everExplore different roles, based on the skills you have and the skills you’d like to evolveUnderstand the tradeoffs between Salary, Location, Travel, Hours, Flexibility, etc.It’s useful to have a broad set of skills, but eventually it’s useful to narrow the list of expertises.Evaluate the individual team as much as the company.  FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

Simon Crosby (@simoncrosby, CTO @Swim) talks about how to understand the new business models and application uses of data capture and analytics at the edge. SHOW: 539CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Spot by NetAppMore Cloud, Less Cost (Spot by NetApp)CBT Nuggets: Expert IT Training for individuals and teamsSign up for a CBT Nuggets Free Learner account SHOW NOTES:Swim.ai (homepage)The Cloudcast #344 - Bringing AI to the EdgeTopic 1 - Welcome back to the show. Former founder of XenSource and Bromium, now the CTO at Swim. You’ve always been at the forefront of solving complex challenges, so where is your focus these days?Topic 2 - We’ve been covering “real-time” with a number of guests this year, but we don’t always connect the technology to the business outcomes. Where are we today, as an industry, of connecting this more fast-moving data with our ability to understand it in the context of business? Topic 3 - As you’re seeing real-time data and persistent data mixed together, how are those teams organized for success (or failure)? Topic 4 - What are some of the common misperceptions that you see about how to best handle either data at the edge, or streaming data?Topic 5 - Swim is helping companies create real-time representations of their environments. What are some of the unique capabilities that you’ve seen this enable for companies? Topic 6 - How are some of the most important things that companies can do to enable the opportunity with real-time data? FEEDBACK?Email: show at thecloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

There’s lots of talk about application migration and modernization, often in the context of digital transformation. But what all is involved in an application transformation, and how do you measure success? SHOW: 538CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Teleport Access Plane: Quickly access any computing resource anywhereTry Teleport for freeCloudZero - Cloud Cost Intelligence for Engineering TeamsDatadog Application Monitoring: Modern Application Performance MonitoringGet started monitoring service dependencies to eliminate latency and errors and enhance your users experience with a free 14 day Datadog trial. Listeners of The Cloudcast will also receive a free Datadog T-shirt.SHOW NOTES:Eps.537 - Application Modernization and Migration (Konveyor Project)Cloudcast Basics - Cloud EconomicsCost to Modernize Legacy SoftwareThe Perils of Not Modernizing ApplicationsReasons to Modernize Your Applications WHY DO COMPANIES MODERNIZE OR MIGRATE APPLICATIONSWhen we look at Application Modernization or Migrations, it’s too easy to look at the technologies involved. But what is the business motivation for the change?  HARD COSTS AND SOFT COST CONSIDERATIONS OF MODERNIZATIONWhy make the change? Technology EoL. Industry standards are changing. Systems not able to keep up (performance). Unable to maintain the current system (people/skills). Crippling technical debt (economic).Own the change or outsource the change? Own the change - Have the code? Have the free resources? Have the ability to run parallel systems?Outsource the change - More expensive. Must be well scoped and managed. Must have the right financial incentives.Own the future or outsource the future? Own the future - staffed for DevOps, DevSecOps, embracing new technologies, etc.Outsource the future - SaaS options. Sell off the application to a 3rd-party and buy it back. On-going outsourcing contracts. FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

James Labocki (@jameslabocki, Sr. Dir. Product Mgmt @RedHat) talks about Application Modernization and Migrations, the Konveyor OSS community, and moving apps towards cloud-native. SHOW: 537CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Spot by NetAppMore Cloud, Less Cost (Spot by NetApp)CBT Nuggets: Expert IT Training for individuals and teamsSign up for a CBT Nuggets Free Learner account SHOW NOTES:Konveyor homepageKonveyor projects (GitHub)Migrating Applications to the Cloud: Rehost, Refactor, Revise, Rebuild, or Replace?Topic 1 - Welcome to the show. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got focused on Application Modernization?Topic 2 - Let’s begin by talking about the basics of Application Modernization and Migration. How do companies think about it, rationalize it, and ultimately act on it? Topic 3 - There are many ways to modernize applications. Let’s talk about the Konveyor community and the associated projects. Topic 4 - Walk us through some of the experiences you’ve seen or heard from companies going through these migrations. Topic 5 - What are some of the lessons learned over the past year of focusing on this?Topic 6 - How can people get engaged with the Konveyor community? 

