Learning Dapr

Chapter 6. Application Patterns

Dapr is designed to support cloud native applications. In this chapter we will first review what it means to be “cloud native,” and then we’ll discuss how Dapr can help you migrate your on-premises applications to the cloud. After that, we’ll examine Dapr in broader contexts such as tooling integration, system integration application, and edge computing.

Cloud Native Applications

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. With an elevation of 29,029 feet (8,848 meters), it brings extreme challenges to climbers through a combination of freezing temperatures, high solar radiation, dangerous terrain, and low oxygen levels in the air. Most climbers need supplemental oxygen and tons of professional climbing gear to help them cope with the harsh environment. However, even under such extreme conditions, we can still find a few native survivors, such as the snow leopard, the Himalayan black bear, and the Himalayan tahr. Although they are endangered species now (because of human influences, not the environment itself), they’ve been roaming the mountain for thousands of years more than humans have.

When we talk about cloud native applications, we’re referring to applications that are specifically designed for the cloud environment. When you lift and shift an application to the cloud, you have to make sure it has what it needs to survive—like the oxygen tank needed to climb Everest. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offers a simulated on-premises environment ...