Cloud Native Development with Google Cloud

Chapter 3. Cloud Native Applications

So far in this book, the discussion about the motivations and principles behind cloud native technologies addressed the why and what. Now, let’s dive into the how. This chapter introduces the techniques, tools, and technologies that make the cloud native approach possible, specifically in the context of Google Cloud.

Autonomous Components Communicating with Messages

Alan Kay, a prominent computer scientist primarily known for pioneering object-oriented programming and the development of the Smalltalk programming language in the 1970s, envisioned computer software as akin to a biological system constituted of interlinked cells. His model fosters a mindset that promotes application modularity and reusability.

The cornerstone of Kay’s concept is messaging, a mechanism that allows application cells to communicate with each other. Unlike traditional methods that rely on a shared state, messaging ensures interaction through sending and receiving of information. Essentially, Kay advocated for a world of autonomous components, interacting seamlessly through messages.

Interestingly, cloud native applications share striking parallels with Alan Kay’s vision, principally the attribute of loosely coupled components. This idea, in itself, is not novel. However, the innovation lies in the amalgamation of contemporary tools, techniques, and technologies that create a robust toolkit for building cloud native applications. Let’s explore this in detail, shedding ...