Accelerate app migration: From legacy to production (DEV303)

Modernizing Applications with AWS

Unpacking Modernization

  • Modernization is about evolving applications and infrastructure to adapt to changing technology and customer expectations
  • Key benefits of modernization:
    • Faster innovation and feature delivery
    • Improved security by leveraging the latest tools and frameworks
    • Reduced operational costs through adopting modern technologies
    • Increased developer productivity and better customer experiences

Challenges of Modernization

  • Time and resource constraints - the "80/20 trap" where 80% of time is spent on maintenance
  • Skills gap - lack of cloud native and modern DevOps expertise
  • Budget concerns - upfront costs of modernization
  • Technical debt - legacy systems are hard to change
  • Organizational resistance - modernization requires rethinking workflows and culture

Steamhaus' Approach to Modernization

  1. Assess: Discover the application landscape, understand pain points, and define the best modernization path.
  2. Modernize: Refactor applications, build APIs, and leverage cloud native architectures.
  3. Manage: Ensure the environment remains optimized using the AWS Well-Architected Framework.

Tackling Legacy Code

  • Legacy code is a major obstacle, as evidenced by the large percentage of developers still using Java 8.
  • Automation is key to handling the grunt work of code migrations, such as upgrading dependencies, running tests, and refactoring.
  • Tools like Amazon CodeGuru Developer can accelerate this process by leveraging AI and machine learning.

Demonstration of Amazon CodeGuru Developer

Matheus demonstrates how Amazon CodeGuru Developer can:

  1. Migrate a Java 8 codebase to Java 17 with ease.
  2. Automatically generate unit tests and documentation.
  3. Scan the codebase for security issues and provide fixes.

Strategies for Effective Modernization

  • Start small and think big - begin with a targeted, high-impact application to create a quick win.
  • Use modernization pathways like "Move to Cloud Native" or "Move to Managed Databases" to guide technology decisions.
  • Leverage architectural patterns like vertical slice refactoring and the strangler fig pattern to manage risk.
  • Measure everything and celebrate successes to demonstrate the positive impact of modernization.

Conclusion

  • Tools like Amazon CodeGuru Developer and methodologies like ModAx can help organizations flip the 80/20 ratio and dedicate more resources to innovation.
  • The key is to start small, prove value, and build modernization "muscle" within the organization.
  • Leverage the expertise and resources available through AWS and its partner ecosystem to accelerate your modernization journey.

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