Introduction to Elixir for Building Scalable Systems

Introduction to Elixir for Building Scalable Systems

Introduction to Elixir Elixir is a dynamic, functional programming language that has been gaining popularity for building scalable and maintainable applications. It runs on the Erlang Virtual Machine (BEAM), which is renowned for its robust concurrency and distributed computing capabilities. This combination makes Elixir an excellent choice for developing high-performance, fault-tolerant systems. Key Features of Elixir Functional Programming: Elixir encourages a coding style that is concise, readable, and maintainable. It supports immutability by default, which is crucial for scalability as it ensures that data remains consistent across different processes[1][2]....

March 21, 2025 · 4 min · 798 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Unlocking the Power of FaaS: A Deep Dive into Function as a Service

Unlocking the Power of FaaS: A Deep Dive into Function as a Service

Introduction to FaaS Function as a Service (FaaS) is a cloud computing paradigm that allows developers to run code in response to events without managing the underlying infrastructure. This approach simplifies application development by focusing on individual functions rather than entire applications or servers. FaaS is often associated with serverless computing, but it specifically refers to the execution of discrete functions on demand. Key Benefits of FaaS Cost Efficiency: You only pay for the execution time of your functions, making it ideal for applications with variable or intermittent usage....

March 20, 2025 · 4 min · 729 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Why You Should Sometimes Ignore Security Best Practices (With Caution)

Why You Should Sometimes Ignore Security Best Practices (With Caution)

Introduction to the Dilemma In the world of software development, security is often touted as the holy grail. We’re constantly reminded that security should be baked into every stage of the development lifecycle, from design to deployment. However, there are times when following security best practices to the letter can hinder progress, increase costs, or even lead to unnecessary complexity. This article explores the scenarios where it might be beneficial to deviate from the standard security playbook, but with caution....

March 20, 2025 · 4 min · 708 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Optimizing Ruby on Rails Performance: Profiling and Caching

Optimizing Ruby on Rails Performance: Profiling and Caching

Introduction to Performance Optimization Optimizing the performance of a Ruby on Rails application is akin to fine-tuning a high-performance sports car. You need to ensure every component works in harmony to deliver speed, efficiency, and a seamless user experience. In this article, we’ll delve into two critical aspects of performance optimization: profiling and caching. Why Performance Matters Performance isn’t just about speed; it’s about user satisfaction and business success. A slow application can lead to frustrated users, lost sales, and a damaged reputation....

March 19, 2025 · 3 min · 605 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Building Real-Time Analytics with Apache Kafka and ClickHouse

Building Real-Time Analytics with Apache Kafka and ClickHouse

Introduction to Real-Time Analytics Real-time analytics is about processing data as soon as it’s generated, providing immediate insights to users. This is crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where decisions need to be made quickly based on the latest information. Two powerful tools that enable real-time analytics are Apache Kafka and ClickHouse. Kafka is a distributed streaming platform that efficiently handles high-volume data streams, while ClickHouse is a column-oriented database designed for fast querying and analysis of large datasets....

March 19, 2025 · 3 min · 621 words · Maxim Zhirnov