# About Name: Pacewisdom Solutions Blog Description: Our vision is to drive to business outcomes at an accelerated pace by delivering next generation software solutions and end-to-end technology advisory services. Since our inception in 2012, we have delivered over 150 cutting edge solutions across the 10 countries spanning several industry verticals. We remain focused on creating sustainable value for our customers by reinventing our offerings to take advantage of advancement in technologies as well as adapt to industry trends. URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com # Navigation Menu - Home: https://pacewisdom.superblog.cloud/ - Book Appointment: https://app.youform.com/forms/tikfokwf # Blog Posts ## How AWS Free Credits Work and How to Get Them Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-05-09 Tags: Free Credits, AWS, Cloud Services URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-aws-free-credits-work-and-how-to-get-them-cmacdlzif00b5g9xie5t2gfdp AWS credits helping beginners save money and learn about cloud services. AWS credits help you access Amazon Web Services without spending too much. These funds cover the cost of using AWS services, making cloud computing accessible for startups, nonprofits, students, and professionals. AWS credits let you test and grow your applications without financial strain. If you're a startup trying to make your mark or a nonprofit working to increase impact, these credits help you explore and expand freely. Who gets these credits? AWS distributes them through programs like AWS Activate to support different groups using cloud services. From new entrepreneurs to schools, AWS credits provide access to advanced technologies, fueling creativity and development. AWS credits help you maximize cloud services. They support your innovation and help you reach goals using AWS services. ### ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1746527886667-compressed.png) How AWS Credits Function AWS credits are a handy way to manage your AWS costs. They're automatically applied to your account to cover eligible service charges. Credits help you explore AWS services without worrying too much about expenses. There are a few things to keep in mind. **Expiration**: AWS credits come with a time limit, usually one to two years. After they expire, any unused credits are gone, so track when they expire. **Restrictions**: Credits can't be used for past bills or services that aren't eligible. They're meant for current and future usage only. AWS uses a specific order to apply credits. **Order of Application**: The credit closest to expiration gets used first. Then, the one with the fewest eligible services. The oldest credit is applied. This ensures you maximize your credit usage. Knowing how credits work helps you use them effectively. Our [AWS Well-architected framework review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) offers insights into cost optimization strategies that complement effective credit management. They reduce costs so you can focus on building and scaling your applications. ### Programs Offering AWS Credits AWS credits can help you try [cloud services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) affordably. Here's how to get them: * **AWS Activate**: This program works well for startups. It offers AWS credits, technical support, and training. There are two tiers—Activate Founders for self-funded startups, and Activate Portfolio for those associated with venture capital firms or accelerators. To apply, create an AWS Activate member profile and submit your application on their website. * **AWS Educate**: If you're a student or educator, this one's for you. AWS Educate provides credits to help you learn and teach cloud computing skills. It gives you real experience with AWS services. Simply sign up with a valid educational email to get started. * **AWS Nonprofit Credit Program**: Nonprofits can benefit too. AWS offers credits to support mission-driven organizations in leveraging cloud technology. To apply, nonprofits need to be registered and provide proof of their charitable status. These programs make AWS more accessible to different users, helping startups and educators use cloud technology effectively. Review each program to maximize your AWS benefits. ### Maximizing AWS Credits Maximizing AWS credits is key to getting the most from your cloud investment. Here’s how to do it effectively. **Track Your Credits**: Use the AWS Billing console to monitor your credit balance. Keep an eye on expiration dates to ensure no credits go unused. Regular checks help you plan and allocate resources efficiently. **Optimize Resource Usage**: Leverage AWS Cost Explorer to analyze spending patterns. Identify underutilized resources and adjust them to maximize credit usage. This tool provides insights into cost drivers and helps you make informed decisions. **Implement Cost-Saving Strategies**: Choose the right instances and utilize AWS tools like auto-scaling to optimize resource allocation. This extends the life of your credits by ensuring you're using resources efficiently. **Enable Credit Sharing**: If you're part of an AWS Organization, enable credit sharing to distribute credits across accounts. This flexibility ensures your team can use credits where they’re needed most. **Regular Reviews**: Conduct regular reviews of your AWS environment. This helps you stay on top of best practices and make necessary adjustments to your strategy, ensuring you're always making the most of your credits. For further insights into streamlined IT management practices that support cloud cost optimization, see our [managed services](https://pacewisdom.com/managed-services) overview. By managing credits wisely, you can reduce costs and focus on innovation and growth. ### ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1746527887826-compressed.jpeg) Making the Most of AWS Credits AWS credits cut costs and open up cloud services. They're a great way to explore AWS without financial pressure. Whether you're a startup, nonprofit, or an educational institution, these credits offer a chance to innovate and grow. To get started, explore different programs like AWS Activate for startups, AWS Educate for students, and the AWS Nonprofit Credit Program. Each has its own eligibility criteria, so it's important to find the right fit for your needs. Managing your credits effectively is key. Track your usage and expiration dates. Use AWS tools to optimize resource allocation and maximize your benefits. Regular reviews can make sure you're using your credits wisely. AWS credits aren't just about saving money—they're about unlocking potential. They help you experiment, build, and scale with less risk. By understanding and utilizing these credits, you can focus on creating impactful solutions. If you're looking to dive deeper into maximizing your AWS experience, consider connecting with our experts. [Book an appointment](https://app.youform.com/forms/tikfokwf) to explore how you can make the most of AWS credits and accelerate your cloud journey. **Article Information** * **Meta Description:** Unlock the potential of AWS free credits to fuel innovation and growth. Learn how to access and maximize these valuable resources. * **Target Keyword:** AWS Free credits - how it works --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Eligibility Criteria for Startups in AWS Activate Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-05-06 Tags: Eligibility, startups, AWS URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/eligibility-criteria-for-startups-in-aws-activate-cmaccyg8a00b3g9xiec5pglmf ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1746526784164-compressed.jpeg) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An explanation of how startups can qualify to receive helpful resources from AWS Activate. AWS Activate helps startups leverage cloud technology. It offers resources that help emerging tech companies thrive. With AWS credits, technical support, and training, startups can build, launch, and scale their operations efficiently. Access to these resources is crucial for startup growth. AWS Activate simplifies cloud adoption, making it easier for businesses to manage operations without complexity. The program reduces costs and enhances project scalability—benefits that help startups focus on innovation. You can experiment and expand without financial strain. AWS Activate provides that cushion, letting you explore new horizons with confidence. By streamlining cloud operations, you can focus on what matters: growth and development. Our expertise in digital transformation and cloud solutions complements AWS Activate perfectly. We know these resources matter to startups and we're here to help. Our solutions ensure your business can leverage the best of AWS, driving efficiency and success. Program Overview and Packages ----------------------------- AWS Activate offers two main packages: **Founders** and **Portfolio**. Each package supports startups at different stages. **Founders Package**: Designed for startups not tied to an AWS Activate Provider. It offers $1,000 in AWS credits. Startups must be self-funded or funded up to pre-Series B, have a fully functioning website, and be founded within the last 10 years. **Portfolio Package**: For startups connected to an AWS Activate Provider. This package provides up to $100,000 in AWS credits. It's ideal for those seeking more substantial support in their growth. Choosing the right package depends on your startup's specific circumstances. The Founders package suits early-stage startups, offering initial support to explore AWS services. For those more established or associated with providers, the Portfolio package offers greater benefits. Understanding these packages helps match your cloud needs with growth plans. Select the package that fits your eligibility and resource requirements. Our expertise complements these packages, helping startups leverage AWS effectively through our [AWS Well-Architected Framework review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review). ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1746526786675-compressed.jpeg) Eligibility Criteria for AWS Activate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To qualify for AWS Activate, startups need to meet certain criteria. These requirements ensure that resources are allocated to businesses ready to leverage AWS effectively. **General Requirements**: Startups must be self-funded or have funding up to pre-Series B. They should have a fully functioning website and be founded within the last 10 years. **Founders Package**: Designed for startups not tied to an AWS Activate Provider. It offers $1,000 in AWS credits. Startups must meet the general criteria and have not previously received AWS credits of equal or greater value. **Portfolio Package**: For those connected to an AWS Activate Provider. This offers up to $100,000 in AWS credits. Startups need to be linked with a recognized AWS provider and meet the general criteria. Meeting these eligibility criteria opens up opportunities for significant AWS credits and support. It’s a chance to access the tools and resources necessary for innovation and growth. Our expertise in [digital transformation](https://pacewisdom.com/about-us) complements these offerings, helping you make the most of AWS Activate. ### ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1746526789502-compressed.jpeg) Maximizing the Benefits of AWS Activate AWS Activate offers startups a valuable opportunity to harness cloud resources efficiently. The key to success lies in strategic planning and understanding how to maximize these benefits. Start by mapping your business goals with the available AWS credits. Prioritize initiatives that align with your growth objectives. Whether it's scaling your infrastructure or exploring new tech, ensure your credits are used where they'll have the most impact. It's crucial to be aware of the credit expiration, typically lasting 1–2 years. Plan your projects to fit within this timeframe. This foresight will prevent any last-minute rush and ensure you extract maximum value. Focus on eligible services that align with your startup's needs. AWS credits can offset costs for services like compute, storage, and machine learning. Review the AWS Promotional Credit Terms to ensure you're using the credits effectively. Our expertise in digital transformation and cloud solutions complements AWS Activate, guiding you to leverage these resources fully. We offer tailored tech solutions to help startups innovate and grow efficiently. Need expert guidance? [Book an appointment](https://app.youform.com/forms/tikfokwf) with our team. We're here to support your journey with AWS Activate, ensuring you make the most of every opportunity. **Article Information** * **Meta Description:** Explore the AWS Activate eligibility criteria for startups and unlock cloud resources to boost innovation and growth efficiently. * **Target Keyword:** AWS Activate - Startup eligibility criteria --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Using Odoo ERP to Navigate GST and Import Regulations in Singapore Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-04-30 Tags: Odoo, Singapore, GST, Import Regulations URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/using-odoo-erp-to-navigate-gst-and-import-regulations-in-singapore-cm8piehqs000312jg3cls3apd Navigating GST and import regulations in Singapore challenges many businesses. Compliance prevents disruptions and penalties. Tax compliance and import/export documentation demands attention to detail. ### **Key Challenges:** * **Complex Documentation**: Accurate import/export paperwork matters. * **Tax Compliance**: GST rules require careful attention. * **Regulatory Changes**: Frequent law updates need monitoring. * **Penalty Risks**: Non-compliance brings fines and disrupts operations. Neglecting these regulations disrupts business and triggers financial penalties. Handling GST and import/export regulations efficiently maintains operational flow and legal standing. Proper documentation and regulatory monitoring ensure smooth operations and prevent legal issues. ERP systems like Odoo solve these challenges. They streamline processes, automate tasks, and simplify compliance. The centralized database improves communication between departments and creates consistent data flow. This integration makes tax compliance and documentation straightforward, letting businesses focus on growth with fewer regulatory worries. Leveraging Odoo ERP for GST Compliance -------------------------------------- Odoo ERP makes GST compliance straightforward and efficient for businesses operating in Singapore. Its specialized modules automate complex tax calculations and ensure all documentation aligns with local regulations. 1. **Automated tax calculations**: [Odoo ERP](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/enterprise-platforms) automatically calculates GST based on Singaporean tax rules, reducing the risk of errors and saving time spent on manual computations. 2. **Compliant audit files**: The system generates audit files that meet Singapore's regulatory requirements, simplifying the process for businesses during tax audits. 3. **Accounting localization**: Odoo ERP adapts financial configurations to match specific Singaporean standards, ensuring accurate compliance with local tax laws. Automation through Odoo ERP ensures precision, reduces human errors, and streamlines processes. These features help businesses focus on their core operations without worrying about tax compliance complexities. Using Odoo ERP means businesses can confidently manage their GST obligations with minimal effort. This leads to better resource allocation and operational efficiency, freeing up time for growth and innovation. Businesses enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing their financial practices are compliant and up-to-date, thanks to Odoo's robust capabilities. ![person holding pencil near laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742968430697-compressed.jpeg) Odoo ERP Modules for Import-Export Operations --------------------------------------------- Odoo ERP simplifies import-export operations in Singapore. This platform offers tools that [streamline documentation processes](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain), making it easier to manage paperwork related to international trade. It automates the creation and tracking of import-export documents. You won't need to worry about missing paperwork or manual errors. It ensures everything aligns with regulations, minimizing compliance risks. Managing workflows is straightforward. Odoo ERP integrates various processes, from order management to shipment tracking. This means faster operations and fewer bottlenecks. Its features help reduce errors and improve efficiency. With automated systems, you can focus on strategic decisions instead of administrative tasks. This saves time and resources, leading to better operational outcomes. Here's a quick rundown of benefits: * Automated Documentation: Reduces manual errors and ensures regulatory compliance. * Streamlined Workflows: Speeds up operations by integrating multiple processes. * Error Reduction: Enhances accuracy in handling import-export tasks. * Improved Efficiency: Frees up resources for more strategic activities. Odoo ERP supports businesses by making import-export operations smooth and compliant. It helps maintain consistency in processes, ultimately leading to more efficient trade practices. ![people sitting on chair in front of table while holding pens during daytime](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742968431953-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Odoo ERP for Regulatory Compliance --------------------------------------------------- Odoo ERP helps businesses in Singapore manage compliance with GST and import/export regulations. Its modules streamline operations, ensuring accuracy and adherence to local laws. * **Enhanced Accuracy**: Odoo ERP automates tax calculations and documentation, reducing errors and ensuring compliance with Singapore's GST regulations. * **Streamlined Workflows**: By integrating various business processes, Odoo ERP speeds up operations, allowing businesses to handle import-export tasks efficiently and minimize compliance risks. * **Regulatory Adherence**: The platform aligns with local tax laws and import-export regulations, providing audit-ready documentation and peace of mind during tax assessments. Odoo ERP improves business operations while ensuring compliance by optimizing workflows and enhancing data accuracy. This leads to better resource management and strategic decision-making, supporting growth and innovation. With these tools, companies can focus more on their core activities with confidence in their compliance. Odoo ERP helps companies succeed long-term and adapt to market changes. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Odoo's Role in Singapore Supply Chain Management Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-04-16 Tags: Odoo, Singapore, Supply Chain Management URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/odoos-role-in-singapore-supply-chain-management-cm9jm555x007k14n5majwbphy Supply chain management in Singapore is full of twists and turns. Things like inefficiencies, outdated tools, and lack of visibility often create roadblocks. These obstacles can slow operations and affect the bottom line. With the rapid pace of business today, it's crucial to address these challenges head-on. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1744788694592-compressed.jpeg) In Singapore's supply chain landscape, there are several common hurdles: * **Inefficiencies**: Processes that waste time and resources, slowing down the entire chain. * **Lack of Integration**: Systems that don't communicate well, leading to data silos and fragmented workflows. * **Outdated Tools**: Legacy systems that can't keep up with modern demands, hindering progress. These issues make it tough to maintain smooth operations and meet delivery demands. Adopting advanced solutions like Odoo ERP can offer a lifeline. It brings streamlined processes, better integration, and up-to-date tools to the table. With these, supply chain managers can enhance efficiency, achieve better visibility, and ultimately boost performance. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them. It's about finding the right tools to navigate the complexities and keeping everything on track. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1744788696592-compressed.jpeg) How Odoo ERP Addresses Supply Chain Challenges ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Odoo ERP helps manage supply chain management in Singapore. It streamlines processes and improves efficiency with integrated features. Odoo's inventory management capabilities track stock levels precisely. Real-time data gives you current insights, making it easier to respond to market changes. Automation handles repetitive tasks, freeing logistics managers to focus on strategy. ### Consider these key features: * Inventory Management: Tracks stock levels and movements precisely for better inventory control. * Real-Time Data: Gives instant access to critical information for better decisions and faster responses. * Automation: Simplifies processes by automating routine tasks, reducing errors, and boosting productivity. For businesses in Singapore, [Odoo ERP](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/enterprise-platforms) meets supply chain needs. It supports integration across departments, creating smooth operations and communication. The system adapts to different business sizes and sectors, giving supply chain managers the tools they need for efficiency and growth. Odoo's approach helps businesses compete by optimizing resources and improving workflows. With the right tools, businesses can overcome challenges and discover new opportunities. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1744788698290-compressed.jpeg) Benefits of Odoo for Singaporean Businesses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Odoo ERP brings tangible benefits to businesses in Singapore, particularly in the supply chain sector. It enhances operational efficiency, enabling companies to streamline their processes and improve overall performance. With Odoo, businesses gain integrated functionality that supports seamless coordination across various departments. Efficiency is a key advantage. By automating routine tasks, Odoo frees up valuable time for logistics managers, allowing them to focus on strategic planning. The system's real-time data capabilities provide accurate insights, improving response times and decision-making. Collaboration is another strong suit. Odoo's integrated platform breaks down silos, fostering better teamwork. Teams can access shared data easily, ensuring everyone is on the same page and reducing errors in communication. Cost-effectiveness is also important. Odoo's automation and data-driven insights help reduce operational costs. By optimizing resource use and minimizing waste, businesses can achieve better financial outcomes. ### Consider these benefits: 1. Efficiency improvements: Streamlines workflows and automates tasks, enhancing productivity. 2. Cost savings: Reduces operational expenses through better resource management. 3. Better decision-making: Provides real-time data for informed business strategies. Odoo ERP supports Singaporean businesses by optimizing their [supply chain operations](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain), improving collaboration, and driving cost efficiencies. These benefits contribute significantly to enhancing supply chain performance and competitiveness in the market. ![selective focus photography of piled brown wooden pallets](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1744788699442-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Odoo's Role ---------------------------- Odoo ERP improves supply chain management in Singapore. It addresses specific challenges. Our solutions streamline operations, integrate across departments, and deliver real-time insights. This makes decisions faster and more accurate. Odoo offers clear benefits. It automates routine tasks, letting logistics managers focus on strategy. Collaboration improves as data silos disappear, keeping everyone aligned. Businesses save costs through better resource management and lower operational expenses. ### Consider these key points: * **Enhanced Efficiency**: Automation and streamlined workflows boost productivity. * **Improved Decision-Making**: Real-time data provides accurate insights for quick responses. * **Cost Savings**: Optimized resources lead to reduced expenses and better financial outcomes. With Odoo, Singapore businesses become more competitive. They adapt better to market changes and meet delivery demands. As supply chains grow complex, Odoo becomes essential. Our technology helps you exceed expectations. We commit to providing solutions that empower supply chain managers. We focus on enhancing efficiency, improving collaboration, and driving growth. Odoo ERP helps you achieve business success. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Guide to Odoo Implementation Partners in Singapore Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-03-31 Tags: Odoo, Singapore, Implementation Partners, Logistics and Supply chain management URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/guide-to-odoo-implementation-partners-in-singapore-cm8pi97oj000112jgysi08t0w Odoo ERP is a versatile tool that businesses love for its modular structure and flexibility. It offers a suite of applications that cater to various industries and business sizes, making it a go-to solution for many. ### Why choose Odoo? Check out these benefits: * **Modularity**: You pick and choose the modules that fit your business needs. * **Scalability**: It grows with your business, supporting expansion effortlessly. * **Integration**: Seamlessly connects with other systems, improving workflow. * **User-Friendly**: Easy-to-navigate interface that enhances productivity. With these features, Odoo helps streamline operations and boost productivity. Businesses seeking Odoo implementation services are often looking for ways to optimize their processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Finding the right implementation partner in Singapore ensures that you get the most out of Odoo ERP. The expertise of providers like Pacewisdom can be vital in aligning Odoo's capabilities with your business goals, setting you up for success. What to Look for in Odoo Implementation Partners ------------------------------------------------ Choosing the right Odoo implementation partner is crucial. It ensures your business reaps all the benefits of the platform. The right partner brings experience, certified developers, and a solid methodology to the table. These elements are key to efficient integrations and long-term support. * Expertise: Look for partners with a deep understanding of Odoo. Experience in your industry is a plus. It helps them tailor solutions to your specific needs. * Certification: Certified Odoo developers guarantee a level of proficiency. It means they’ve got the skills needed to handle complex customizations and integrations. * Proven methodology: A structured approach ensures your project stays on track. It minimizes risks and maximizes the chances of success. * Support services: Ongoing support is vital. It includes maintenance, troubleshooting, and updates to keep your system running smoothly. These attributes directly impact project success. Experienced partners anticipate challenges. They navigate them with ease, ensuring seamless implementation. Certification brings a layer of trust and quality assurance. A proven methodology keeps everything organized and efficient. Comprehensive support services offer peace of mind, knowing help is always at hand. Choosing a partner like Pacewisdom ensures your [Odoo ERP](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/enterprise-platforms) is aligned with your business goals. Our expertise and commitment to quality set a solid foundation for success. ![black smartphone near person](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742968184559-compressed.jpeg) Services Offered by Odoo Development Companies ---------------------------------------------- Odoo development companies offer a wide range of services to help businesses make the most of their ERP systems. It's about tailoring Odoo to fit specific operational needs, ensuring seamless integration and functionality. ### Odoo services include: * **Development**: [Custom solutions built from the ground up](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model) to meet unique business requirements. * **Customization**: Modify existing Odoo modules to better align with business processes. * **Integration**: Connect Odoo with other software systems for streamlined operations. * **Migration**: Transfer data from legacy systems to Odoo with minimal disruption. * **Support**: Ongoing assistance to ensure Odoo runs smoothly, including troubleshooting and updates. These services aim to tackle the challenges businesses face when implementing ERP solutions. Development and customization allow for flexibility, ensuring the system fits like a glove. Integration ties together various applications, promoting efficient workflows. Migration ensures data continuity, vital for maintaining business operations. Support services provide peace of mind, knowing experts are on hand to resolve issues. Aligning Odoo's capabilities with business needs is crucial. Services like these help businesses overcome hurdles and optimize their ERP systems, driving better outcomes and efficiency. Why Choose Odoo Partners in Singapore ------------------------------------- Choosing Odoo partners in Singapore offers unique advantages. Local implementation partners understand the nuances of Singapore's business environment. They have a deep grasp of local regulations and market needs, enabling them to provide solutions that fit seamlessly with your operations. Working with local partners means better communication and collaboration. They're in your time zone, making meetings and discussions more convenient. This proximity fosters a more hands-on approach, allowing for quicker responses and adjustments to your project. ### Here are some reasons to consider Singapore-based partners: * Local expertise: They know the business landscape and regulatory requirements. This ensures solutions are compliant and efficient. * Tailored solutions: Familiarity with market needs leads to better-customized approaches. They can adapt Odoo to suit specific business requirements, much like the [industry-specific digital solutions we create](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions.php) that align with diverse operational needs. * Enhanced collaboration: Being nearby means smoother communication. This leads to better understanding and faster progress. * Proximity: Face-to-face interactions are possible. It enhances trust and builds stronger relationships. These advantages translate into successful projects. Solutions are better aligned with local business practices. Communication is seamless, leading to more efficient implementations. Tailored approaches ensure your Odoo ERP meets all your needs, driving productivity and growth. ![San Marina Bay, Singapore](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742968185657-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Choosing Odoo Partners --------------------------------------- Finding the right Odoo partner in Singapore can transform your business operations. Expertise, services, and local presence are crucial factors. The right partner understands your needs, offers tailored solutions, and helps drive growth. Evaluating Odoo partners involves checking their industry experience and technical knowledge. A partner with a solid track record in Odoo implementations will ensure seamless integration and customization. Local presence is a huge advantage. Partners familiar with Singapore's business landscape can provide better compliance and efficiency. They understand regulatory requirements, offering solutions that fit perfectly within local frameworks. * **Expertise Matters**: Look for skilled partners with proven experience in Odoo. They should understand your industry and business needs. * **Comprehensive Services**: Choose partners offering a full range of services, from development to ongoing support. * **Local Presence**: Local partners provide insights into the business environment, ensuring solutions align with local practices. * **Tailored Solutions**: Customization is key. Your partner should adapt Odoo to meet specific business challenges. Choosing wisely impacts productivity and growth. Take your time to evaluate potential partners. Understand their offerings and how they can contribute to your success. The right Odoo partner makes a difference, aligning ERP solutions with business goals for enhanced efficiency and growth. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Guide to Odoo Supply Chain Solutions for Singapore Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-03-26 Tags: Odoo, Singapore, Logistics and Supply chain management URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/guide-to-odoo-supply-chain-solutions-for-singapore-cm8pi5ebp000012jga6ipngd8 Odoo stands out as a robust ERP solution for managing supply chain needs. It's designed to streamline logistics and inventory processes with precision. Businesses looking to enhance their supply chain operations can rely on Odoo's adaptability and cost-effectiveness, which cater to the unique demands of supply chain management. ### Here's what Odoo offers for supply chain needs: * **Inventory Management**: Track stock levels, manage warehouses, and streamline order fulfillment efficiently. * **Warehousing:** Supports multi-warehouse management, location type definition, cycle counts, and scrap management. * **Replenishment:** Includes make-to-order support, automated reordering rules, and real-time replenishment reporting.​ * **Logistics Optimization**: Enhance transportation management and improve routing for cost-effective deliveries. * **Shipping & Receiving:** Facilitates third-party carrier integration, multiple delivery methods, and handles dropshipping and consignment. * **Real-time Tracking**: Gain insights into shipments and inventory in real-time for better decision-making. * **Demand Forecasting**: Use data-driven insights to predict and meet market demands accurately. Operating in Singapore? Odoo ensures compliance with local regulations, making it a reliable choice for businesses here. It adapts to Singapore’s specific regulatory landscape, ensuring smooth operations without compliance hiccups. Whether you're managing a complex logistics network or a straightforward supply chain, Odoo is tailored to meet these challenges head-on. Why Choose Odoo Over Other ERP Systems -------------------------------------- Odoo offers simplicity, customization, and cost-effectiveness. In fact, [Odoo ERP system solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/enterprise-platforms) are a flexible ERP system that suits diverse business needs without unnecessary complexity. Supply chain managers appreciate its adaptability, making it perfect for Singapore's dynamic business environment. Customization is a standout feature. Odoo allows businesses to tailor modules to match specific requirements, unlike rigid systems. This flexibility ensures that operations can evolve and adapt seamlessly. Cost-wise, Odoo is more affordable compared to giants like SAP and Oracle, without compromising on functionality. It makes advanced ERP solutions accessible to small and medium enterprises, which is a huge advantage in managing costs effectively. Here's a quick comparison: **Feature** **Odoo** **SAP** **Oracle** **Customization** High Limited Moderate **Cost** Affordable High High **Ease of Use** User-friendly Complex Moderate **Integration** Seamless Challenging Moderate Odoo's benefits for supply chain management are clear. Its user-friendly interface and integration capabilities mean smoother operations. In Singapore, where efficiency and compliance are key, Odoo's adaptability is essential for businesses navigating regulatory landscapes. It empowers organizations to optimize inventory management, streamline logistics, and make informed decisions with real-time tracking capabilities. ![yellow metal chain](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742968006402-compressed.jpeg) Implementing Odoo for Supply Chains in Singapore ------------------------------------------------ Implementing Odoo for supply chain management in Singapore is a structured yet flexible process. It requires careful planning and execution to align with local business needs and regulations. Our team at Pacewisdom focuses on delivering a seamless transition to Odoo, ensuring that your [supply chain operations](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain) become more efficient and effective. ### **Key Steps in Odoo Implementation**: * **Initial Assessment**: Understand your current supply chain operations and identify areas for improvement. * **Customization**: Tailor Odoo modules to fit specific business needs and local regulations. * **Data Migration**: Transfer existing data to the Odoo platform securely and accurately. * **Training**: Equip your team with the knowledge to use Odoo effectively. * **Testing**: Validate the system to ensure it meets all operational requirements. * **Go-Live and Support**: Transition to the new system and provide ongoing support for any issues. The typical implementation timeline varies based on several factors. Complexity of the supply chain, level of customization required, and the size of your operation are key elements that can affect the duration. However, most implementations are completed within a few months. Customization and adherence to local regulatory compliance are crucial. Ensuring that Odoo is configured to meet Singapore's specific business and legal requirements helps in achieving a smooth and successful implementation. Our goal is to deliver a solution that not only meets current needs but also provides a platform for future growth. ![selective focus photography of piled brown wooden pallets](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742968007641-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Odoo Supply Chain Solutions -------------------------------------------- Odoo presents itself as a dynamic solution for supply chain management. It's a versatile tool, bringing together cost-effectiveness and customization. Singapore businesses benefit from its capacity to streamline operations while adhering to local regulations. Here's a quick recap of Odoo's strengths: * **Adaptability**: Quickly adjust to meet specific business needs without the rigidity of traditional systems. * **Cost-Effectiveness**: Delivers robust ERP capabilities at a fraction of the cost, making it accessible for small to medium enterprises. * **User-Friendly Interface**: Simplifies complex processes, ensuring ease of use for all team members. * **Integration Capabilities**: Provides seamless connections with existing systems, enhancing overall operational efficiency. * **Real-Time Insights**: Offers data-driven decision-making tools that keep you informed and in control. Pacewisdom is committed to turning these benefits into reality for your business. We focus on tailored implementations that align with Singapore's business landscape. Our expertise ensures a smooth transition, optimizing your supply chain for better efficiency and growth. Consider Odoo for your supply chain challenges. With its comprehensive features and our dedicated support, you can expect enhanced efficiency, cost savings, and a system that grows with your business needs. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Pacewisdom Insights on AWS Advanced Tier Partnership Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-03-20 Tags: AdvancePartner, Pacewisdom, AWS URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/pacewisdom-insights-on-aws-advanced-tier-1-partnership-cm8h6ifim00imtbw99925tfcz Being an AWS Advanced Tier Partner is a major milestone for us. It showcases our technical expertise and strong relationship with AWS. This partnership level requires deep technical knowledge and a history of successful project delivery. It confirms our ability to implement complex cloud solutions using AWS services. Here's why being a Tier Partner matters: * **Access to Innovative Solutions**: We receive early access to AWS's newest tools and technologies, enabling us to deliver cutting-edge solutions. * **Enhanced Cloud Capabilities**: Our mastery of AWS's cloud infrastructure allows us to provide more scalable and reliable services. * **Trusted Expertise**: Clients rely on our AWS knowledge and experience for their cloud requirements. This recognition establishes us as cloud experts. Our clients gain from our ability to leverage AWS effectively to enhance operations and build innovative solutions. Through this partnership, we deliver advanced cloud solutions that go beyond industry standards. How AWS Advanced Tier Partners Drive Transformation --------------------------------------------------- AWS Advanced Tier Partners have a unique advantage. They harness AWS's robust tools and services to drive digital transformation effectively, empowering them to [modernize legacy systems](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/digital-transformation), enhance operational efficiency, and create scalable solutions that meet evolving business needs. Transformation capabilities enabled by AWS are vast. Partners use AWS's powerful infrastructure to streamline processes, improve security, and boost performance. This leads to reduced costs and increased agility, crucial for businesses aiming for growth in competitive markets. Common digital transformation initiatives supported by AWS partners include: 1. **Legacy System Modernization**: Partners revamp outdated systems, integrating them with modern cloud solutions for improved functionality and efficiency. 2. **Operational Efficiency Enhancement**: By leveraging AWS's automation tools, businesses can optimize workflows, reduce manual errors, and accelerate processes. 3. **Scalable Solutions Development**: AWS enables partners to build solutions that easily scale with business growth, ensuring they can handle increased demand without compromising service quality. Understanding success through a case study approach provides valuable insights. Examining real-world examples where AWS partners have successfully implemented these initiatives reveals the strategies and innovations that drive transformation. These case studies offer practical lessons on overcoming challenges and achieving digital transformation goals. ![blue clouds under white sky](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742464729740-compressed.jpeg) Collaborating with AWS Advanced Tier Partners --------------------------------------------- Working with AWS Advanced Tier Partners offers clear benefits. These partnerships drive innovation through shared goals and AWS resources. They align operations with customer needs, creating solutions tailored for your business. Collaboration brings tangible results. Partnering with AWS Advanced Tier Partners helps businesses enhance operations. This relationship speeds up innovation and adaptation. Partners can use AWS's cutting-edge tools and technologies to advance digital transformation. In fact, exploring a [comprehensive review of your AWS infrastructure](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) can pinpoint key opportunities to optimize performance and security. * Shared goals: Aligning your business aims with AWS's innovative solutions. * Resource access: Using AWS's infrastructure and services. * Streamlined operations: Boosting efficiency with AWS's automation tools. This work drives real change. It helps businesses operate smoothly and improve digital systems. Partners focus on updating legacy systems, increasing operational efficiency, and building scalable solutions. This teamwork prepares businesses for future demands while maintaining quality. Customer engagement matters too. AWS solutions help partners create personal experiences and responsive services that build loyalty. This approach strengthens relationships and creates trusted partnerships. ![cloudy sky](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1742464730908-compressed.jpeg) AWS Advanced Tier Partnership Key Takeaways ------------------------------------------- The AWS Advanced Tier Partnership is important. It shows our expertise with AWS and ability to deliver real results. This partnership brings unique advantages, helping us create innovative solutions and drive digital change for businesses across various sectors. Here are the key takeaways from our partnership: * **Technical Mastery**: Our partnership demonstrates deep AWS expertise, ensuring reliable and efficient cloud solutions. * **Early Innovation**: Access to AWS's latest tools allows us to innovate and stay ahead of technology trends. * **Growth Opportunities**: Leveraging AWS's robust infrastructure offers businesses scalable solutions that support their growth. * **Operational Improvements**: Our AWS expertise helps modernize legacy systems and optimize processes, boosting overall efficiency. This partnership means we can deliver exceptional cloud services that businesses need today. By aligning with AWS's resources, we help enterprises handle their digital needs with confidence, building resilient and future-ready operations. We continue to focus on delivering value, understanding that each collaboration is a step towards strategic growth. The AWS Advanced Tier Partnership shows our commitment to innovation and effective solutions. Together with AWS, we help businesses succeed with technology. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Implementing DevSecOps Best Practices Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-24 Tags: DevSecOps, Implementation, Best Practices URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/implementing-devsecops-best-practices-cm5ma2mc6000911gpul2lkjzj Understanding DevSecOps ----------------------- DevSecOps blends development, IT operations, and security into a unified process. It makes security a constant priority during the software development lifecycle. By integrating these elements, DevSecOps encourages a security-first mindset that enhances collaboration among teams. This integration offers several benefits. First, it leads to faster software creation. Teams can work seamlessly, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring quick turnaround times. Second, it supports proactive vulnerability management. Security isn’t an afterthought; it’s embedded from the start, allowing for early detection and mitigation of potential threats. DevSecOps also adapts to evolving cybersecurity threats. As new challenges emerge, the approach stays flexible, allowing teams to adjust strategies and keep systems secure. This adaptability ensures that organizations remain resilient against the latest security risks. * **Enhanced Collaboration**: Teams work together more effectively, breaking down silos between development, operations, and security. * **Faster Software Creation**: Streamlined processes lead to quicker product releases. * **Proactive Vulnerability Management**: Security issues are identified and addressed early, minimizing risks. * **Adaptability**: The approach evolves with new cybersecurity threats, ensuring ongoing protection. Understanding DevSecOps sets the stage for adopting best practices that leverage these benefits, creating a secure and efficient development environment. Core Principles of DevSecOps ---------------------------- DevSecOps embeds security as a core principle in development and operations. Here's what you need to know. **Automation** is key. It integrates security checks and tests directly into the CI/CD pipeline, reducing errors and speeding up processes. This ensures consistent security practices without constant manual oversight. For businesses looking to enhance their digital software engineering and operations lifecycles, exploring [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) can provide valuable insights into implementing CI/CD pipelines effectively. **Collaboration** is vital. DevSecOps unites development, operations, and security teams. This teamwork promotes open communication and boosts productivity. Everyone works together to deliver secure software. **Shift-Left Security** integrates security early in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). It tackles vulnerabilities proactively, preventing them from growing into larger issues. Early detection and resolution are key. Understanding these principles is crucial for effective DevSecOps implementation. Automation keeps processes smooth and error-free. Collaboration breaks down silos and increases efficiency. Shift-left security catches vulnerabilities early. Embracing these principles builds a strong DevSecOps framework, creating a secure and efficient development environment. ![person holding pencil near laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242694774-compressed.jpeg) Implementing DevSecOps Best Practices ------------------------------------- Implementing DevSecOps best practices is crucial for keeping your software secure and efficient. Here's how to get started. 1. **Integrate Security Early**: Embed security into your DevOps pipelines right from the start. This means security isn't an afterthought but a core component of development. 2. **Adopt Infrastructure as Code**: Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for managing configurations securely. IaC helps maintain consistency and security across environments. 3. **Automate Security Testing**: Incorporate automated security testing throughout the development process. It ensures that security checks are consistent and reduces manual errors. 4. **Vulnerability Scanning**: Regularly scan containers and applications for vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps identify and mitigate risks before deployment. 5. **Continuous Monitoring**: Implement continuous monitoring of applications and infrastructure to detect potential threats in real-time. This keeps your systems secure and responsive. 6. **Enforce Security Policies as Code**: Define and enforce security policies as code. This makes it easier to manage and update security protocols consistently. 7. **Role-Based Access Control**: Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to manage user permissions effectively. It ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information. 8. **Security Training**: Train teams on secure coding practices and common security threats. Knowledgeable teams are your first line of defense against security breaches. 9. **Threat Modeling**: Conduct threat modeling to identify potential security risks proactively. This helps in designing systems that are resilient to attacks. 10. **Secure Third-Party Libraries**: Ensure third-party libraries and dependencies are secure. Regularly update them to patch any vulnerabilities. 11. **Realistic Testing Environments**: Set up separate, realistic testing environments for security assessments. It provides a safe space to test without affecting live systems. 12. **Document Processes**: Document security processes and conduct regular compliance reporting. This keeps your security measures transparent and accountable. 13. **Security Orchestration and Automation**: Implement security orchestration and automation for efficient incident response. It streamlines processes and minimizes response time. To further enhance your DevSecOps framework, consider exploring our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review), which provides insights into developing secure and efficient cloud infrastructures. By following these steps, you build a robust DevSecOps framework that enhances software quality and security. ![people sitting down near table with assorted laptop computers](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242695595-compressed.jpeg) Overcoming DevSecOps Challenges ------------------------------- Implementing DevSecOps comes with its own set of hurdles. It requires a shift in mindset and working habits. Teams need to embrace a culture where collaboration becomes second nature. This cultural shift is not just about adopting new tools; it's about changing how teams communicate and work together. * **Cultural Shift**: Adopt new collaboration and communication methods. Encourage teams to break down silos and work in unison. Shared responsibility for security is key. * **Tool Integration Complexity**: Merging new security and DevOps tools into existing workflows can be tricky. Simplify the process by choosing tools that integrate smoothly and offer robust support. * **Skillset Requirements**: Teams need a well-rounded skillset. They must understand development, operations, and security principles. Ongoing training and workshops can help bridge any gaps. * **Communication**: Foster open dialogue within teams. Encourage regular check-ins and discussions to ensure everyone is on the same page. Understanding these challenges allows teams to tackle them head-on. By fostering a culture of shared responsibility and improving communication, IT leaders can build a resilient DevSecOps framework. This approach not only strengthens security but also boosts collaboration and efficiency, paving the way for successful and secure software development. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Comprehensive Guide for Developers on DevSecOps Tools Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-22 Tags: DevSecOps, Guide, Tools, Developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/comprehensive-guide-for-developers-on-devsecops-tools-cm5m9yssj000811gpf0ipk1v7 Why DevSecOps Tools Matter -------------------------- DevSecOps tools are crucial in software development. They weave security into every stage of the process. Everyone shares responsibility for security, not just the IT team. DevSecOps tools bring developers, security experts, and operations teams together. This collaboration creates a secure environment from the start. It eliminates last-minute security patches and overlooked vulnerabilities. It builds strong foundations, making security an integral part of the process. ### Why should you care about integrating DevSecOps tools? Here's why: * **Enhanced Collaboration**: Teams work together, breaking down silos and fostering communication. * **Improved Security Posture**: Early identification and resolution of security issues before they become threats. * **Streamlined Processes**: Faster development cycles with fewer bottlenecks and delays. * **Reduced Vulnerabilities**: Continuous security checks and balances throughout development. DevSecOps tools transform software development by embedding security into the lifecycle. They help you stay ahead of security issues instead of reacting to them. This approach reduces risks and improves workflow efficiency. Using these tools leads to more robust, secure, and agile software development. Key DevSecOps Tools Explained ----------------------------- 1. **Static Application Security Testing (SAST):** SAST tools check your source code for vulnerabilities before the software runs. They help catch security flaws early in development, making it easier to fix issues without impacting your project timeline. 2. **Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST):** When your application is up and running, DAST tools step in. They simulate attacks to find security gaps in real-time. This approach helps address vulnerabilities that only show up during execution. 3. **Software Composition Analysis (SCA):** Many projects use open-source components. SCA tools assess these components for vulnerabilities and compliance with licenses. They ensure you know exactly what’s in your software and any risks involved. 