VC investment has been skyrocketing lately, but why? Let’s discuss some of the trends that are driving bigger investments in today’s startups.  SHOW: 536CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:CBT Nuggets: Expert IT Training for individuals and teamsSign up for a CBT Nuggets Free Learner account Datadog Security Solution : Modern Monitoring and AnalyticsGet started monitoring your container environment with a free 14 day Datadog trial. Listeners of The Cloudcast will also receive a free Datadog T-shirt. SHOW NOTES:$156B in VC activity in Q2 2021, and $288B for Q1/Q2 combinedTiger Global: the investor ruffling Silicon Valley feathersThe Figures that Will Move the Venture Capital Market in the Next 5 YearsGlobal Interest RatesWHEN AN A-ROUND IS THE NEW C-ROUNDWhy is so much money being invested by VCs over the last 12 months, and what trends are pushing them to make bigger bets?  LET’S FOLLOW THE MONEY AND THE NUMBERSGlobal interest rates are very low, since 2017, accelerated by the COVID pandemicTons of government money was pumped into the global economyTech is consolidating around 3-5 major cloud providers, with massive tech amounts of capital and engineering.There is really no longer a middle ground in the tech industry. There are startups and there are the big clouds. Cloud providers make some acquisitions, but they need big numbers to move the needle. Today’s technology challenges are large in scale - AI/ML, Self-Driving Vehicles, Genetic Testing (Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals) 5G, Energy Discovery and Optimization, Everything Delivery, etc.The stock markets are continuing to reward tech profits, and markets are overly weighted in tech.Cloud and SaaS has changed the sales and marketing model, as well as the CAPEX/OPEX model, so new companies can be modeled more consistentlyFEEDBACK?Email: show at thecloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

Christian Hernandez (Sr.Principal Tech Mktg Mgr @RedHat) talks about how GitOps works, it's relationship with DevOps, how it's implemented, and applying it to Infra and Apps.SHOW: 535CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Spot by NetAppMore Cloud, Less Cost (Spot by NetApp)Okta - Safe Identity for customers and workforceTry Okta for FREE (Trial in 10 minutes)Datadog Kubernetes Solution : Modern Monitoring and AnalyticsGet started monitoring your container environment with a free 14 day Datadog trial. Listeners of The Cloudcast will also receive a free Datadog T-shirt.SHOW NOTES:Tech Topic - What is GitOps?GitOps Con (October 12th) - https://events.linuxfoundation.org/gitopscon-north-america/Learn GitOpsWhat is GitOps?Topic 1 - Welcome to the show. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got focused on GitOps?Topic 2 - Let’s begin by talking about the basics of GitOps. What is it, and what problems is it trying to solve?Topic 3 - Let’s walk through a day in the life of how GitOps is actually used? Is it infrastructure specific, or can it also be used for applications, security, etc.?Topic 4 - What are some of the common ways that companies get started using GitOps? Do they typically have to create a GitOps team, or is it an extension of existing groups/skills?Topic 5 - Is GitOps specific to a certain technology (e.g. Kubernetes) or a specific type of application (e.g. 12-factor), or can it be applied to a wider set of technologies?Topic 6 - What are some of the best resources you’ve found for getting started or being successful with GitOps? FEEDBACK?Email: show at thecloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