4. **Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security:** IaC security tools focus on infrastructure and configuration. By managing these elements as code, they allow you to automate secure provisioning and ensure your infrastructure remains consistent and secure. For those looking to enhance their digital transformation with secure infrastructure, explore our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) that emphasize infrastructure automation and cloud optimization strategies. 5. **Secrets Detection:** Sensitive data like API keys and passwords shouldn't end up in your code. Secrets detection tools scan your projects to catch and prevent these leaks, bolstering your security posture. 6. **Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM):** CSPM tools monitor your cloud environments. They help maintain compliance and security by identifying misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in your cloud setup. Our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) can assist in developing secure, high-performance infrastructures, ensuring your cloud environments are optimized and resilient. 7. **Penetration Testing:** This is about simulating real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities in your applications. Regular penetration tests ensure your software can withstand potential threats and provide insights for improving security measures. DevSecOps tools are essential in embedding security throughout the software development lifecycle. They help create a proactive approach to security, minimizing risks and improving overall software quality. Integrating DevSecOps Tools Seamlessly -------------------------------------- Integrating DevSecOps tools into your workflow is crucial for maintaining seamless development without sacrificing security. These tools fit right into your CI/CD pipelines, allowing security checks to happen automatically. This means your team can focus on coding while security is continuously monitored. Automation is key. By embedding security tasks throughout the development process, you catch vulnerabilities early. This proactive approach helps in quick remediation, reducing risks and enhancing software quality. It keeps the development pace steady, without unexpected security obstacles. ### Here's how you can make integration smooth: * **Align with CI/CD**: Connect security tools with your CI/CD pipelines. Automated checks ensure security is part of the build process, not an afterthought. * **Use of Automation**: Automate repetitive security tasks. This saves time and ensures consistent checks, improving reliability. * **Continuous Monitoring**: Set up tools to monitor for security issues continuously. Early alerts help in addressing problems before they escalate. * **Quick Remediation**: Have a plan for quick fixes. Tools should support rapid response to any security findings. Successful integration leads to more secure, efficient software development. With security baked in, you build software that’s not just functional but resilient. It’s about creating a culture where security is a shared responsibility, streamlining processes and minimizing risks. For organizations looking to enhance their digital transformation journey, incorporating agile development practices can significantly streamline operations. Learn more about how our unique human approach through the [DVEL process](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model) integrates design thinking with agile development to ensure technology-agnostic and bespoke solutions. ![person holding pencil near laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242516358-compressed.jpeg) Benefits of Shifting Security Left ---------------------------------- Shifting security left means integrating security measures early in the development lifecycle. It's about catching vulnerabilities before they become major issues. By doing this, you reduce the risk of security breaches. Integrating security early fosters a culture of shared responsibility. It encourages collaboration among developers, security experts, and operations teams. Everyone plays a part in maintaining security standards. Automated security tasks are a big part of this approach. They help in identifying vulnerabilities early and speed up the development process. Automation ensures consistent security checks without slowing down the workflow. For organizations looking to enhance their security posture, adopting a comprehensive digital transformation strategy can be beneficial. Our approach to [digital transformation](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/digital-transformation) integrates next-generation technologies and agile practices, ensuring that security is embedded into every stage of the development process. ### Here's what you gain from shifting security left: * **Early Detection**: Identify potential threats before they escalate. * **Increased Efficiency**: Streamline processes with fewer interruptions. * **Collaborative Culture**: Encourage teamwork and shared accountability. * **Reduced Costs**: Prevent costly security breaches by addressing issues early. * **Faster Deployment**: Accelerate the development lifecycle with integrated security. By making security an integral part of the development process, you're not just protecting your software but also enhancing its quality and reliability. This proactive approach supports a seamless integration of security measures, ensuring that your software is robust and resilient from the start. Best Practices for Using DevSecOps Tools ---------------------------------------- Integrating DevSecOps tools is essential for a secure development workflow. Start by embedding security at the outset. Make security a part of the initial design and planning phases. This proactive step ensures vulnerabilities are addressed early, reducing risk later on. Automation is key. Use tools like SAST and DAST in your CI/CD pipelines. They provide real-time feedback and ensure insecure code doesn't get deployed. This makes security checks a seamless part of your development cycle. **Adopt Microservices Architecture:** Implement security at the service level. This approach allows better isolation and control, enhancing your security posture. Securing your CI/CD pipeline is crucial. Implement strict access controls and authentication. Regular audits help maintain a secure environment, preventing unauthorized access and potential breaches. **Foster Collaboration:** Encourage open communication among developers, security, and operations teams. Sharing knowledge and insights strengthens your security efforts and creates a culture of shared responsibility. Integrate security into your feedback loop. Continuous monitoring and measuring help refine processes. Use threat intelligence to inform security strategies and stay ahead of potential threats. For organizations looking to harness the power of data-driven insights and predictive analytics, exploring [AI and Machine Learning solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/ai-ml) can significantly enhance decision-making and business intelligence. By following these practices, you maintain a strong security posture without sacrificing speed or agility in development. Popular DevSecOps Tools for CI/CD --------------------------------- Incorporating DevSecOps tools into your CI/CD environment enhances security and efficiency. Jenkins is a widely-used tool that automates processes in the CI/CD pipeline. It streamlines development with automated builds and tests, ensuring consistent delivery. SonarQube is another essential tool. It continuously checks code quality, identifying bugs and vulnerabilities. This tool integrates seamlessly with various programming languages, providing developers with immediate feedback to improve code standards. OWASP ZAP is critical for security testing. It spots vulnerabilities in web applications during the development phase. By automating security checks, it allows developers to address issues quickly, maintaining robust security throughout the process. **Jenkins**: Automates builds and tests, ensuring consistent delivery. **SonarQube**: Monitors code quality, highlighting bugs and vulnerabilities. **OWASP ZAP**: Conducts security testing, identifying web application vulnerabilities. These tools fit smoothly into your CI/CD pipeline. They offer real-time feedback, allowing teams to catch and fix problems early. When choosing tools, it's vital to consider compatibility with your existing workflows and programming languages. This ensures seamless integration and maximizes the benefits of DevSecOps practices in your development process. It creates a secure and efficient environment for software development, aligning with Pacewisdom's focus on enhancing productivity and reliability through innovative [product engineering solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/product-engineering). ![people sitting down near table with assorted laptop computers](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242517291-compressed.jpeg) Challenges in Choosing DevSecOps Tools -------------------------------------- Choosing DevSecOps tools is challenging. Developers struggle to build a complete toolchain. No single tool addresses all security concerns. Evaluate tools based on your needs, integration capabilities, and scalability. ### When selecting tools, keep these points in mind: * **Specific Needs**: Know what your project requires. Each project may need different security measures. Choose tools that match these needs. * **Integration Capabilities**: Make sure tools work well with your current systems. Smooth integration keeps workflows efficient. * **Scalability**: Select tools that grow with your projects. As your projects expand, your security measures should too. Balance security and usability. Overly complex tools may face resistance. Aim for user-friendly tools that teams will adopt readily. We know these challenges well. Our cloud and DevOps expertise helps us handle complex integrations and ensure scalability. We'll help you pick effective, easy-to-use tools that fit your specific needs. To learn more about our comprehensive approach to digital transformation and how we leverage cutting-edge technologies, explore our [Center of Excellence in technology services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence.php), which outlines our capabilities in Cloud and DevOps, among other innovative solutions. Wrapping Up DevSecOps Tools --------------------------- DevSecOps tools boost software development by putting security first. They weave security into every step of the process, catching problems early and saving time and money. This approach brings developers, security experts, and operations teams closer together. These tools rely heavily on automation. This frees up teams to focus on innovation while maintaining strong security. Automated security checks speed up development and help prevent breaches, improving both workflow efficiency and software quality. We suggest trying out different DevSecOps tools to see what fits your team best. Look for options that align with your workflows and security needs. Security requires ongoing attention and updates to stay effective. As new threats emerge, your security practices must evolve. Keep refining and adapting your approach to security. Stay dedicated to maintaining a secure and efficient development process. DevSecOps embeds security deep within your development process. This method helps you create more secure and reliable software. Starting with security as a foundation builds a strong platform for innovation and growth. This forward-thinking approach helps you adapt to the ever-changing landscape of software development. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Complete Overview of Compliance in DevSecOps Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-20 Tags: DevSecOps, Overview, Compliance URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/complete-overview-of-compliance-in-devsecops-cm5m9vmi3000711gpye6db8gw Why Compliance Matters in DevSecOps ----------------------------------- Compliance in DevSecOps is crucial for security and regulatory standards. It integrates compliance into the DevOps process, ensuring a secure and efficient development environment. Why does this matter? Compliance helps organizations meet legal requirements and protect sensitive data. It safeguards against breaches and penalties. Challenges in compliance are real. Many organizations struggle with staying up-to-date with changing regulations. It can be overwhelming to ensure every part of the DevOps pipeline meets compliance standards. Here's where DevSecOps shines. It provides a structured approach to address these challenges. With DevSecOps, compliance isn't an afterthought. It's built into the development process from the start. This integration means security measures are part of every stage, from planning to deployment. Compliance becomes a continuous effort, not a last-minute scramble. ### **Key points to consider**: * **Regulatory Standards**: DevSecOps helps align with industry regulations. * **Data Protection**: Ensures sensitive data is handled securely. * **Continuous Monitoring**: Offers ongoing checks for compliance. * **Risk Management**: Identifies and mitigates potential risks early. Understanding compliance in DevSecOps enhances security and boosts efficiency. It sets a foundation for a robust development process, helping organizations stay ahead in a complex regulatory landscape. This knowledge is invaluable for IT leaders aiming to modernize infrastructure and enhance productivity. Embedding Security with DevSecOps Practices ------------------------------------------- Security is at the heart of DevSecOps. It's woven into every part of the development process. This approach ensures that security isn't just an add-on but a core component. By bringing together development, security, and operations teams, DevSecOps makes security a shared responsibility. This collaboration boosts the security posture of applications and aligns with industry standards. Using tools like Control Gates, Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Software Composition Analysis (SCA) is essential. These tools automate security checks, making sure vulnerabilities are caught early. This proactive strategy keeps applications resilient against threats. To further enhance your understanding of integrating security into your cloud operations, explore our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) that emphasize secure, efficient digital software engineering. ### Here's how security is embedded at each stage: 1. **Planning**: Security requirements are defined from the start, ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page. 2. **Development**: Code is continuously monitored for vulnerabilities using SAST, keeping potential issues in check. 3. **Testing**: DAST and SCA tools perform thorough security tests, ensuring applications are robust before deployment. 4. **Deployment**: Control Gates enforce security policies, making sure only secure code moves forward. 5. **Monitoring**: Ongoing checks maintain security, adapting to new threats and ensuring compliance. This seamless integration of security with DevSecOps not only meets regulatory requirements but also enhances overall application security. It's about building a culture where security is a priority at every step. Compliance Automation in DevSecOps ---------------------------------- Automating compliance in DevSecOps simplifies complex processes. Continuous Compliance Automation (CCA) plays a crucial role by embedding security checks within the development pipeline. This automation reduces manual tasks, making compliance faster and more reliable. Automation tools are vital. They help maintain compliance by executing security checks consistently. This ensures that applications meet regulatory standards and are audit-ready. By automating these processes, errors decrease, and speed improves. The result? An efficient, streamlined approach to security. ### **Benefits of Compliance Automation**: * **Speed**: Faster execution of compliance checks improves the overall development timeline. * **Error Reduction**: Automation minimizes human error, ensuring consistent compliance. * **Regulatory Alignment**: Tools help keep businesses aligned with industry standards, as emphasized in our [comprehensive digital transformation services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/digital-transformation) which focus on leveraging technology for process alignment and resource optimization. Database compliance is another area where automation shines. Automation tools protect sensitive data by integrating security features into databases. This ensures data is handled securely and complies with legal obligations. Using automation in DevSecOps fosters a proactive compliance culture. By continuously monitoring and adapting to new regulations, businesses stay ahead. This approach not only protects against breaches and penalties but also enhances operational efficiency. Automation ensures that security is an integral part of every stage, building a robust and secure development environment. ![group of people using laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242368522-compressed.jpeg) Database Security and Compliance -------------------------------- Database compliance is key in DevSecOps. It plays a vital role in protecting customer data and preventing breaches. Keeping databases secure is crucial for aligning with organizational and regulatory standards. A structured approach to database compliance involves a few critical practices. Here’s what matters most: 1. **Enforcing a 'Least Privilege' Approach**: Limit database access to only those who need it. This minimizes risk and controls who can access sensitive information. It’s all about ensuring users have just the right level of access needed for their role. 2. **Maintaining Detailed Audit Trails**: Keep comprehensive logs of who accesses the database and what changes are made. These logs are essential for tracking potential issues and ensuring accountability. 3. **Automating Compliance Checks**: Use tools to automatically verify that databases comply with security policies. Automation reduces the chance of human error and keeps compliance checks consistent and reliable. These practices strengthen database security by integrating it into every stage of the DevSecOps process. They ensure that data security measures are proactive, not reactive. By embedding these strategies, organizations can guard against potential threats and maintain robust data protection. For further insights into how technological practices are integrated across various phases, explore our approach to [Agile Development with the DVEL methodology](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model), which emphasizes design thinking and agile development. It’s all about creating a secure environment that aligns with both internal policies and external regulations. Proactive Threat Management --------------------------- Proactive threat management is all about staying ahead of security risks. In the DevSecOps realm, it means integrating security practices right from the start. Encryption is a key player here. Encrypting data safeguards sensitive information and ensures it remains secure during transfer and storage. Secure coding practices are another cornerstone. By writing code with security in mind, vulnerabilities are minimized from the get-go. This reduces the need for patches and fixes later on. Threat detection tools play a crucial role too. They actively monitor for suspicious activities, flagging potential threats before they escalate. Managing roles and permissions is vital. Assigning the right access levels ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data. This aligns with compliance regulations, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. ### **Proactive measures include**: * **Encryption**: Protects data integrity and confidentiality. * **Secure Coding**: Minimizes vulnerabilities during development. * **Threat Detection**: Identifies potential risks early on. * **Roles and Permissions**: Controls access to sensitive information. By embedding these practices into the development process, vulnerabilities are identified and addressed early. This reduces risks and ensures security measures are continuously updated to tackle emerging threats. It’s a dynamic approach that keeps security robust and compliant. For organizations in sectors like healthcare, integrating advanced [IoT solutions for remote patient monitoring](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/healthcare-and-pharma) can enhance data security and operational efficiency while complying with strict regulations. Continuous Monitoring for Compliance ------------------------------------ Continuous monitoring is key to keeping compliance in check within DevSecOps. It's not a set-it-and-forget-it scenario. This dynamic process keeps a constant eye on security and compliance, allowing for real-time evaluation and quick fixes. Automated checks and audit trails play a significant role. They ensure that policies and standards are always met, providing a safety net for any lapses. Why is this ongoing vigilance so crucial? Security requirements aren't static. They evolve and adapt, and your compliance measures need to keep pace. Continuous monitoring helps organizations stay ahead of these changes. It ensures that security management remains robust and up-to-date, regardless of shifting standards or emerging threats. For businesses looking to enhance their cloud strategies, our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) offers a comprehensive analysis to improve infrastructure resilience and security. Automated checks streamline the process. They take the heavy lifting off your shoulders, running regular audits and flagging any discrepancies. This means you can address issues promptly, reducing risks before they escalate. Audit trails, on the other hand, offer transparency. They log every action, helping you track compliance across operations and proving invaluable during reviews and audits. ### **Key benefits of continuous monitoring**: * **Real-Time Evaluation**: Constantly checks for compliance issues. * **Automated Checks**: Reduces manual effort and improves accuracy. * **Audit Trails**: Provides transparency and accountability. * **Adaptability**: Keeps up with evolving security requirements. Incorporating continuous monitoring into DevSecOps isn't just about meeting today's standards. It's about ensuring your operations can adapt and thrive in the face of tomorrow's challenges. ![black and brown checkered textile](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242369268-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Compliance in DevSecOps ---------------------------------------- Compliance and DevSecOps integrate security and regulations into development. We embed it at every stage, making security and compliance ongoing efforts. This approach protects sensitive data and aligns with legal standards, shielding organizations from breaches and penalties. Automating compliance boosts efficiency. It cuts manual errors, accelerates compliance checks, and keeps applications audit-ready. Our automation tools run consistent security checks, ensuring businesses meet industry regulations. Proactive threat management is key. By baking in security early, we reduce vulnerabilities and the need for later patches. Encryption, secure coding, and threat detection tools work in harmony to safeguard data integrity and confidentiality. Continuous monitoring keeps compliance on track. It adapts to changing security needs, keeping organizations ahead of new threats. Automated checks and audit trails offer transparency and accountability, enabling real-time assessment and quick issue resolution. ### **Key points**: * **Integration**: Compliance runs through every stage, not as an afterthought. * **Automation**: Speeds up processes and cuts errors. * **Proactive Management**: Reduces vulnerabilities and boosts security. * **Continuous Monitoring**: Keeps organizations in step with evolving standards. Implementing Compliance and DevSecOps effectively strengthens an organization's security posture, enhancing resilience against threats. This approach lays a solid foundation for secure and efficient development. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Comprehensive Guide to DevSecOps Challenges Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-17 Tags: DevSecOps, Comprehensive guide, Challenges URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/comprehensive-guide-to-devsecops-challenges-cm5m9sv5e000611gpyibwfvr3 Understanding DevSecOps Challenges ---------------------------------- DevSecOps integrates security into software development. It makes security a core part of the process, not an afterthought. This approach promotes collaboration, making security everyone's responsibility from the start. Why does this matter? Traditional methods often add security at the end, risking overlooked vulnerabilities. Early security integration helps teams identify and resolve issues sooner. This improves security, speeds up software delivery, and maintains compliance. Challenges in DevSecOps exist. It requires a cultural shift towards shared responsibility throughout development. Another challenge is automating security checks without slowing development. ### Key challenges in DevSecOps include: * **Cultural Shift**: Getting everyone onboard with the shared responsibility of security. * **Automation**: Integrating security tools without impacting development speed. * **Collaboration**: Ensuring smooth communication between development, security, and operations teams. Understanding these challenges is crucial for successful DevSecOps adoption. This understanding helps integrate security into development seamlessly. Key Challenges in DevSecOps Adoption ------------------------------------ Organizations face several challenges when adopting DevSecOps. These challenges revolve around culture, tools, speed, and expertise. Cultural shifts are one of the biggest hurdles. Teams need to embrace a mindset where security is everyone's job. This shift requires leadership support and a unified team culture. Resistance to change can slow down progress, so it's vital to foster collaboration and shared responsibility. Tool integration adds another layer of complexity. DevSecOps involves combining various tools, and choosing the right ones is crucial. Organizations must integrate tools that support both security and development needs without causing friction. For insights into implementing effective DevOps practices, explore our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) that highlight strategies like CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation. Speed vs. security is another balancing act. Developers want to move fast, but security can't be an afterthought. Integrating security into the development process helps maintain speed while ensuring robust protection. Automating security checks within the CI/CD pipeline can help achieve this balance. Resource gaps are a common issue. DevSecOps requires specialized knowledge in both development and security. Organizations may struggle with finding and training skilled professionals. Investing in training and upskilling can fill these gaps. Understanding these challenges allows organizations to prepare effectively. Addressing cultural shifts, tool integration, speed-security balance, and resource gaps can pave the way for successful DevSecOps adoption. ![person holding pencil near laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242239756-compressed.jpeg) Strategies to Overcome DevSecOps Challenges ------------------------------------------- Leadership involvement is crucial in overcoming DevSecOps challenges. Leaders need to foster a security-first mindset across the organization. This means making security an integral part of the development process. Everyone should feel responsible for security. Automating security testing is essential. This helps catch vulnerabilities early, reducing risks. Integrating security within CI/CD pipelines ensures that security is continuous and seamless. It also speeds up development without compromising on protection. For those looking to enhance their cloud infrastructure, consider conducting an [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) to improve security and operational performance. Clear governance and process clarity are vital. Establishing well-defined processes helps everyone understand their roles in enhancing security. It ensures consistency and accountability in security practices. Continuous improvement should be a priority. Use threat modeling and risk management to regularly assess and refine security measures. This proactive approach helps address emerging threats efficiently. ### Here are actionable strategies to strengthen DevSecOps: 1. **Leadership Involvement**: Ensure leaders champion a security-first culture. 2. **Automation**: Implement automated security tests in CI/CD pipelines. 3. **Governance and Clarity**: Define clear roles and processes for security tasks. 4. **Continuous Improvement**: Regularly update security practices through threat modeling. 5. **Foster Collaboration**: Encourage seamless communication between development, security, and operations teams. By adopting these strategies, organizations can enhance their DevSecOps practices, resulting in secure and efficient software development. ![A MacBook with lines of code on its screen on a busy desk](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242240566-compressed.jpeg) Recap of DevSecOps Challenges and Solutions ------------------------------------------- DevSecOps matters because it places security at the heart of software development, not as an afterthought. It transforms the process by making security a shared responsibility. This shift enhances collaboration and ensures vulnerabilities are addressed early, improving both security and delivery speed. Enterprise IT leaders face several challenges with DevSecOps. Cultural shifts demand a new mindset where everyone owns security. Integrating the right tools is crucial to support both security and development without causing delays. Balancing speed and security remains a challenge, but automated security checks can help. Leadership plays a vital role in driving this transformation. Leaders must cultivate a security-first culture. Automation is key, integrating security tests within CI/CD pipelines to enhance speed and protection. Clear processes ensure everyone knows their role in maintaining security, providing consistency. Continuous improvement is essential. Regularly updating practices through threat modeling and risk management helps tackle new threats efficiently. ### **Key Takeaways**: * **Cultural Shift**: Secure a mindset where security is everyone's job. * **Tool Integration**: Pick tools that meet security and development needs. * **Balance**: Use automation to maintain speed and security. * **Leadership**: Encourage a security-first approach from the top down. * **Continuous Improvement**: Regularly refine practices to address emerging threats. By embracing these strategies, organizations can integrate security seamlessly, paving the way for robust and efficient development. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Guide to DevSecOps Metrics and KPIs Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-15 Tags: DevSecOps, Metrics, KPIs URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/guide-to-devsecops-metrics-and-kpis-cm5m9pjun000511gp7hmgqyzz Why DevSecOps Metrics Matter ---------------------------- DevSecOps metrics are vital for integrating security into your development process. These metrics show how well you've embedded security and how efficient your processes are. They give you a clear picture of security integration throughout your software development lifecycle and point out areas for improvement. As cyber threats grow more complex, robust security in development practices becomes crucial. DevSecOps metrics and KPIs help you stay ahead of these evolving threats. They reveal how your processes perform and where you need to boost security. ### Here's what DevSecOps metrics offer: * **Security Integration**: See how well security is woven into your processes. * **Process Efficiency**: Measure how smoothly your operations run. * **Lifecycle Performance**: Get a full view of your development lifecycle's performance. By tracking these areas, you can spot weak points and enhance both security and operations. These metrics align your business goals with security practices, fostering innovation and teamwork. DevSecOps metrics guide you in creating secure, top-quality software. They're essential for improving DevSecOps practices and refining development processes. Types of DevSecOps Metrics to Track ----------------------------------- Evaluating DevSecOps initiatives requires a keen eye on several key metrics. These metrics shed light on the efficiency and security integration of your development processes. Here's a closer look at some essential metrics to track: 1. **Code Quality Metrics**: These metrics help assess the health of your codebase. They include metrics like code complexity, duplication, and maintainability. High-quality code is easier to secure and manage. 2. **Vulnerability Metrics**: Track the number and severity of vulnerabilities identified during security testing. This metric shows how well your security practices are working and where improvements are needed. 3. **Deployment Frequency**: Measures how often your team releases code to production. A higher frequency indicates a mature process with automated tests and security checks in place. For businesses looking to streamline their release cycles, exploring [Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) can be beneficial. 4. **Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR)**: This metric tracks the average time it takes to resolve security issues. It reflects the team's efficiency in addressing vulnerabilities and maintaining system security. 5. **Security Testing Coverage**: Represents the extent of your security testing across the codebase. Comprehensive coverage ensures that potential vulnerabilities are identified and addressed promptly. 6. **Mean Time to Recover (MTTR)**: Focuses on how quickly your team can recover from a failure or breach. Faster recovery times indicate a resilient system and effective incident response plans. Tracking these metrics provides valuable insights into your DevSecOps processes. They highlight areas for improvement and guide data-driven decisions to enhance both security and efficiency. Understanding these metrics is crucial for continuous improvement in your DevSecOps practices. Additionally, utilizing frameworks like the [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) can help in developing robust and secure cloud infrastructures that align with these metrics. ![group of people using laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242085198-compressed.jpeg) Continuous Assessment in DevSecOps ---------------------------------- Continuous assessment in DevSecOps keeps security strong throughout development. Regular checks help maintain integrated security practices and tackle vulnerabilities quickly. ### Continuous assessment lets teams: * **Spot Vulnerabilities Early**: Find and fix potential issues before they grow. * **Boost Security Practices**: Refine security measures to handle new threats. * **Streamline Processes**: Make development smoother with consistent evaluations. Continuous assessment builds a culture of teamwork and open communication. Teams that share insights can use these assessments to drive improvements. This creates an environment of innovation and ongoing enhancement. Teams need to link assessments to business goals. Matching metrics with objectives ensures data provides useful insights. Clear communication within teams is crucial to make the most of these insights. A continuous assessment mindset maintains robust security and operational practices. It encourages proactive thinking, keeping security at the forefront of every development stage. This approach makes DevSecOps central to innovation and security in software development. For more on integrating security into agile methodologies, explore our [DVEL process combining design thinking, agile development, and best practices](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model). Challenges with Current Metrics ------------------------------- DevSecOps metrics often focus on outcomes, ignoring processes. This leads to technical debt and hidden issues. Focusing only on results misses opportunities to improve security and efficiency. We need a broader view. Current metrics don't capture the complex dynamics within DevSecOps teams. They miss the collaborative efforts needed for security and operational excellence. Comprehensive metrics are crucial. * **Process Visibility**: Understand how things happen, not just what happens. * **Inter-Team Dynamics**: Measure how teams work together and communicate. * **Technical Debt Monitoring**: Track accumulated issues that need fixing. Improving metrics means better data collection and analysis, not just more numbers. Automation offers real-time insights and reduces errors. Better data leads to actionable insights, driving continuous improvement. For businesses looking to enhance their operational performance, exploring [IoT solutions that leverage real-time data insights](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/internet-of-things) can be transformative. We must consider the whole picture. Metrics should answer stakeholder questions and improve processes. Aligning metrics with security and operational goals ensures robust DevSecOps practices. This approach finds gaps and promotes ongoing improvement and innovation. ![smiling woman standing beside smiling man pointing MacBook](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736242085916-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways for DevSecOps Success ----------------------------------- Metrics and KPIs are at the heart of DevSecOps. They enhance security and operational efficiency. Understanding these metrics is crucial for any organization aiming to improve its DevSecOps practices. ### **Focus Areas**: * **Security Metrics**: Keep an eye on vulnerability metrics and security testing coverage. These show how well your security practices are working. * **Efficiency Metrics**: Deployment frequency and mean time to resolution are key indicators of process efficiency and effectiveness. * **Continuous Assessment**: Regular checks are vital. They ensure security practices remain robust and up-to-date. This continuous approach helps identify weak spots before they become problems. Challenges with current metrics often stem from a narrow focus. They might measure outcomes but not the processes leading to those outcomes. Expanding the scope of metrics to include process visibility and team dynamics can provide a more comprehensive view. A well-defined metrics strategy guides improvement in DevSecOps. It ensures secure, high-quality software development. It aligns metrics with business goals, promoting innovation and collaboration. DevSecOps isn't just about security. It's about creating an environment where teams can innovate while maintaining a strong security posture. By prioritizing the right metrics, organizations can drive meaningful improvements and foster a culture of continuous enhancement. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Comprehensive guide to the basics of DevSecOps, its importance, and principles. Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-13 Tags: DevSecOps, Comprehensive guide, importance, principles URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/comprehensive-guide-to-the-basics-of-devsecops-its-importance-and-principles-cm5m9j6q9000411gphaegqox6 Understanding DevSecOps ----------------------- DevSecOps blends development, security, and operations into one workflow. Security becomes a continuous part of the process. This approach bakes security into every stage of the development lifecycle. DevSecOps catches vulnerabilities early, reduces risks, and strengthens application security. It makes security a shared responsibility, involving everyone from developers to operations specialists. * **Early Detection**: Finds security issues early in development. * **Risk Reduction**: Lowers vulnerabilities and potential threats. * **Continuous Security**: Maintains ongoing security throughout the software lifecycle. * **Team Collaboration**: Creates a culture where security is everyone's job. DevSecOps integrates security practices from the start. It builds a security-first mindset, alongside tools and processes. This integration creates robust applications that handle evolving security threats. This team approach to security produces more reliable software and better application security. DevSecOps vs Traditional DevOps ------------------------------- DevSecOps blends security into the CI/CD pipeline, unlike traditional DevOps which often considers security later. This integration is crucial for building more secure applications. **Security Integration**: DevSecOps integrates security right from the start. This means security checks are part of every development phase. Traditional DevOps usually adds security checks towards the end, which can lead to missed vulnerabilities. **Continuous Monitoring**: With DevSecOps, continuous security monitoring is a part of the workflow. This ongoing vigilance helps catch and fix issues quickly. In traditional DevOps, security monitoring might not be as frequent or integrated. **Collaboration**: DevSecOps encourages collaboration between development, operations, and security teams. This shared responsibility creates a unified approach to security. Traditional DevOps often sees security as a separate entity, leading to potential gaps. **Faster Delivery**: Embedding security from the get-go means fewer roadblocks later. You get faster and smoother software delivery. Traditional DevOps might face delays due to last-minute security fixes. Pacewisdom's approach to DevSecOps ensures that security is not an afterthought. By integrating security into the development process, we help prevent costly vulnerabilities and enhance compliance with security standards. This leads to more reliable, secure, and compliant software solutions. To learn more about how we utilize Cloud and DevOps for efficient digital software engineering, explore our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php), which highlight our expertise in implementing CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation. ![shallow focus photography of computer codes](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241787810-compressed.jpeg) Key Principles of DevSecOps --------------------------- DevSecOps is all about weaving security seamlessly into every part of the development process. It brings together development, security, and operations to create a unified workflow. This means security isn't just a step at the end—it's a continuous part of everything. 1. **Automation of Security Tasks**: Automating routine security tasks is crucial. It allows teams to focus on more critical issues, reduces human error, and speeds up the development process. 2. **Continuous Monitoring**: Keeping an eye on security continuously helps catch issues early. It’s about being proactive, not reactive, ensuring that any vulnerabilities are addressed before they become problematic. 3. **Shared Responsibility**: Security is everyone’s job. From developers to operations, everyone takes part in maintaining a secure environment. This shared responsibility fosters a culture where security is prioritized by all team members. 4. **Collaboration Between Teams**: DevSecOps thrives on collaboration. Development, security, and operations teams work together, breaking down silos and ensuring security measures are integrated throughout the workflow. 5. **Integration into CI/CD Pipeline**: Security tools and processes are built directly into the CI/CD pipeline. This ensures that security checks are continuous and consistent, enabling the team to manage vulnerabilities proactively. These principles guide organizations in transforming their approach to software development and security. By embracing these practices, companies can create a more secure, efficient, and agile development environment, leading to robust and reliable software solutions. For those looking to enhance their cloud strategies and operational performance, consider exploring our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) which emphasizes security and operational excellence in cloud infrastructures. Benefits of DevSecOps --------------------- DevSecOps improves how organizations handle software security. It integrates security into each development phase, catching vulnerabilities early and reducing costly late-stage fixes. This proactive approach strengthens application security and speeds up software delivery. DevSecOps enhances teamwork between development, security, and operations. Shared security responsibility creates better, more secure software. * **Improved Security Posture**: Address vulnerabilities early and prevent potential breaches. * **Faster Delivery**: Integrating security from the start leads to more efficient development cycles. * **Cost Reduction**: Avoid late-stage fixes and minimize expenses associated with security incidents. * **Enhanced Collaboration**: Encourage teamwork across departments to maintain a secure development environment. * **Regulatory Compliance**: Stay aligned with security standards and regulations effortlessly. Organizations using DevSecOps often see lower costs and better efficiency. We've witnessed how this approach transforms the development lifecycle. By integrating security throughout our process, we create secure, compliant, and efficient software. This approach helps businesses innovate with confidence in their secure digital infrastructure. For more insights into how we leverage cutting-edge technology to drive business transformation, explore our [Center of Excellence in Technology Services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence.php), which highlights our commitment to delivering customer value through innovative solutions. Challenges in Adopting DevSecOps -------------------------------- Transitioning to DevSecOps comes with its own set of hurdles. Many organizations face cultural resistance to change. Shifting the mindset to embrace security as a shared responsibility can be tough. It involves breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across teams. Development teams often lack security expertise. Without the right skills, integrating security into the workflow can seem daunting. This gap can lead to a reliance on outdated practices or tools that don't quite fit the DevSecOps model. Integrating security tools into existing workflows is another challenge. Organizations need to merge new security tools with their current processes without disrupting the workflow. This integration requires careful planning and execution. For organizations looking to enhance their digital transformation efforts, [leveraging technology for process alignment and resource optimization](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/digital-transformation) can be crucial. This involves creating customer-centric digital products and streamlining operations to maintain a competitive edge. Deployment speeds may initially slow down. Adding security checks can extend the development timeline. Teams might feel pressure to meet deadlines, leading to possible resistance to integrating these crucial steps. Measuring the effectiveness of security practices is tricky. Organizations struggle to quantify the impact of their security measures, making it hard to justify the investment. ### Here are strategies to overcome these challenges: 1. **Foster a Security-First Culture**: Encourage a culture where security is everyone's responsibility. Promote awareness and collaboration among all team members. 2. **Invest in Training**: Provide regular training to equip teams with the necessary security skills and knowledge. This ensures everyone is up-to-date with the latest security practices. 3. **Choose the Right Tools**: Select security tools that integrate smoothly with existing workflows. This minimizes disruption and enhances efficiency. 4. **Monitor and Measure**: Implement metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of security practices. Regular assessments help in refining strategies and justifying investments. Addressing these challenges paves the way for a successful DevSecOps adoption. With the right approach, organizations can enhance their security posture and streamline their development processes. ![person holding pencil near laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241788897-compressed.jpeg) Wrapping Up DevSecOps --------------------- DevSecOps integrates security into every phase of software development. This method strengthens applications and boosts efficiency. DevSecOps plays a crucial role in modern software development. It catches vulnerabilities early, reducing risks and avoiding expensive fixes later. This approach enhances application security and accelerates the delivery of reliable software. ### Key aspects of DevSecOps include: * **Security Integration**: Embedding security throughout development, promoting a security-first approach. * **Improved Collaboration**: Teams work together seamlessly, breaking down silos and sharing security responsibility. * **Operational Efficiency**: Faster delivery and reduced costs with security integrated from the start. Security practices must evolve continuously. Staying ahead of vulnerabilities requires ongoing vigilance. By embracing DevSecOps, teams can enhance their security and operational efficiency. Consider how you can apply these principles to your workflows. Build a culture of shared security responsibility. Create secure, efficient software for today's needs. DevSecOps is essential for creating secure, resilient applications. Implement these practices to improve your development process and achieve robust, secure results. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Key Differences Between DevSecOps and Traditional Security Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-11 Tags: DevSecOps, Traditional Security, Differences URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/key-differences-between-devsecops-and-traditional-security-cm5m9fwra000311gpe6uobuuy Understanding DevSecOps vs Traditional Security ----------------------------------------------- DevSecOps is a modern approach in software development that integrates security from the get-go. It encourages collaboration among development, operations, and security teams. This method embeds security checks throughout the entire software development lifecycle, which means security is woven into every stage of development. By using automation, it identifies vulnerabilities early, enhancing both the speed and security of software delivery. Traditional security practices often come into play after development is completed. This separate phase approach can lead to delays and vulnerabilities. In today's fast-paced environment, these reactive measures often fall short. They struggle to keep up with rapid development cycles and complex security challenges. Moving towards DevSecOps addresses these issues. It shifts the focus to proactive security, ensuring that it's a shared responsibility among all teams. This approach not only improves security but also boosts efficiency. Automation helps streamline security processes, making it an integral part of the development workflow. * **Integration**: Security is part of every development stage in DevSecOps, unlike traditional methods. * **Collaboration**: Encourages teamwork across development, operations, and security. * **Automation**: Uses automated security checks for early vulnerability detection. * **Efficiency**: Enhances speed and security of software delivery through continuous improvement. DevSecOps offers a seamless way to incorporate security into everyday processes, ensuring that software not only meets market demands quickly but also maintains high-security standards. Challenges in Traditional Security ---------------------------------- Traditional Security Operations Centers (SOCs) face a host of challenges in today's dynamic environment. These challenges make it tough to keep up with the demands of modern development and the complexity of security threats. Traditional SOCs often have a **limited scope**: This restricts their ability to effectively monitor and respond to a wide range of security threats. It narrows the focus, making it hard to adapt to new challenges as they arise. A major issue is the **lack of flexibility**: The rigid structures in traditional security setups prevent quick adaptation to evolving threats. This inflexibility can lead to vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. There's also an **overreliance on passwords**: Relying heavily on passwords as the primary security measure can be risky. Weak or compromised passwords are a common entry point for cyber threats, making systems vulnerable. Traditional practices are often **isolated and reactive**: This means security measures are applied after the fact, rather than integrated into the development process. It leads to inefficiencies and makes it difficult to keep up with rapid development cycles. For organizations looking to enhance their security operations, adopting cloud optimization strategies and leveraging partnerships like those with AWS can provide a more robust and scalable security framework. [Explore our cloud and DevOps services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) to understand how these strategies can bolster security measures. **Increasing alert volumes**: With the growing number of security threats, traditional SOCs struggle to manage the sheer volume of alerts. This can overwhelm security teams, leading to missed or delayed responses. These challenges highlight the need for a more integrated and proactive approach to security, one that can effectively address the complexities of today's digital world. ![shallow focus photography of computer codes](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241634271-compressed.jpeg) Benefits of Adopting DevSecOps ------------------------------ DevSecOps offers key advantages over traditional security methods. It integrates security into development early, strengthening software protection. This proactive approach catches vulnerabilities sooner, preventing future issues. DevSecOps encourages team collaboration. It unites development, operations, and security teams. This teamwork enhances communication, shared responsibility, and problem-solving. Automation is central to DevSecOps. It simplifies processes, cuts errors, and ensures consistency. Continuous automated checks provide instant threat detection and quick response. This boosts software security and cuts manual work. For a deeper understanding of how automation can enhance development processes, consider exploring our unique [DVEL approach](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model), which integrates design thinking and agile development for seamless project execution. ### The benefits of adopting DevSecOps include: 1. **Early Vulnerability Detection**: Security measures start from day one, catching issues early. 2. **Improved Collaboration**: Teams work in sync, sparking innovation and efficiency. 3. **Automation**: Security processes run automatically, cutting errors and boosting consistency. 