Your leadership states that you’re no longer in an <xyz> company, but instead you’re now an innovation company. How will that transition play out over the next few years?SHOW: 534CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Okta - Safe Identity for customers and workforceTry Okta for FREE (Trial in 10 minutes)CBT Nuggets: Expert IT Training for individuals and teamsSign up for a CBT Nuggets Free Learner account CloudZero - Cloud Cost Intelligence for Engineering TeamsSO THE BOSS DECIDES THAT YOU’RE AN INNOVATION COMPANY For large companies, how do you manage a major transformation, which extends across both technology and culture?  WHAT WORKS, WHAT BREAKS, WHO STAYS and WHO LEAVES?Airlines are fearful of video conferencingStreaming companies are fearful of gaming companiesAutomotive companies are about technology more than horsepowerWhen farm equipment companies become farmer data companies?Gracely’s Theorem #2 - Digital Transformation is drawing a straight line between your company and your customers, via the Internet. Who and What gets left out? What gets prioritized? Who is your competition? What timelines have been communicated to the market, partners, stakeholders, customers?What are the initial focus areas? How do you plan to measure success? What will be the wins in the first 3 months, 6 months and 12 months? Do you understand the importance of communicating these wins?How willing are you to ask for help, accept help, and pay for help? FEEDBACK?Email: show at thecloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

John Pritchard (@indiapeloale, VP of Product  & DevEcosystem @Okta) talks developer concerns with authentication and identity, and how to manage 3rd-party integrations and cloud services. SHOW: 533CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:Okta - Safe Identity for customers and workforceTry Okta for FREE (Trial in 10 minutes)Datadog Kubernetes Solution : Modern Monitoring and AnalyticsGet started monitoring your container environment with a free 14 day Datadog trial. Listeners of The Cloudcast will also receive a free Datadog T-shirt.Spot by NetAppMore Cloud, Less Cost (Spot by NetApp)CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW NOTES:Okta (homepage)Outsourcing Identity Management for Busy Developers (The New Stack)Topic 1 - Welcome to the show. Tell us about your background.Topic 2 - Let’s begin by talking about the breadth of ways that Okta can now secure things for companies, applications, and developers. How do the pieces from Okta and (previously Auth0) fit together? Topic 3 - As an application developer, where and when do I need to think about identity and authentication, and when is it a function of the infrastructure? Topic 4 - Can you walk us through some common access and application patterns, so we have a better understanding of how many places that authentication, identity, access-mgmt come into play?  Topic 5 - From a bigger picture perspective, how do companies think about ownership and operations of these functional areas - do they own it, do they offload it to the cloud - what considerations do they need to make?Topic 6 - How do developers typically engage with your teams and products/services? Do they need to be security experts first, or do you guide them through what to own and how Okta can offload core elements?FEEDBACK?Email: show at thecloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet

Comparing cloud costs between different environments can be complicated. Let’s look at the different factors that should be considered when comparing costs between clouds.   SHOW: 532CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotwCHECK OUT OUR NEW PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS"SHOW SPONSORS:CBT Nuggets: Expert IT Training for individuals and teamsSign up for a CBT Nuggets Free Learner account CloudZero - Cloud Cost Intelligence for Engineering TeamsOkta - Safe Identity for customers and workforceTry Okta for FREE (Trial in 10 minutes)SHOW NOTES:Cloudcast Basics - Cloud EconomicsCloud Pricing ComparisonsIS IT POSSIBLE TO COMPARE COSTS ACROSS CLOUDS?A listener was asking for some guidance on how to build some tools to help them compare costs across clouds.  COMPARING COSTS IS VERY COMPLICATED, BECAUSE THE USE-CASES VARY SO MUCH.Not going to provide a definitive price/amountNot going to focus on cloud migration costsThings to Consider:How long will a project use the resources? (short-term vs. long-term)How much will the project scale/grow, up or down? How frequently will it change? How complex is your project/application? How many components are involved? Are these centralized, shared resources or will they be used on a per-project basis?How do you currently account for costs? What’s included? What’s not (typically) accounted for? (e.g. centralized services)Do you have the ability to do various types of accounting for costs? (time, capacity, longer contracts, all-you-can-eat, etc.)?How is networking accounted for? (traffic, traffic flows, speed, ports, volume, etc.)How is the data center accounted for? Is a free-tier part of the expectation? Is a POC or Trial part of the expectation?Can your project be connected to the public internet? Can you provide usage metrics to external groups?  FEEDBACK?Email: show at thecloudcast dot netTwitter: @thecloudcastnet