4. **Continuous Monitoring**: Real-time threat detection keeps systems safe. DevSecOps helps organizations tackle cyber threats better. It enables faster market entry with robust security. This meets market needs without compromising safety. ![Colorful software or web code on a computer monitor](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241635796-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on DevSecOps vs Traditional Security -------------------------------------------------- DevSecOps transforms how organizations approach security. It integrates security directly into the development lifecycle, ensuring teams work together from the start. This shift enhances both speed and security, making software delivery more efficient. ### Here’s what stands out with DevSecOps: * **Security Integration**: Security is embedded at every development stage, ensuring consistent protection. * **Collaboration**: Development, operations, and security teams unite, fostering better communication and teamwork. * **Automation**: Automated processes streamline security checks, speeding up response times and reducing errors. * **Continuous Monitoring**: Real-time threat detection keeps systems safe, ensuring quick reactions to potential vulnerabilities. The benefits are clear. Teams catch vulnerabilities early, preventing future issues. Automation cuts down manual tasks, boosting productivity. Collaboration across teams leads to innovative solutions and shared responsibility. Adopting DevSecOps means organizations can stay ahead in the digital world. It's about more than just security; it’s about creating a seamless, efficient development environment. With this approach, businesses not only meet market demands but also maintain high-security standards, keeping ahead in an ever-evolving landscape. This proactive strategy ensures a robust security posture and operational excellence. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Implementing DevSecOps for Microservices Architecture Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2025-01-08 Tags: DevSecOps, Microservices Architecture, Implementation URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/implementing-devsecops-for-microservices-architecture-cm5m9arqf000211gpjg91wis2 Why DevSecOps Matters for Microservices --------------------------------------- DevSecOps is transforming software development, particularly in microservices architecture. Breaking applications into smaller, independent services enhances flexibility and scalability. Yet, this structure introduces new security risks. DevSecOps integrates security into DevOps, vital for protecting microservices. Here's why DevSecOps is essential for microservices: * **Security Integration**: DevSecOps embeds security measures throughout the development lifecycle. This addresses vulnerabilities quickly, minimizing risks before they impact your system. * **Efficiency Boost**: Automating security processes, DevSecOps speeds up development. Continuous monitoring enables your team to innovate without compromising security. * **Shared Responsibility**: DevSecOps creates a culture where everyone owns security. This team approach strengthens your microservices' defenses. * **Resilience and Scalability**: DevSecOps builds resilient applications. As your architecture grows, security practices scale, protecting without hindering performance. DevSecOps in microservices enhances security and supports efficient, innovative development. It's a smart move for teams looking to improve development while maintaining robust security. The Nuts and Bolts of DevSecOps for Microservices ------------------------------------------------- DevSecOps is reshaping how we handle microservices. It integrates security right into the DevOps pipeline, acting as a security layer woven throughout the development process. This approach ensures that every stage, from building to deploying, includes robust security measures. In microservices architecture, each service is developed and deployed independently. This setup allows for targeted security measures at every level. Using CI/CD pipelines, teams automate their workflows, making the process efficient and secure. This automation helps in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities early on, ensuring a smoother development cycle. For businesses looking to enhance their DevOps practices, our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) provide comprehensive strategies including CI/CD pipeline implementation and infrastructure automation, ensuring enhanced productivity and security. Containers, like Docker and Kubernetes, play a crucial role here. They provide a consistent environment across development, testing, and production. This consistency is essential for maintaining security and operational efficiency. Containers simplify the management of microservices, making it easier to implement security measures effectively. ### **Steps to Implement DevSecOps for Microservices:** 1. **Security Integration**: Embed security checks within the CI/CD pipeline to ensure continuous protection. 2. **Automated Testing**: Use automated testing tools to quickly identify vulnerabilities during development. 3. **Container Management**: Utilize containers for consistency and ease of deployment, enhancing security protocols. 4. **Continuous Monitoring**: Implement continuous monitoring to catch and address security threats in real-time. By embedding security throughout the lifecycle, DevSecOps makes the development of microservices secure and efficient. This approach supports teams in delivering high-quality applications rapidly while maintaining robust security standards. ![person holding pencil near laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241394816-compressed.jpeg) Strategies for Effective DevSecOps Implementation ------------------------------------------------- Implementing DevSecOps in microservices architecture is about getting the strategy right. It starts with a strong CI/CD pipeline. Automated tools should be part of this setup, offering feedback at every stage. This keeps the team informed and ready to address any issues quickly. Training is key. Your team needs to embrace security as everyone's responsibility. This cultural shift is crucial. It ensures that security isn't just one department's job, but a collective effort. Regular security audits are also a must. They help catch vulnerabilities early, preventing bigger issues down the line. For those looking to enhance their cloud strategies with robust security measures, consider exploring our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review). This review assists in developing secure, high-performance infrastructures by emphasizing key pillars such as security and operational excellence. Automated testing is another strategy. It identifies vulnerabilities during development, ensuring that problems are resolved before deployment. This proactive measure maintains quality and speeds up delivery. ### **Key Strategies for DevSecOps Implementation:** * **CI/CD Pipeline**: Establish strong pipelines with automated tools for continuous feedback. * **Team Training**: Equip teams to see security as a shared responsibility. * **Security Audits**: Conduct regular checks to identify vulnerabilities early. * **Automated Testing**: Use tools to catch issues during development. These strategies make the transition to DevSecOps smooth. They integrate security seamlessly into every step, enhancing software quality and delivery speed. This approach not only reduces errors but gives your team a competitive edge. ![people sitting down near table with assorted laptop computers](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241396171-compressed.jpeg) Takeaways for DevSecOps Success ------------------------------- As we wrap up, let's hit the high points for making DevSecOps shine in a microservices setup. Pairing DevSecOps with microservices doesn't just boost security, it also kicks efficiency into high gear. It's a potent mix for today's software development scene. By weaving security into every stage—from CI/CD pipelines to container management—you're building a fortress around your development process. This approach not only keeps your system safe but also smooths out the bumps in the development cycle. What's the secret sauce? A focus on collaboration and continuous improvement. That's how you stay ahead in the tech game. Here's what to keep in mind: * **Integrate Early and Often**: Embed security measures right from the start. It should be a part of every phase, not an afterthought. * **Automate for Efficiency**: Use automated tools for testing and monitoring. This speeds up processes and keeps security tight. * **Foster a Collaborative Culture**: Make security everyone's job. When the whole team is on board, your defenses are stronger. * **Prioritize Continuous Improvement**: Regularly update your strategies to tackle new challenges and vulnerabilities. By focusing on these strategies, your team can elevate software quality and pick up the pace on delivery. This gives your organization a leg up in the competitive tech landscape. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Essential Security-as-Code for DevSecOps Success Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2025-01-07 Tags: DevSecOps, Security-as-Code, Success URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/essential-security-as-code-for-devsecops-success-cm5m98mat000111gptq0lguuh Understanding Security-as-Code in DevSecOps ------------------------------------------- Security-as-Code (SaC) transforms security in software development. It integrates security into DevOps tools and workflows, making security checks part of every step in the software development lifecycle. This approach bakes security into the code from the start, eliminating last-minute security patches. The power of this approach comes from its benefits: It catches vulnerabilities early. By identifying issues during development, rather than after deployment, we maintain a stronger security posture. This allows security teams to focus on complex issues instead of routine checks. Our applications become more secure without typical delays and costs. ### Key benefits include: * **Consistent Security**: Automated checks ensure security is always active. * **Early Integration**: Security measures are built into the code from the beginning. * **Improved Efficiency**: Catching vulnerabilities early reduces cost and time. SaC enhances both security and development speed. Security-as-Code in DevSecOps significantly improves how we build and deploy secure applications. This strategy puts us at the forefront of the DevSecOps field. Integrating Security-as-Code with CI/CD --------------------------------------- Integrating Security-as-Code into CI/CD pipelines boosts security for development teams. It embeds automated security tests, scans, and policies into pipelines, making security a core part of development. Every code commit gets checked automatically, giving developers instant feedback. This integration cuts down on manual security work. It applies security checks to all builds and deployments consistently. The result? A smooth workflow that spots vulnerabilities early and strengthens overall security. For businesses seeking to enhance their CI/CD pipelines with robust security measures, our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) offer comprehensive solutions. These services include the implementation of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery pipelines, ensuring that security is seamlessly integrated into the development lifecycle. Here's how to integrate Security-as-Code into your CI/CD pipelines: 1. **Embed Security Tests**: Run automated security tests with each code commit. This catches vulnerabilities as soon as they appear. 2. **Automate Scans**: Use scanning tools to find potential security issues in real-time. These tools keep your code secure and compliant. 3. **Implement Policies**: Set up and enforce security policies within the pipeline. This keeps things consistent, reduces mistakes, and ensures secure deployments. By adding these elements, you create a smooth, efficient security process. It turns security into a key part of development. Security becomes proactive, speeding up development while protecting your system. ![group of people using laptop computer](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241294590-compressed.jpeg) Shifting Security Left in the SDLC ---------------------------------- Shifting security left in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) means integrating security practices right from the beginning. Security-as-Code plays a crucial role in this shift. By embedding security measures early on, potential vulnerabilities are caught and fixed sooner. This proactive approach reduces risks and costs associated with late-stage security patches. When we codify security policies, consistency becomes a given. Automated security checks are implemented across all stages, ensuring that security is always part of the process. This kind of integration aligns security with functional requirements, making it an integral part of development rather than an afterthought. For more insights on aligning security with agile development practices, explore our proprietary [DVEL approach, which integrates agile methodologies for enhanced service delivery](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model). Collaboration among development, operations, and security teams gets a boost too. Using code to define security requirements creates a shared language. It bridges the gap between teams, fostering a culture where everyone works towards common security goals. By integrating these practices, we make security a shared responsibility, promoting teamwork and efficiency. * **Early Detection**: Identifying vulnerabilities during development. * **Cost Efficiency**: Reducing expenses by avoiding late-stage fixes. * **Consistent Policies**: Ensuring security measures are uniformly applied. * **Enhanced Collaboration**: Encouraging teamwork with a unified approach. This strategy enhances the overall security posture, making the development process more efficient and secure. It ensures security is as much a priority as functionality, paving the way for robust and reliable applications. Key Components of Security-as-Code ---------------------------------- Security-as-Code (SaC) isn't just a buzzword. It's about integrating security right into the heart of development. This approach ensures that security measures are woven into the fabric of software development, creating a seamless, secure workflow. Let's break down the key elements that make up Security-as-Code. 1. **Automated Security Scans**: These scans run consistently during the development process. They catch vulnerabilities early, making it easier to address issues before they escalate. This proactive scanning keeps the code clean and reduces security risks. 2. **Automated Security Tests**: With each code change, automated tests kick in to verify security measures. This constant testing ensures vulnerabilities are detected and fixed immediately, maintaining a robust security posture. 3. **Codified Security Policies**: Security policies are written as code, ensuring that every development stage adheres to consistent security standards. This codification makes it easy to update and enforce policies across the board. 4. **Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security**: IaC allows for the management of infrastructure through code, ensuring that security configurations are consistent and repeatable. This eliminates manual errors and boosts security. For more comprehensive insights on developing secure, high-performance infrastructures, explore our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review), which emphasizes key pillars such as Operational Excellence and Security. Beyond these core components, additional elements enhance Security-as-Code: * **Access Control**: Implementing strict access controls prevents unauthorized access and protects sensitive data. This layer of security ensures that only authorized personnel can make changes. * **Vulnerability Scanning**: Regular scans identify potential weaknesses, allowing teams to address them before they become threats. * **Policy Management**: By managing security policies as code, organizations can maintain uniform security standards, reducing the chances of oversight. Understanding these components helps integrate security into every development stage. SaC ensures security isn't an afterthought but a fundamental part of building secure applications. Overcoming Challenges with Security-as-Code ------------------------------------------- Implementing Security-as-Code in DevSecOps environments comes with its own set of challenges. Balancing speed and security is a primary concern. Integrating security measures without slowing down development requires skill and precision. It's crucial to automate security checks within CI/CD pipelines to maintain efficiency without compromising security. Identifying skill gaps is another hurdle. Teams need to be well-versed in both development and security practices. Continuous learning and upskilling are vital to keep pace with evolving security threats and technologies. Regular training sessions and workshops can help bridge these gaps, ensuring everyone is up to speed. Monitoring regulatory changes is essential. As regulations evolve, security measures must adapt. Keeping up with these changes ensures compliance and protects sensitive data. Implementing codified policies that are easily updated can streamline this process. Integrating security into existing development environments should be seamless. Developers need tools that fit into their current workflows without causing disruption. Using well-integrated security solutions can make adoption smoother and more efficient. ### Key considerations include: * **Balancing Speed and Security**: Maintain development speed while ensuring robust security. * **Skill Gaps**: Provide ongoing training to enhance security knowledge. * **Regulatory Changes**: Stay updated to ensure compliance. * **Seamless Integration**: Use tools that blend with existing workflows. Addressing these challenges is key to successful Security-as-Code implementation. It strengthens the security framework while supporting agile development practices. For organizations looking to integrate advanced digital solutions, exploring [our expertise in digital transformation](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/digital-transformation) can provide valuable insights into aligning technology with business goals. ![black and brown checkered textile](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1736241295861-compressed.jpeg) Recap and Future of Security-as-Code ------------------------------------ Security-as-Code is changing how we approach DevSecOps. It combines security with software development, making DevSecOps better. Automation plays a key role. By putting security checks and policies into the code, teams find vulnerabilities early. This saves time and money. It makes security a core part of development from day one. Teamwork between developers, operations, and security teams is vital. When everyone uses code as a common language, communication improves. This leads to stronger security. Shared goals build teamwork and create a culture where everyone owns security. Security-as-Code is the future of secure development. We'll keep improving our security methods and tools as technology advances. Automation, coded policies, and team collaboration will shape the future. This approach strengthens applications and improves workflows. It's essential for any company serious about security. Security-as-Code helps us predict threats and lower risks. It builds systems that can adapt to new challenges. Security-as-Code will remain crucial for secure, efficient, and innovative development. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Utilizing Spot Instances and Preemptible VMs in Production Workloads Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-28 URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/utilizing-spot-instances-and-preemptible-vms-in-production-workloads-cm418qx0f00kfjdc7e60ck16a Introduction ------------ Cloud Computing has revolutionized how businesses manage infrastructure, offering elasticity, scalability, and a pay-as-you-go pricing model. However, cloud costs can escalate quickly, particularly in production environments where the use of on-demand instances can be a major expense. Spot instances (AWS) and Preemptible VMs (Google Cloud) present a cost-efficient alternative for businesses that can tolerate some level of interruption. These instances are offered at a fraction of the price of on-demand resources, making them an attractive option for optimizing cloud costs. But how do you incorporate these interruptible instances into your production workloads without compromising performance or reliability? In this blog, we will explore the strategies and best practices for safely integrating spot instances and Preemptible VMs into your production environment. ### 1\. Understanding Spot Instances and Preemptible VMs Spot Instances and Preemptible VMs are essentially spare capacity offered by cloud providers at discounted rates. These instances can be interrupted by the provider with little notice when they need the resources back, making them ideal for workloads that are fault-tolerant or can be easily redistributed. * Spot Instances (AWS): AWS offers unused EC2 instances at up to a 90% discount through spot instances. These instances can be terminated by AWS with just a two-minute warning when they are needed for other purposes. * Preemptible VMs (Google Cloud): Similarly, Google Cloud offers Preemptible virtual machines at a much lower price point than regular instances. Google can shut these instances down after a 24-hour maximum or when resources are needed, often providing just a 30 second warning. Both options present significant savings, but their volatility makes them unsuitable for all workloads. However, by leveraging fault-tolerant architecture and smart strategies, you can safely integrate them into production without compromising on reliability. ### 2\. Identifying Suitable Workloads The first step in utilizing spot instances or Preemptible VMs is to identify which parts of your workload can tolerate interruptions. Not all workloads are created equal. Mission-critical services, such as databases payment gateways, and low-latency applications, should generally not rely on interruptible resources. However, there are many workloads that can safely incorporate these instances: * Batch Processing: Workloads like data analysis, machine learning training, and video rendering, which can be broken into smaller tasks, are ideal candidates. Since these tasks can often be retried or restarted without much overhead, they align well with the interruptible nature of spot and Preemptible instances. * Microservices and Containerized Applications: In modern cloud, architectures, Microservices running in containers like Docker or Kubernetes can be a perfect fit. The ephemeral nature of containers allows for easy scaling, and orchestration tools like Kubernetes can automatically redistribute workloads when spot instances are terminated. * Distributed Systems: If your application is already designed to run across multiple instances in a distributed fashion, then incorporating spot or Preemptible instances is relatively straightforward. Distributed systems are inherently fault-tolerant because they rely on multiple nodes to complete tests. For example, Netflix: Netflix is a well-known example of a company that successfully uses AWS Spot Instances. Their video encoding pipeline, which processes large amounts of data to transcode videos into different formats, runs on a combination of on-demand and spot instances. Since the pipeline can tolerate interruptions without impacting the end user experience, Netflix saves a significant amount of money using spot instances for this part of their infrastructure. ### 3\. Incorporating Fault-Tolerance in Your Architecture Because spot instances and Preemptible VMs can be terminated without notice, designing your architecture to be fault-tolerant is the key to their successful integration. A fault-tolerant system can continue to operate, even if parts of the system fail. * Use Auto Scaling: Auto Scaling is crucial for maintaining availability when using interruptible instances. AWS Auto Scaling or Google Cloud’s Instance Groups allow you to automatically add or replace instances when they are terminated, this ensures that your application continues to function by redistributing workloads to other available instances. * Leverage Spot Fleet or Preemptible VM Groups: Both AWS and Google Cloud provide mechanisms for managing collections of spot instances or Preemptible VMs. Spot Fleet (AWS): A Spot Fleet is a group of spot instances that can be used to meet specific capacity requirements. AWS automatically handles instances provisioning and replacement when spot instances are terminated. Managed Instance Groups (Google Cloud): In Google Cloud, Preemptible VMs can be part of a managed instance group, which automates the process of adding, removing, and balancing Preemptible instances across your application to ensure high availability. * Diversify Your Instance Types and Regions: One way to mitigate the risk of losing spot of Preemptible instances is to use multiple instance types and spread your workloads across different availability zones or regions, cloud providers often have spare capacity in certain instance types and regions, so distributing your workload increases the chances that some portion of your infrastructure will remain available, even if other parts are interrupted. For example, instead of relying solely on t3.medium instances in one AWS region, you can mix different instance families and run your application across multiple regions. This improves resilience and reduces the likelihood of simultaneous interruptions. ### 4\. Graceful Shutdown and Recovery Mechanisms A critical part of using spot instances and Preemptible VMs is ensuring that your system can gracefully handle interruptions. Since cloud providers give a short warning before terminating instances, your application should be designed to react appropriately. * Spot Instance Termination Notice (AWS): AWS sends a two minute termination notice when a spot instance is about to be interrupted. You can set up instance health checks or use scripts to listen for this termination notice and gracefully shut down tasks or migrate them to other instances. * Check pointing and State Management: For tasks that take a long time to process, it’s essential to implement check pointing. This allows your system to periodically save progress, so when an instance is terminated, the workload can resume from the last checkpoint instead of starting from scratch. For example, in machine learning workloads, models are often trained over extended periods. By saving the model’s state periodically, you can resume training on a new instance without losing progress, reducing downtime. ### 5\. Pricing and Budget Considerations The major draw of spot instances and Preemptible VMs is their lower cost. However, pricing for spot instances can fluctuate based on demand, and it’s essential to monitor these changes to avoid budget overruns. * Spot Pricing History (AWS) : AWS provides a history of spot pricing, allowing you to analyse trends and choose instance types with the most stable pricing. You can also set a maximum price you are willing to pay, so AWS will automatically terminate instances if the price exceeds your limit. * Sustained Use Discounts (Google Cloud): For Google Cloud users, even though Preemptible VMs offer substantial savings, sustained use discounts for on- demand instances may offer an alternative for certain workloads that cannot tolerate frequent interruptions. Comparing both options in terms of cost and reliability is critical for determining the best approach. ### 6\. Best Practices for Production Workloads To safely incorporate spot instances and Preemptible VMs into production workloads, follow these best practices: * Always have a fallback: Never rely solely on spot or Preemptible instances for critical workloads. Use a mix of on demand and spot or Preemptible instances to balance cost savings with reliability. * Test resilience: Simulate spot or Preemptible interruptions in a testing environment to ensure your system can gracefully handle them before deploying to production. * Monitor your workloads: Use cloud provider tools like AWS Cloud Watch or Google Cloud’s monitoring solutions to track the performance of your spot or Preemptible instances and automate responses to interruptions. **Case Study: Cost Optimization with Spot Instances for Video Transcoding** --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VidStream, a video processing company, needed to reduce escalating cloud costs while maintaining service quality. By incorporating AWS spot instances into their video transcoding pipeline, they achieved a 70% cost reduction. VidStream used a combination of spot and on-demand instances to balance cost reliability. They implemented check pointing to save task progress, auto scaling with AWS Spot Fleet to manage capacity, and diversified instance types and regions to minimize interruptions. This approach allowed them to handle interruptions without affecting performance, scaling efficiently during peak demand while controlling costs and maintaining service levels. ### **Conclusion** Spot instances and Preemptible VMs offer incredible cost savings, but they come with the trade-off of potential interruptions. By strategically incorporating these instances into non-critical, fault-tolerant components of your production environment, you can achieve significant cost reductions without sacrificing performance. Leveraging auto-scaling, instance diversification and fault-tolerant architecture ensures that your workloads can seamlessly recover from interruptions and continue to deliver the necessary performance. In today’s cloud-first world, adopting these cost saving strategies not only reduces your operational expenses but also increases your cloud infrastructure’s flexibility and efficiency. Whether you are running batch processing jobs, micro services, or distributed applications, spot instances and Preemptible VMs can help you build a more resilient cost effective cloud infrastructure. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Leveraging Serverless Architecture for Cost Reduction Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-28 Tags: Cloud Services, Cloud technology, Serverless Architecture, Cost Reduction URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/leveraging-serverless-architecture-for-cost-reduction-cm418izgl00kejdc7ua3emak1 **Introduction** ---------------- In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to scale their operations, enhance efficiency, and optimize costs. One of the key shifts driving this transformation is the rise of Serverless architectures, a model that significantly reduces infrastructure overhead by enabling companies to pay for the computational resources they use. Serverless computing, at its core, allows developers to focus on writing code while abstracting away the complexities of managing physical or virtual servers. By adopting Serverless models such as Function-as-a-service (FaaS) and Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS), companies can streamline their development processes and, more importantly, achieve significant cost reductions. For example, think of an online shopping platform. During peak times, like Black Friday, the platform needs to handle thousands of users placing orders simultaneously. Traditionally, the company would have to rent enough server capacity to handle this surge, even though much of it goes unused during regular days. With serverless architecture, the platform automatically scales its computing resources to meet demand only when needed, allowing the company to pay for usage during the busy time while saving costs when traffic is low. ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/serverless-la-gi-1-1733122326784-compressed.jpg) **Understanding Serverless Architectures** Serverless doesn’t mean ‘no servers. Instead, it refers to a cloud computing execution model where the cloud provider dynamically manages the infrastructure. Developers are freed from the responsibilities of server provisioning, scaling, patching, and maintaining. With traditional architectures, companies must reserve server capacity even during periods of low usage, leading to underutilization and wasted costs. Serverless computing changes this by offering event-driven execution, where resources are provisioned and billed based on actual usage, thereby optimizing cost efficiency. **Function-as-a-Service (FaaS)** -------------------------------- FaaS allows developers to deploy individual functions without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. It breaks down applications into independent, stateless functions that are triggered by specific events. Whether it’s processing API requests, handling database updates, or managing backend operations, FaaS ensures that each function is only active when called upon. Leading platforms like AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, and Azure Functions exemplify FaaS implementations, offering automatic scaling and precise billing. For instance, instead of running a dedicated server 24/7 to process file uploads, a function can be triggered only when a file is uploaded. This not only reduces operational overhead but ensures that you are billed for milliseconds of execution time, rather than entire hours of server uptime. **Backend-as-a Service (BaaS)** ------------------------------- While FaaS focuses on executing specific functions, BaaS takes a broader approach by providing a complete backend ecosystem. With BaaS, developers can integrate features such as user automation, databases, file storage, and push notifications into their applications without needing to build and maintain these services from scratch. Cloud providers handle the management, scaling, and security of these services, allowing businesses to focus on delivering value to their users. Popular BaaS platforms, like Firebase and AWS Amplify, enable developers to quickly build scalable applications by leveraging prebuilt backend components. The real beauty of BaaS lies in the time saved, reason being, that the developers no longer need to reinvent the wheel when implementing common backend functionalities. This naturally leads to reduced development costs and faster time to market. ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/663392bb3bb943c118c95f82serverless-technology-1733122823166-compressed.png) **Cost Reduction through Serverless** The financial advantages of adopting Serverless architecture are compelling. Below are some keyways that serverless computing drives cost savings: ### **1\. Pay-per-Use Pricing Model** One of the most attractive aspects of serverless architectures is the pay-per-use pricing model. Traditional server hosting models require businesses to estimate their traffic and provision sufficient server capacity, which often leads to over provisioning and underutilization. Serverless eliminates this guesswork, businesses are billed for the exact amount of computation time used, often measured in milliseconds. For example: If a function in AWS Lambda runs for 200 milliseconds, you only pay for those 200 milliseconds, no more. This granular billing model means businesses no longer must pay for idle server time, making serverless solutions particularly well-suited for variable workloads or applications with sporadic traffic spikes. ### **2\. Reduced Infrastructure Management** With traditional server setups, maintaining infrastructure comes with hidden costs, including monitoring, patching, and scaling servers. Serverless architectures abstract these responsibilities. Cloud providers manage everything from security updates to scaling, freeing internal teams from infrastructure management. This not only reduces the need for specialized DevOps personnel but also decreases human error, which can be a costly risk factor in large scale environments. For instance, a tech startup is building a mobile app, instead of hiring a full team to manage servers, monitor security, and scale resources, they use a serverless platform like AWS Lambda. The cloud provider handles all the infrastructure tasks which automatically apply security patches, scaling up during high user activity, and scaling down when not in use. This allows the start-up’s developers to focus solely on improving the app’s features and user experience, saving them the costs and complexities of managing serves. ### **3\. Automatic Scaling** In traditional models, businesses must provision servers to handle peak traffic, even if those peaks only occur a few times a year. This leads to significant wastage during low traffic periods. With serverless architectures, scaling happens automatically. Functions and backend services automatically scale up to accommodate spikes in traffic and scale down during off-peak hours. For example: If an e-commerce platform experiences a sudden surge in traffic during a holiday sale, serverless systems like AWS Lambda can instantly scale up to handle thousands of requests per second, and when traffic subsides, scale back down to zero, ensuring you only pay for the capacity used. This flexibility leads to immense cost savings, especially for applications with fluctuating demand. ### **4\. Improved Development Speed and Efficiency** By offloading infrastructure management, serverless architecture significantly improves development speed. Developers can focus on writing code and building features rather than setting up servers or configuring environments. Moreover, with the modularity provided by FaaS and BaaS models, developers can work in individual parts of an application without affecting the whole, which leads to more efficient testing and faster iteration cycles, As development cycles become shorter, businesses can bring products to market faster, reducing the time and money spent on extended development periods, this acceleration is particularly valuable for start-ups and agile teams looking to disrupt their markets with rapid innovation. For example, a team building a real time chat application can use FaaS to handle messaging and BaaS to manage user authentication, database storage, and push notifications. Since these components are pre-built and managed by the cloud provider, the developers can focus on writing the app’s core features, drastically reducing setup time. This modularity allows them to test individual functions independently and roll out updates quickly. As a result, the team can iterate faster launch new features with minimal downtime, and adapt swiftly to user feedback. ### **5\. Elimination of Idle Costs** Traditional server models charge for reserved compute capacity, even if it remains idle, serverless, on the other hand, completely eliminates idle costs. With a serverless system, when no requests are made, no servers are running, and no charges are incurred. This “zero idle” cost structure is ideal for applications with unpredictable or seasonal usage patterns. For instance, consider a ticketing platform that only experience high traffic during event sales. During off-peak times, traditional servers would still run, consuming resources and accumulating costs. In contrast, a serverless setup would induce no charges when not actively processing requests, leading to substantial savings. **Challenges and Considerations** --------------------------------- While serverless architectures offer substantial benefits, it’s important to consider potential challenges: **1\. Cold Starts** Serverless functions can experience what is known as “cold start”, where there is a slight delay when a function is invoked after a period of inactivity. This may not be noticeable in many applications but can be a problem in latency sensitive strategies like keeping functions warm or using provisioning models that reduce cold start impacts. **2\. Vendor Lock-in** With serverless architectures, businesses often become closely tied to their cloud provider’s ecosystem, especially when using proprietary services. This can lead to vendor lock-in, making it difficult to migrate applications to other platforms without significant redevelopment. Therefore, it’s essential to weigh the long-term implications and consider multi-cloud strategies where feasible. **3\. Debugging and monitoring** Traditional server environments often provide developers with detailed logs and monitoring tools, which can sometimes be limited in serverless environments. While cloud providers do offer monitoring tools for serverless functions, debugging distributed serverless applications can be more complex. Teams should be prepared to adopt advanced monitoring solutions and visible practices to track and troubleshoot serverless functions effectively. **Conclusion** -------------- Serverless architectures have revolutionized how businesses approach infrastructure management, offering unparalleled cost savings and scalability. By leveraging Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) and Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) models, companies can eliminate the overhead of server provisioning, reduce idle costs, and pay only for actual usage. The pay-per-use pricing model, automatic scaling, and reduced infrastructure management are just a few of the reasons why more organizations are turning to serverless for cost optimization. While there are challenges to consider, the benefits of adopting serverless far outweigh the complexities, especially for businesses aiming to stay competitive in today’s fast paced digital economy. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Dynamic Scaling with Predictive Analytics and ML Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-14 Tags: analytics, Cloud Services, Cloud technology, Scaling, ML URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/dynamic-scaling-with-predictive-analytics-and-ml-cm3h9ajwo000e20922uld96vt Understanding Predictive Analytics and ML in Scaling ---------------------------------------------------- Predictive analytics and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing how systems handle dynamic scaling. These technologies use historical data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning models to forecast resource needs, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. In distributed systems like Kubernetes, predictive analytics is key. It forecasts workload trends and usage patterns, enabling smarter resource allocation. This proactive approach prevents system overloads and maintains seamless operations. **Here's what predictive analytics and ML bring to the table:** * **Forecasting Resource Needs**: Analyze past data to predict future demands. * **Optimizing System Performance**: Use predictive models for dynamic scaling and efficient resource utilization. * **Preventing Bottlenecks**: Anticipate and eliminate potential system slowdowns before they occur. These insights are invaluable for enterprise IT leaders navigating complex environments. By understanding predictive analytics and ML, you can improve performance and reduce costs. Embrace these technologies to stay ahead in today’s tech-driven landscape. Benefits of Predictive Scaling in Cloud Environments ---------------------------------------------------- Predictive scaling in cloud environments offers significant advantages. It leverages predictive analytics to ensure resources match demand, preventing system overloads. This proactive management aligns resources with actual needs, maintaining smooth operations. Predictive analytics in cloud environments allows for intelligent resource allocation. Resources are dynamically adjusted based on usage patterns. This prevents over-provisioning and reduces operational costs. By scaling down during low-demand periods, organizations avoid resource wastage, translating into cost savings. ### **Key benefits of predictive scaling include:** * **Proactive Resource Management**: Use predictive analytics to align resources with demand and prevent overloads. * **Cost Efficiency**: Adjust resources dynamically to minimize unnecessary expenditures. * **Enhanced User Experience**: Ensure consistent performance, improving user satisfaction. In industries like e-commerce and finance, predictive scaling is strategic. It handles variable workloads efficiently, ensuring optimal performance. This leads to a better user experience and operational efficiency. Predictive scaling turns data insights into actionable resource management, giving businesses a competitive edge. For more insights into leveraging predictive analytics and cloud optimization, explore our [Cloud and DevOps services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php), which focus on efficient digital software engineering and operations lifecycle management. Challenges Without Predictive Approaches ---------------------------------------- Without predictive approaches in resource management, organizations encounter several hurdles. Reactive management often leads to inefficiencies. Systems struggle to keep up with sudden demand spikes, causing downtime and lost productivity. 1. **Reactive Resource Allocation**: Resources are often misaligned with demand. This results in either over-provisioning, which wastes resources, or under-provisioning, which causes system slowdowns. 2. **Prolonged Downtime**: Without predictive insights, identifying potential failures in advance is tough. This makes systems vulnerable to unexpected outages and long recovery times. 3. **Ineffective Forecasting**: Organizations find it challenging to accurately predict resource needs. This leads to either scrambling to scale up resources or dealing with excess capacity. 4. **Imbalanced Load**: Distributed systems require precise load balancing. Without predictive analytics, maintaining this balance is difficult. It impacts performance and user experience. Predictive analytics transforms these challenges by enabling proactive planning. It uses historical data to forecast future trends. This aligns resources with expected demand. It minimizes downtime by anticipating potential failures. Organizations can optimize system performance and enhance operational efficiency. The ability to forecast accurately means better load balancing and capacity planning. This ensures smoother operations and improved business outcomes. For more insights on how predictive analytics can be applied in logistics and supply chain management, explore our strategies for [optimizing logistics and supply chain operations](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain), focusing on real-time visibility and transportation needs. ![a close up of a window with a building in the background](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731585489001-compressed.jpeg) Integrating Predictive Models with System Architecture ------------------------------------------------------ Integrating predictive models into system architecture enhances system performance and resource management. Predictive analytics plays a crucial role in distributed systems, supporting diverse workloads and data processing. Real-time metrics and log analysis benefit from this, providing deeper insights and more effective monitoring. In environments like Kubernetes, machine learning frameworks are essential. They enable the building and deploying of models that boost autoscaling capabilities. These frameworks process vast data volumes, applying predictive models to anticipate resource demands accurately. For a deeper understanding of how data-driven insights transform operations across industries, explore our [data science solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/data-science) which emphasize leveraging structured and unstructured data. ### **Key technologies and strategies include:** * **Machine Learning Frameworks**: Use TensorFlow or PyTorch for model development and deployment. * **Custom Metrics and Monitoring**: Implement Prometheus and Grafana for enhanced metric collection and visualization. * **Distributed Data Processing Tools**: Leverage Apache Kafka or Apache Spark for efficient data handling and processing. These elements integrate predictive analytics seamlessly into existing platforms. They ensure systems are not only reactive but also proactive, adjusting resources based on predictive insights. This anticipates workload changes, enhancing operational efficiency and system reliability. By embedding predictive models, systems achieve greater scalability and resilience. The integration allows for smarter resource management and improved service delivery, meeting the demands of dynamic environments. Machine Learning Models for Prediction -------------------------------------- Machine learning models play a crucial role in dynamic scaling. They offer predictive capabilities that guide resource management. Various models and algorithms are used, each tailored for specific tasks. 1. **Regression Models**: These are perfect for predicting continuous outcomes. They analyze historical data to forecast future resource needs. This helps in efficient resource allocation, ensuring systems are prepared for demand fluctuations. 2. **Anomaly Detection**: This model identifies deviations from normal patterns. It flags potential issues before they become critical, enabling proactive maintenance. Anomaly detection is vital in avoiding unexpected system failures. 3. **Time Series Forecasting**: This model predicts future values based on previously observed data points. It's ideal for anticipating workload trends and planning resource allocation accordingly. 4. **Classification**: This model categorizes data into predefined groups. It's useful for workload analysis, helping determine which resources are needed for different tasks. 5. **Clustering**: This model groups similar data points together. It provides insights into workload distribution, aiding in balanced resource management. Choosing the right model is important. The model should align with the specific needs of the system. Machine learning enhances decision-making by predicting potential failures and facilitating proactive maintenance. For more on how we leverage AI and ML to improve operational efficiency, explore our [Center of Excellence in AI and Machine Learning](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/ai-ml). It ensures distributed systems operate smoothly, with resources allocated efficiently. This predictive power is key to maintaining optimal system performance and reliability. Implementing Predictive Analytics for Better Outcomes ----------------------------------------------------- Implementing predictive analytics for dynamic scaling starts with solid data collection and analysis. Tools like Prometheus and Grafana are essential. They help gather and visualize real-time data, providing a clear picture of system performance. Defining and integrating custom metrics is crucial. These metrics offer insights tailored to your specific system needs, ensuring predictions are accurate and relevant. Once your metrics are set, you can develop predictive models. These models forecast resource demands, guiding decisions for dynamic scaling. Monitoring model accuracy is a must. Regular checks ensure predictions remain reliable and adjustments can be made as needed. This keeps systems running smoothly and efficiently. ### **Best practices for implementing predictive analytics include:** * **Robust Data Foundations**: Establish a comprehensive data collection system to support accurate predictions. For those in the healthcare sector, leveraging AI and machine learning can significantly enhance data-driven methods, as detailed in our approach to [modernizing healthcare operations](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/healthcare-and-pharma). * **Collaboration**: Foster teamwork between data science and operations. This ensures models meet both technical and business needs. * **Continuous Improvement**: Regularly refine strategies and models to enhance performance and user experience. With these steps, you can leverage predictive analytics effectively. It aligns resources with demand, optimizes performance, and enhances user satisfaction. Embrace these practices to drive better outcomes and keep systems running at their best. ![geometric shape digital wallpaper](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731585489945-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Dynamic Scaling -------------------------------- Dynamic scaling with predictive analytics and machine learning reshapes how systems manage resources. Predictive models bring a range of benefits that transform distributed systems into powerhouses of efficiency. * **Improved Resource Management**: Predictive analytics allows systems to adjust resources based on anticipated needs. This ensures optimal resource use and reduces waste. * **Cost Efficiency**: By forecasting demand, systems can allocate resources in a way that minimizes unnecessary spending. This proactive approach saves costs and improves financial health. * **Enhanced System Performance**: Systems using predictive models can prevent bottlenecks before they happen, ensuring smooth and reliable operations. Integrating predictive analytics into existing platforms is crucial. It makes systems smarter and more responsive to changes. Continuous improvement is key, with teams working together to refine models and strategies. For enterprise IT leaders, adopting these strategies offers a competitive edge. It means better performance, reduced costs, and more efficient operations. It's about harnessing data to drive decisions and improve outcomes. Predictive analytics and machine learning are not just tools; they are essential to modernizing your digital infrastructure. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Continuous Performance and Cost Monitoring with Advanced Observability Tools Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-14 Tags: Cost Monitoring, Advanced Observability Tools, Cloud Services, Cloud technology URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/continuous-performance-and-cost-monitoring-with-advanced-observability-tools-cm3h9a4t2000c2092zi21nl0h Understanding Observability --------------------------- Observability gives you a clear view of your system's health. It helps you understand what's happening inside by examining data like logs, metrics, events, and traces. This goes beyond simple data collection to provide useful insights. With observability, you get a full picture of your system's performance and reliability. It helps you catch and fix issues early, before they become major problems. This allows you to manage complex IT environments confidently and precisely. Here's what observability can do for you: * **Real-Time Monitoring**: Watch system performance as it happens, ensuring smooth operations. * **Data-Driven Insights**: Use logs and metrics to understand system behavior and potential bottlenecks deeply. * **Proactive Management**: Find and address issues before they affect users, improving reliability and reducing downtime. * **Comprehensive View**: Understand how various system components work together, leading to better decisions. Observability offers a deeper understanding of your system than traditional monitoring. It shows you what's really happening under the hood. This insight is crucial. It enables IT leaders to maintain high performance and reliability, ensuring systems can always meet demands. Observability vs Monitoring --------------------------- Observability and monitoring might sound similar, but they serve different purposes in IT management. Monitoring is about keeping an eye on predefined metrics. It's like having a checklist to make sure everything's running smoothly. But what happens when something unexpected pops up? That's where observability comes into play. Observability captures a broader range of data. It doesn't just tell you what's happening; it helps you understand why. This means IT leaders can pinpoint issues faster and more accurately. No more waiting for alarms to go off and then scrambling to find solutions. Observability allows for proactive management. You're not just reacting to problems; you're anticipating them before they escalate. ### Here's how observability changes the game: * **Comprehensive Data Collection**: Observability gathers logs, metrics, and traces, providing a complete picture. * **Root Cause Analysis**: It digs deeper to uncover the "why" behind system behaviors. * **Proactive Problem Solving**: Identifies potential issues early, reducing downtime. * **Enhanced System Understanding**: Offers insights into how systems function and interact. In modern IT environments, observability is crucial. It provides a deeper insight into system behaviors, making complex system management more effective. It's about understanding and improving, not just tracking. Observability empowers IT leaders to maintain high performance and reliability. For industries such as healthcare, where advanced IoT integrations are transforming patient monitoring and care, observability plays a vital role in ensuring systems operate efficiently and securely. That's the difference between simply monitoring and truly knowing your system. Benefits of Observability ------------------------- Observability provides significant advantages for IT systems. It focuses on continuous data analysis, which is key to keeping systems efficient and reliable. With observability, you can spot potential issues early. This proactive detection helps in preventing downtime and ensures smoother operations. Performance optimization is another benefit. Observability gives you insights into how your system performs in real time. This allows for fine-tuning and adjustments, enhancing overall application performance. By addressing performance gaps early, user experiences remain positive and uninterrupted. Reliability is crucial, and observability boosts it significantly. By understanding system behavior and interactions, you can anticipate and rectify issues before they escalate. This results in faster incident response times, keeping your systems running smoothly. ### Here's why observability matters: * **Proactive Issue Detection**: Identify and solve problems before they impact users. * **Performance Optimization**: Continually improve application efficiency and speed. * **Improved System Reliability**: Maintain steady operations with fewer disruptions. * **Faster Incident Response**: Quickly address and resolve system issues. For businesses, prioritizing observability means investing in a robust IT framework. It ensures systems are not only functioning but thriving. Observability is essential for modern IT management, helping to reduce downtime and improve user satisfaction. To further enhance operational efficiency, businesses can explore solutions like [Internet of Things (IoT) consulting services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/internet-of-things) that provide real-time insights and transformative digital experiences across various sectors. ![turned on monitoring screen](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731585468571-compressed.jpeg) AI in Observability ------------------- AI is revolutionizing observability. It automates anomaly detection and predicts potential issues, making systems smarter and more efficient. With continuous data analysis, AI optimizes system performance, ensuring applications run smoothly and reliably. AI enhances the way we understand application dependencies. It offers predictive insights, allowing IT leaders to foresee and address issues before they escalate. This proactive approach minimizes disruptions and maintains system integrity. ### Here's how AI boosts observability: * **Anomaly Detection**: Automatically identifies unusual patterns, ensuring quick response to potential threats. * **Predictive Insights**: Foresees issues before they arise, allowing for timely interventions. * **Performance Optimization**: Continuously analyzes data to enhance system efficiency. * **Incident Response Automation**: Streamlines the process of identifying and resolving system issues. For organizations looking to leverage AI to enhance their IT operations, exploring our [AI and Machine Learning solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/ai-ml) can provide valuable insights into how tailored AI/ML solutions can drive automation and complex problem-solving across various industries. AI makes observability an indispensable tool for modern IT management. By providing more accurate and efficient issue detection and resolution, it elevates the capabilities of traditional observability practices. This integration of AI into observability not only enhances system performance but also ensures that IT environments remain robust and resilient. Core Functions of Observability Tools ------------------------------------- Observability tools are vital for managing complex IT environments. They offer a suite of features that provide a comprehensive view of system health, ensuring smooth operations and quick issue resolution. These tools focus on **metrics collection and visualization**. They gather key performance indicators and present them in easy-to-understand dashboards. This allows IT leaders to monitor system performance at a glance. **Log aggregation and analysis** is another crucial function. Observability tools collect and analyze logs from various sources, helping to identify patterns and potential issues. This insight is invaluable for troubleshooting and maintaining system integrity. **Alerting** is a feature that ensures IT teams are notified of issues in real-time. Alerts can be customized based on specific thresholds or anomalies, allowing for a tailored response to different situations. **Incident management** is streamlined with observability tools. They provide a centralized platform for tracking and resolving incidents, reducing response times and improving system reliability. **Service dependency mapping** offers a clear view of how different system components interact. This understanding aids in diagnosing problems and optimizing system architecture. These core functions work together to provide a holistic view of IT environments. Observability tools empower IT leaders to manage complex systems efficiently, ensuring high performance and reliability across the board. For businesses looking to enhance their IT infrastructure through cloud optimization and effective digital strategies, our [Cloud and DevOps services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) can provide tailored solutions to meet these needs. Challenges in Implementing Observability ---------------------------------------- Implementing observability isn't always smooth sailing. Handling massive data volumes is a big hurdle. Systems generate tons of data every second. Processing and storing all that data can be overwhelming. It's not just about collecting data; it's about making sense of it without getting lost in the noise. Real-time data processing is another challenge. Observability requires fast data analysis to provide timely insights. This means your infrastructure must be capable of handling and processing data at lightning speed. It's a complex task that demands robust systems. Data privacy is a major concern. With observability, sensitive data is constantly being analyzed. Ensuring that data is handled securely and complies with regulations is crucial. It's about maintaining trust while gaining insights. Instrumentation overhead is a reality. Adding observability tools can introduce performance overhead. Balancing the need for insights with system performance is tricky. You want detailed data, but not at the cost of slowing down your systems. Managing complex architectures can be daunting. Modern IT environments are intricate, and integrating observability into such systems requires skill and precision. Each component must be carefully instrumented and monitored, adding layers of complexity. For those in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, leveraging AI and data analytics can significantly enhance operations. Explore how [modernizing healthcare management through AI and data-driven methods](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/healthcare-and-pharma) can optimize patient interactions and streamline operations, ensuring compliance with regulations. ### Here's a quick rundown of challenges: * **Massive Data Volumes**: Managing and processing large data sets efficiently. * **Noise**: Filtering out irrelevant data to focus on valuable insights. * **Real-Time Processing**: Ensuring data is analyzed quickly for immediate action. * **Data Privacy**: Keeping sensitive information secure and compliant. * **Instrumentation Overhead**: Minimizing the performance impact of observability tools. * **Complex Architectures**: Navigating and integrating observability in intricate systems. These challenges highlight the need for careful planning and execution in adopting observability practices. Advanced Features for Performance and Cost Monitoring ----------------------------------------------------- Advanced features in observability tools boost performance and cost monitoring. AI capabilities ensure systems run efficiently while managing costs. AI monitoring oversees AI applications effectively. It keeps models performing well by analyzing data and adjusting as needed. This helps AI models adapt in real-time and maintain high accuracy. Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) manages the lifecycle of ML models. It covers development, deployment, and beyond. MLOps streamlines processes, ensuring smooth model updates and integration into existing systems. This enhances operational efficiency, similar to how [data-driven insights can transform enterprise operations](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/data-science) by leveraging structured and unstructured data for improved decision-making. AIOps cuts down on alert noise. It spots patterns and filters out unimportant alerts, letting IT teams focus on key issues. This improves system monitoring clarity, leading to faster and more precise problem-solving. These features contribute to continuous performance and cost monitoring: * **AI Monitoring**: Keeps AI models performing optimally and adapting. * **MLOps**: Handles ML model lifecycle for smooth updates and integration. * **AIOps**: Reduces alert noise for focused IT operations. These features enhance observability tools significantly. They help IT leaders run efficient, cost-effective operations, keeping systems ready for various demands. Use Cases and Examples ---------------------- Observability offers a range of practical applications across IT environments. One key use case is **performance monitoring**. It allows IT teams to track system metrics continuously, ensuring everything functions smoothly. When systems start lagging, observability tools help pinpoint the exact source of the issue. **Incident response** is another area where observability shines. By providing real-time data and insights, teams can quickly react to unexpected system behaviors. This reduces the time it takes to resolve incidents and minimizes potential downtime. For **root cause analysis**, observability tools gather comprehensive data from logs and metrics. This data helps IT leaders dig deep into issues, identifying the underlying causes of problems. It streamlines the debugging process, especially in production environments. Observability is also crucial for **compliance auditing**. It ensures that systems adhere to regulatory standards by tracking changes and monitoring data flows. This helps in maintaining system integrity and meeting compliance requirements effectively. Ility aids in maintaining **system health**. By offering a holistic view of the system, it allows for proactive maintenance and improvements. This keeps systems reliable and ready to meet business demands. ### Here's a quick look at observability in action: * **Performance Monitoring**: Ensures systems run efficiently by tracking key metrics. * **Incident Response**: Provides timely data for fast resolution of unexpected issues. * **Root Cause Analysis**: Delivers insights to identify and fix underlying problems. * **Compliance Auditing**: Monitors systems for adherence to regulatory standards. * **System Health Maintenance**: Supports ongoing system reliability and readiness. These examples showcase observability's effectiveness and versatility, making it an indispensable tool for IT leaders. For organizations looking to enhance operational efficiency, exploring [innovative enterprise platform solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/enterprise-platforms) can provide tailored tools for workflow automation and analytics. ![laptop computer on glass-top table](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731585470406-compressed.jpeg) Best Practices for Implementing Observability --------------------------------------------- Implementing observability effectively involves several key practices. At the heart of this is defining clear service-level objectives. Knowing what success looks like helps guide monitoring efforts and ensures that systems meet business requirements. Focusing on anomaly detection is crucial. This means setting up systems to identify unusual patterns or behaviors quickly. By catching abnormalities early, you can address potential issues before they impact users. Adaptive sampling for tracing is another best practice. It involves collecting detailed trace data only when necessary, reducing overhead while still gathering crucial information. This ensures that performance insights are available without overwhelming your system with data. Integrating event correlation helps in understanding how different events relate. By correlating events, you can pinpoint the root causes of system behaviors more effectively. This leads to faster resolution of issues and better system understanding. An open ecosystem is vital for observability. Fostering an environment where tools and data can integrate seamlessly ensures that all parts of your IT landscape are covered. It allows for a comprehensive view, aiding in more informed decision-making. Continuous automation plays a significant role too. Automating processes helps maintain consistency and reliability in monitoring efforts. It reduces the manual effort required and keeps systems running smoothly. For businesses involved in logistics and supply chain operations, optimizing these processes through [technology-driven management solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain) can enhance efficiency and reduce costs, aligning with observability practices. ### Here's a quick checklist for implementing observability: * **Define Service-Level Objectives**: Establish clear goals for system performance. * **Anomaly Detection**: Set up for early identification of unusual patterns. * **Adaptive Sampling**: Use tracing wisely to balance detail and performance. * **Event Correlation**: Connect events to understand system behaviors. * **Open Ecosystem**: Ensure compatibility and integration of tools. * **Continuous Automation**: Automate for consistency and efficiency. These strategies equip IT leaders to maximize observability's benefits, enhancing system reliability and performance. Key Takeaways ------------- Effective observability is crucial for keeping IT systems running smoothly. It provides real-time insights that help organizations meet various needs. By focusing on proactive issue detection, observability enables teams to identify and solve problems before they impact users. This leads to enhanced performance and reliability. Performance optimization is another standout feature. Observability tools offer deep insights into system operations. These insights support better decision-making and continuous improvement, ensuring systems run at peak efficiency. This results in reduced downtime and improved user experiences. System monitoring is more precise with observability. It goes beyond traditional methods, providing a detailed view of system behaviors and interactions. This level of monitoring helps IT teams diagnose issues quickly, speeding up resolution times. It also aids in maintaining compliance and security standards. Cost monitoring benefits from these insights too. Observability helps organizations allocate resources effectively, avoiding unnecessary expenses. It ensures that IT budgets are used wisely, contributing to overall cost efficiency. Observability's role in modern IT environments is indispensable. It empowers IT leaders to maintain high standards of performance and reliability. By embracing observability, organizations can ensure their systems are well-equipped to handle current and future demands. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Designing Cost-Aware Microservices Architecture Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-14 Tags: Cost-Aware Microservices, Cloud Services, Cloud technology URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/designing-cost-aware-microservices-architecture-cm3h77nwq0004209264hwleij Why Cost-Aware Microservices Matter ----------------------------------- Microservices architecture impacts many businesses. It offers flexibility and scalability. But what about costs? Integrating cost-awareness into microservices design is crucial. It ensures systems remain scalable and efficient without overspending. Why should businesses care about cost-aware microservices? Consider these benefits: * **Scalability and Efficiency**: Considering costs upfront helps businesses scale systems with growth. This prevents wasting resources. * **Optimized Resource Allocation**: Proper allocation cuts operational costs and improves performance. This approach maximizes your investment. * **Budget Alignment**: Aligning system growth with budget constraints makes sense. It balances growth and financial health. * **Competitive Advantage**: Cost-awareness can set businesses apart. It helps maintain lean operations while delivering strong results. Designing cost-aware microservices focuses on smart growth, not just cutting expenses. It ensures wise use of resources. This approach boosts performance and keeps operations lean. Embracing this mindset leads to lasting success. Edge-to-Cloud Computing Explained --------------------------------- Edge-to-cloud computing enhances microservices architecture. It merges edge computing's power with cloud flexibility. Edge computing processes data near its source, cutting latency and bandwidth costs. This helps systems run smoothly and efficiently. It prevents unnecessary data transfers to far-off data centers, keeping network delays low. This approach has challenges. Dynamic application scheduling and changing network conditions can create obstacles. Placing services near end-users or data sources can boost performance and cut costs. ### **Benefits of Edge Computing:** * **Reduced Latency**: Local data processing means faster response times. Users get quicker applications without the usual cloud processing lag. * **Lower Bandwidth Costs**: Minimizing data transfer to and from the cloud saves on bandwidth expenses. This helps applications that generate lots of data. * **Improved Resource Allocation**: Keeping data local reduces central network load, allowing better resource distribution. Our [IoT integration solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/internet-of-things) showcase this approach. By using edge computing, businesses streamline operations and gain insights without excessive data transfer. This method aligns with cost-aware architecture, balancing efficiency and expenses. Leveraging Kubernetes for Cost-Effective Orchestration ------------------------------------------------------ Kubernetes is a powerhouse for orchestrating containerized applications across cloud and edge environments. It streamlines the management of these applications through cost-aware scheduling and network-aware rescheduling, ensuring efficient deployment and scaling. Cost-aware scheduling is crucial. It helps allocate resources based on budget constraints, making deployments more economical. By factoring in costs, Kubernetes ensures that applications run efficiently without overspending. This keeps operations lean and within budget. Network-aware rescheduling takes this a step further. It optimizes application placement to reduce latency and bandwidth costs. This means faster response times and improved performance, enhancing user experience. ### **Benefits of Using Kubernetes:** * **Flexibility**: Easily scale applications up or down based on demand. * **Efficiency**: Automate deployment processes, saving time and resources. * **Performance Optimization**: Improve application speed and reliability with smart resource management. For businesses looking to integrate Kubernetes with cloud services, our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) offer comprehensive strategies to align cloud operations with business goals, including CI/CD pipeline implementation and infrastructure automation. Despite its advantages, Kubernetes has some limitations, such as complexity in setup and management. However, solutions like managed Kubernetes services can simplify this process, offering expertise and tools to optimize performance while controlling costs. Kubernetes empowers businesses to deploy applications quickly and cost-effectively. It ensures that businesses can adapt to changing demands without compromising on performance or budget, providing a reliable backbone for modern microservices architecture. ![worms eye view of buildings](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731581994186-compressed.jpeg) Smart Resource Allocation Strategies ------------------------------------ Smart resource allocation in microservices architecture is essential for cost management. Key cost factors include infrastructure, resource allocation, and operational expenses. Implementing cost policies based on CPU and network usage is vital. These policies help in prioritizing resource allocation, ensuring systems remain efficient and within budget. Efficient resource utilization significantly cuts down costs. Advanced monitoring systems track cluster states and application performance. They identify areas of waste and optimize workflows without compromising service quality. Regular monitoring enables businesses to adjust resource allocation incrementally, maintaining cost-efficiency. Here are some strategies for smart resource allocation: 1. **Implement Cost Policies**: Define policies based on CPU and network usage to prioritize critical operations and prevent overspending. 2. **Use Advanced Monitoring**: Leverage monitoring systems to collect real-time data on resource usage. This helps in identifying inefficiencies and optimizing resource placement. For businesses utilizing cloud services, conducting an [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) can provide insights into optimizing cloud workloads with a focus on performance efficiency and cost management. 3. **Optimize Infrastructure Usage**: Regularly assess infrastructure needs and scale resources based on demand to avoid unnecessary expenses. 4. **Allocate Resources Dynamically**: Adjust allocations based on real-time analysis to maintain optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. 5. **Continuously Review and Adjust**: Periodically review resource allocation strategies to ensure they align with business objectives and cost constraints. By implementing these strategies, businesses can maintain high performance while controlling costs. Efficient resource allocation ensures that systems are scalable and responsive to change, supporting sustainable growth. Advanced Scheduling for Cost Optimization ----------------------------------------- Advanced scheduling in microservices architecture is all about fine-tuning how services are placed and managed to keep costs low and performance high. This involves designing scheduling plugins that handle both the initial and ongoing placement of services. These plugins are crucial for matching the needs of your system with available resources. When it comes to initial placement, two methods stand out: latency-based and communication-based. Latency-based placement ensures that services are positioned to minimize delay, boosting response times. Communication-based placement reduces data transfer costs by placing services closer to where data is generated or needed. Rescheduling isn’t just a one-time deal. Continuous optimization is key. By regularly assessing and adjusting service placement, systems can adapt to changing conditions, maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This dynamic approach ensures that resources are always used optimally, without unnecessary spending. Real-world applications show the power of advanced scheduling. For instance, analyzing communication patterns can predict data traffic, helping to place services strategically. This leads to reduced networking costs and improved performance. Businesses leveraging these methodologies often see significant improvements in both cost savings and system responsiveness. For example, in the logistics and supply chain sector, optimizing operations through technology-driven management can significantly enhance efficiency. Our solutions focus on [transportation and logistics optimization](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain), which is crucial for effective goods movement and fleet management. Implementing these advanced scheduling strategies can transform how microservices operate. They’re not just about cutting costs—they’re about smart, efficient growth. Real-World Applications and Lessons Learned ------------------------------------------- Real-world applications of cost-aware microservices architecture are reshaping industries like connected vehicles and 5G networks. Vehicle cooperative perception leverages microservices to process data from multiple vehicles, improving road safety and traffic management. This setup allows each vehicle to share data with others nearby, reducing latency and communication costs. The architecture ensures that resources are optimally used, balancing performance with cost efficiency. In 5G applications, microservices enable rapid deployment and scaling of network functions. This architecture supports low-latency communication, crucial for applications like autonomous driving and augmented reality. By using edge computing, these services process data closer to the source, minimizing delays and cutting down on bandwidth costs. This approach enhances user experience while keeping operational costs in check. For businesses looking to leverage emerging technologies like IoT and AI, exploring innovative solutions such as Proof of Concepts (POCs) and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) can be beneficial. Our [emerging technology solutions](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/emerging-tech) provide tailored services to help startups validate their ideas and optimize product development processes, offering guidance through a Virtual CTO and technical consultancy. **Lessons from These Implementations:** * **Evaluate Regularly**: Continuous evaluation ensures architecture aligns with evolving business goals and cost targets. * **Leverage Edge Computing**: Positioning services near data sources cuts latency and costs. * **Prioritize Resource Management**: Smart allocation strategies prevent resource wastage, maintaining efficiency. Industry practices highlight the importance of adapting architectures over time. Regular assessments ensure that microservices continue to meet business objectives and remain cost-effective. Successful implementations show that a proactive approach to architecture design leads to sustainable performance improvements and cost savings. Embracing these practices can help businesses stay agile and competitive in the ever-changing tech landscape. ![white concrete building](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731581995990-compressed.jpeg) Continuous Adaptation for Cost Efficiency ----------------------------------------- Continuous adaptation is key to maintaining cost-efficient microservices architecture. Systems need regular evaluation and updates to align with business needs and avoid unnecessary expenses. With dynamic environments, continuous optimization ensures systems remain agile and efficient. Regular system monitoring plays a crucial role in this process. By tracking performance and resource usage, businesses can identify inefficiencies and adjust accordingly. This approach helps maintain optimal performance while keeping costs in check. Here's how businesses can foster a culture of continuous improvement: * **Encourage Regular Evaluations**: Regularly assess system design and resource allocation. This helps in adapting to changing demands and optimizing costs. For businesses looking to modernize their approach, our [digital transformation services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/digital-transformation) offer tailored strategies to optimize resources and align processes effectively. * **Implement Feedback Loops**: Use feedback from system performance and user experience to drive improvements. This ensures that systems evolve in line with business objectives. * **Promote Ongoing Training**: Equip teams with the latest knowledge and tools. Staying updated with technological advancements supports better decision-making and innovation. * **Adopt Agile Practices**: Embrace agile methodologies to facilitate rapid iteration and deployment. This keeps systems flexible and responsive to change. * **Prioritize Collaboration**: Ensure cross-functional teams work together seamlessly. Collaboration leads to comprehensive solutions and shared accountability. By embedding these practices into their operations, businesses can ensure their microservices architecture is always optimized for cost efficiency. This proactive approach supports sustainable growth and competitiveness in the market. Balancing Cost and Performance ------------------------------ Designing a cost-aware microservices architecture balances cost and performance. It integrates cost considerations into every development stage. This approach maintains excellent user experience and system performance while controlling costs. To balance these elements effectively, consider these strategies: * **Cost Planning**: Understand costs upfront. Plan and allocate your budget to prevent unexpected expenses. * **Resource Efficiency**: Use resources wisely. Deploy only what you need and scale as required. This minimizes waste and boosts efficiency. * **Monitoring and Adjustment**: Track your system's performance and costs. Regular checks help you spot and fix inefficiencies quickly. * **User Experience**: Focus on user experience. Keep your systems responsive and reliable while optimizing costs. * **Continuous Evaluation**: Review your architecture often. Use performance data and business goals to guide improvements. These strategies help cut costs and improve performance in your microservices design. This ongoing process keeps systems flexible and aligned with your business growth. Balancing cost and performance creates sustainable, efficient systems that satisfy users and budgets. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Guide to Automating Resource Scheduling & Shutdown Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-14 Tags: Automating, Resource Scheduling & Shutdown, Cloud Services, Cloud technology URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/guide-to-automating-resource-scheduling-and-shutdown-cm3h70csv00032092p9msh965 Why Automate Resource Scheduling -------------------------------- Automating resource scheduling is a smart move for businesses looking to cut costs and boost efficiency. It ensures resources are active only when needed, reducing unnecessary expenses. This approach optimizes operations by balancing loads and preventing system overloads. You'll find that automation not only streamlines resource management but also enhances overall governance. ### **Key Benefits:** * **Cost Optimization**: Resources are used efficiently, saving money by minimizing waste. * **Improved Governance**: Automation reduces human error, leading to better compliance and control. * **Efficient Resource Use**: It ensures that computing resources are balanced, preventing overloads and maximizing availability. * **Data Hygiene**: Regular automated tasks help maintain clean and organized data. By implementing automation, organizations can focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual resource management. This leads to smarter operations and potential savings. Setting Up Automation --------------------- Setting up automation for resource management can be straightforward if you follow these steps. First, make sure you have the necessary prerequisites: an Azure subscription, compatible hardware, and a basic understanding of Azure services. You'll need compatible CPUs, shared datastores, network connections, and a vCenter Server. Ensure accounts and tags are defined for resource scanning. 1. **Create an Automation Account**: Start by setting up your automation account. This serves as the hub for all your automation tasks. 2. **Develop Runbooks**: Runbooks are scripts that automate your tasks. You can create these using PowerShell or Python, depending on your preference. 3. **Schedule Tasks**: Set up task schedules to ensure resources are active only when needed. This helps in optimizing resource use and cutting costs. 4. **Configure Networks and Storage**: Proper configuration of networks and storage is crucial. Make sure everything is set up to support your automation tasks. 5. **Set Up DRS and Resource Pools**: Implementing DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) helps in load balancing. Manage resource pools to efficiently allocate resources where needed. 6. **Implement Affinity Rules**: These rules control where and how resources are allocated, ensuring optimal performance. For businesses looking to enhance their cloud strategy, exploring our [DevOps consulting and cloud computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) can provide valuable insights into integrating CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation. By following these steps, you can streamline your resource management, reduce manual interventions, and ensure consistent scheduling. This leads to a more efficient and effective operation. ![white robot near brown wall](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731581653624-compressed.jpeg) Tools for Resource Automation ----------------------------- Automating resource management requires the right tools. These tools streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and minimize errors. Let’s explore some essentials. Azure Automation plays a key role. It manages runbooks, schedules tasks, and supports governance. It’s perfect for automating repetitive processes, saving time and reducing manual work. VMware vCenter and vSphere are crucial for managing DRS clusters. They help balance loads and manage resources effectively. These platforms ensure optimal performance and availability. ### **Key Features:** * **Scheduling**: Automates when resources are active, optimizing usage. * **Resource Tracking**: Monitors resources to prevent waste and inefficiency. * **Governance Support**: Ensures compliance and accurate resource allocation. Configuring accounts and tags is vital for resource scanning. It enhances resource management by providing clear insights into resource usage and helping achieve cost savings. For businesses looking to optimize their cloud infrastructure, engaging in an [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) can provide valuable insights into improving cloud strategy effectiveness. ### **Benefits:** * **Load Balancing**: Distributes workloads evenly across resources. * **Power Management**: Ensures resources are used efficiently, reducing costs. * **Minimized Human Error**: Automation reduces manual intervention, leading to more reliable operations. These tools and features offer a streamlined approach to resource automation. They empower businesses to focus on strategic goals, improving productivity and efficiency. ![Matrix movie still](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1731581655088-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Automation --------------------------- Automating resource scheduling and shutdown boosts cost efficiency and operational reliability. It cuts manual tasks, reduces errors, and delivers consistent results. **Benefits of Automation:** * **Cost Efficiency**: Uses resources only when needed, slashing unnecessary expenses. * **Operational Reliability**: Automates routine tasks, boosting system stability and uptime. * **Human Error Reduction**: Minimizes manual intervention, leading to smoother operations. To reap these benefits, you need the right tools and approach. Azure Automation and VMware vCenter help schedule tasks and manage resources effectively. They make it easy to schedule tasks, allocate resources, and automate routine maintenance. **Essential Tools:** * **Azure Automation**: Manages runbooks and task schedules efficiently. * **VMware vCenter**: Supports load balancing and resource tracking. These tools enhance resource management and tracking, enabling better decisions and boosting productivity. Automation aligns resource use with operational needs perfectly. Implementing these strategies frees you to focus on big-picture goals. Automation not only improves current operations but also fuels future growth and innovation. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Advances Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Techniques for Cost Optimization Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-04 Tags: Cloud Services, Cloud technology, Cost Optimization, Infrastructure as Code URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/advances-infrastructure-as-code-iac-techniques-for-cost-optimization-cm32kerc700e313fe3zdqf9sf Introduction ------------ Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has become a critical part of modern cloud management, enabling organizations to automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of their infrastructure. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud services, managing infrastructure costs has emerged as a significant challenge. While cloud resources offer flexibility through elasticity, they also introduce complexity in tracking and controlling costs. Advanced IaC techniques can address these challenges effectively. By using modular and parameterized IaC templates, such as those provided by Terraform and Pulumi, organizations can not only streamline their infrastructure management but also significantly reduce operational costs. This blog delves into how they can be utilized to optimize costs in a cloud environment. ### What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)? Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable configuration files, rather than using physical hardware or manual processes. This method allows organizations to define their infrastructure the same way they handle application code, bringing version control, collaboration, and automation into their infrastructure management processes. Tools like Terraform and Pulumi have gained popularity in the IaC ecosystem, allowing developers and operations teams to declaratively define infrastructure. However, as cloud usage scales, the need for modular, parameterized, and reusable infrastructure templates becomes apparent not only for efficiency but also for cost optimization. ### The Importance of Cost Optimization in the Cloud Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud provide a wide array of services that are based on usage. While this is a great advantage in terms of scalability and flexibility, it can also lead to uncontrolled expenses if not managed effectively. One of the key challenges organizations face is cost visibility, which is the ability to track which resources are being used, by whom and at what cost. By employing advanced IaC techniques, businesses can better control and optimize their cloud infrastructure, leading to more predictable and manageable expenses. These techniques also help in making infrastructure reusable, easier to maintain, and adaptable to changing business requirements. Modular Infrastructure as Code for Cost Optimization ---------------------------------------------------- ### What is Modular IaC? Modular IaC refers to breaking down infrastructure components into smaller, reusable modules. Instead of defining an entire infrastructure setup in a single, monolithic file, modularization allows you to define smaller, independent units of infrastructure that can be reused across different projects and environments. For example, a VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) module might be reusable across multiple applications or environments, rather than creating a separate VPC definition for each project. This modular approach not only reduces code duplication but also simplifies management, making it easier to track and optimize costs for individual infrastructure components. ### Benefits of Modular IaC **Reusability:** Modules can be reused across multiple environments (e.g. development, staging, production), reducing redundancy and allowing better control over infrastructure resources. **Maintainability:** Updating or modifying infrastructure is easier when it is modular. For example, upgrading a database configuration or changing an instance type can be done by updating a single module, which then propagates across all environments that use it. **Standardization:** Teams can standardize infrastructure by defining approval and tested modules. This not only ensures consistency but also prevents the provisioning of unnecessary or expensive resources. **Cost Efficiency:** By modularizing your infrastructure, you can better track which components are contributing to cloud spend. This helps underutilized or unnecessary resources, leading to optimized costs. ### Example: Modularising Terraform Templates for Cost Optimization Terraform is one of the most popular IaC tools, and it supports a modular approach out of the box. Let’s consider an example where you modularize a cloud infrastructure that includes a VPC, EC2 instances, and an RDS (Relational Database Service) instance. You can define separate modules for each component like this: **VPC Module:** A reusable VPC configuration that defines subnets, routing tables, and gateways, **EC2 Module:** A template for EC2 instances that can be parameterized to specify instance types, disk sizes, and other configurations based on the environment. **RDS Module:** A standardized database setup that ensures proper resource sizing and security configurations. By modularising these components, you can easily scale or modify individual infrastructure parts without impacting the entire system, this makes it easier to adjust the size or scope of resources to meet the specific needs of each project, helping to avoid over-provisioning and reducing cloud costs. Parameterized IaC Templates for Cost Control -------------------------------------------- ### What is Parameterized IaC? Parameterized IaC templates allow you to define dynamic infrastructure by passing variables into your templates. This approach enables the same infrastructure code to be reused across multiple environments or configurations, with the actual values (such as region, instance size, or disk or disk space) supplied at runtime. For example in Terraform or Pulumi, you can define an EC2 instance template with variables for the instance type, disk size, and region. When deploying the infrastructure, you can specify different values for these variables depending on whether the deployment is for development, testing, or production environments. ### Benefits of Parameterization **Flexibility:** Parameterized templates allow you to deploy different configurations of infrastructure without duplicating code. This means you can adjust resource sizes or regions based on actual requirements without maintaining separate templates for each environment. **Cost Optimization:** By using parameters, you can easily adjust the resource allocation to match the budgetary needs of each environment. For example, you can deploy smaller, less expensive instances for development environments and larger, more powerful instances for production. **Scalability:** Parameterization supports scaling operations by enabling the dynamic provisioning of resources. When business needs change, you can easily increase or decrease resources without manually rewriting your infrastructure code. **Reduced Errors:** When the same template is reused across environments, parameterization ensures consistency, reducing the likelihood of configuration errors that could lead to underutilization. ### **Example: Using Pulumi for Parameterized Templates** Pulumi is another popular IaC tool that allows developers to define infrastructure in general-purpose programming languages like Python, Typescript, or Go. This enables more dynamic and flexible configuration for provisioning AWS EC2 instances that adjust based on the environment (Dev, test, or prod). In this example, we will define an EC2 instance using Pulumi. We’ll use a parameter called **instanceType** to specify different instance sizes for development and production environments. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730697168213-compressed.png) ### **Example of Development Environment:** In a development environment, you might want to use a smaller, less expensive instance type like **t2.micro**. This keeps costs low during development when high computing power isn’t needed. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730697169005-compressed.png) When you run this configuration in development, the **t2.micro** instance type will be used, which is cost-effective and suitable for testing and development purposes. ### **Example for Production Environment:** In a production environment, you might need a larger instance type, such as **t3.large** to handle higher traffic and more demanding workloads. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730697169769-compressed.png) For production, this command sets t3.large as the instance type, which provides more CPU and memory for critical workloads. In this example, you set the **instanceType** to a smaller option (**t2.micro**), in **development**, which saves costs while testing. In **production**, you increase the **instanceType** to something larger (**t3.large**), ensuring the system can handle higher loads. Best Practices for Cost Optimization with IaC --------------------------------------------- **1\. Right Sizing Resources:** When defining infrastructure through IaC, always ensure that resources are approximately sized for the workload. Excessive provisioning leads to unnecessary costs, while under-provisioning can affect performance. Parameterization allows you to right-size resources based on the needs of each environment. **2\. Leverage Auto Scaling:** Use auto-scaling groups for compute instances to dynamically adjust the number of resources based on demand. This ensures that you only pay for what you need, preventing wasteful spending. **3\. Spot Instances and Reserved Instances:** When using services like EC2, consider mixing spot instances (which are cheaper bus less reliable) for non-critical tasks and reserved instances for long-term workloads. This strategy helps reduce costs significantly. **4\. Monitoring and Alerts:** Always enable cloud cost monitoring and alerting systems to catch any unexpected cost increases early. Tools like AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management, and Google Cloud Billing can be integrated into IaC workflows to track and optimize costs. **5\. Review and Refactor IaC regularly:** Infrastructure needs to evolve, and so should your IaC templates. Regularly review and refactor your IaC modules and parameterization strategies to ensure that they remain aligned with your cost optimization goals. Conclusion ---------- In the era of cloud computing, managing infrastructure costs is crucial for businesses seeking to maintain a competitive edge. Advances in IaC techniques such as modularization and parameterization offer a powerful approach does efficiently manage and reduce infrastructure costs while maintaining flexibility and scalability. By modularizing IaC templates, teams can build reusable and scalable infrastructure components, reducing duplication and enabling more efficient cost tracking. Parameterization adds another layer of flexibility, allowing infrastructure to adapt dynamically to different environments and business needs, ultimately reducing waste and ensuring optimal resource utilization. Adopting these techniques with tools like Terraform and Pulumi not only helps organizations optimize their cloud spend but also streamlines their infrastructure management, driving both operational and financial efficiency. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Implementing FinOPs in DevOps for Cloud Cost Management Author: MANOJ A N Published: 2024-11-04 Tags: Cloud Services, Cloud technology, Devops, FinOPs URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/implementing-finops-in-devops-for-cloud-cost-management-cm32k1vas00e013femmurhzra Introduction In today’s digital era, businesses increasingly rely on cloud infrastructure to drive their operations. The cloud offers scalability, flexibility, and numerous benefits, but it also comes with challenges, particularly when it comes to cost management. As organizations scale their cloud usage, costs can spiral out of control, often without adequate financial oversight. This is where FinOps (Financial Operations) integration can help. By embedding financial management practices into DevOps workflows, organizations can ensure that cost visibility becomes a shared responsibility. In this blog, we will explore the benefits and strategies of integrating FinOps into DevOps workflows to optimize cloud spending, improve cost visibility, and drive financial accountability across organizations. ### What is FinOps? FinOps, or Financial Operations, is a framework designed to help businesses manage and optimize their cloud costs effectively. It combines financial accountability with cloud architecture practices, bringing teams together to make data-driven spending decisions. Essentially, FinOps helps businesses treat cloud costs as a dynamic and manageable part of their operations rather than an uncontrollable overhead. The key principle of FinOps revolves around collaboration between financial, technical, and business teams, ensuring that everyone has access to real-time cost data to make informed decisions. The goal is to achieve a balance where engineering teams have the freedom to innovate in the cloud without causing financial surprises for the business. Let’s take the example of Spotify which is the global music streaming service, heavily relies on cloud infrastructure to deliver millions of tracks to users worldwide. As their user base grew, so did their cloud costs, leading to the need for better cost management practices. Spotify adopted FinOps to ensure financial accountability across their DevOps teams which led to a significant reduction in their cloud costs while maintaining their ability to innovate rapidly. By making cloud cost management shared responsibility between finance and engineering, they were able to create a culture where teams were aware of the financial impact of their technical decisions. Their proactive approach to managing cloud costs allowed them to grow sustainably without letting cloud expenses spiral out of control. The FinOps Lifecycle FinOps operates in a cyclical lifecycle, consisting of three main stages: **Inform**: Gathering and sharing accurate cloud cost data in real time to provide visibility to stakeholders. **Optimize:** Identifying areas of cost reduction, such as eliminating waste, right-sizing resources, and leveraging discounts on pricing plans. **Operate**: Continuously monitoring and improving cloud cost management as an ongoing operational task, rather than a one-time effort. Why Integrate FinOps into DevOps? --------------------------------- DevOps is a methodology that focuses on collaboration between development and operations teams. It is known for its ability to streamline software development and deployment. However, as DevOps teams become more reliant on cloud services, they often lack the financial awareness necessary to manage cloud spending effectively. This is where FinOps integration can help. By embedding financial management practices into DevOps workflows, organizations can ensure that cost visibility becomes a shared responsibility. Teams can identify areas of waste, and track cloud usage without compromising speed or innovation. ### The Benefits of FinOps in DevOps **Enhanced Cost Visibility**: FinOps introduces real-time visibility into cloud spending, ensuring that teams are aware of costs at every stage of the DevOps lifecycle. **Cost optimization**: DevOps teams can leverage FinOps to identify underutilized or unnecessary resources and scale them down, reducing waste and optimizing cloud spend. **Financial Accountability**: By integrating FinOps, teams become accountable for their cloud expenses. This accountability leads to a culture of conscious spending where developers are aware of the financial impact of their decisions. **Improves Collaboration**: FinOps fosters collaboration between engineering, finance, and business teams, leading to more aligned decision-making that considers both technical and financial constraints. **Informed Decision-Making**: With real-time cost data at their fingertips, teams can make better decisions on resource provisioning, scaling, and workload distribution, all while staying within budget. Best Practices for Implementing FinOps in DevOps ------------------------------------------------ **1\. Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration:** The foundation of FinOps is collaboration. To successfully implement it within DevOps, organizations must foster strong relationships between finance, engineering, and business teams, This collaboration ensures that all teams are on the same page when it comes to cost management and operational goals. Finance teams need to understand the cloud environment and the impact of engineering decisions on cost, while engineering teams need to be educated on how their resource choices affect the company’s financial bottom line. **2\. Utilize Real-Time Cloud Cost Data:** One of the key advantages of FinOps is its ability to provide real-time cloud cost data. DevOps teams should have access to tools and dashboards that give them a clear view of cloud usage and spending as they deploy and manage applications. Tools like AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management, and Google Cloud’s Billing Reports can be integrated into DevOps workflows to ensure that cost data is available during the decision-making process. This level of transparency allows the team to track expenses more effectively and avoid surprises. **3\. Automate Cost Management:** Manual Cost tracking is time-consuming and prone to errors. Instead, organizations should focus on automating cloud management wherever possible. Automation tools can help enforce financial policies, detect anomalies, and trigger scaling adjustments based on predefined budget thresholds. For instance, companies can set up alerts for cost spikes or configure auto-scaling policies that only provision additional resources when necessary, avoiding wasteful overprovisioning. **4\. Leverage Reserved Instances and Discounted Pricing Models:** Cloud providers often offer discounted pricing models, such as Reserved Instances(RIs), where businesses commit to specific cloud resources for 1-3 years at reduced rates, and Spot Instances, which provide unused capacity at a lower rate for non-critical tasks, though they may be interrupted. A key part of FinOps implementation is ensuring that DevOps teams are aware of these options and can leverage them to optimize cloud spending effectively. For example, teams can analyze usage patterns to determine whether Rls would be a good fit for certain workloads, ensuring that pay the lowest possible rate for long-term cloud usage. **5\. Implement Resource Tagging and Cost Allocation:** One of the best practices in FinOps is to tag cloud resources effectively. Resource tagging involves labelling cloud resources (such as instances, databases, or storage) with metadata that indicates their owner, environment, or purpose. This allows for granular cost tracking and enables DevOps teams to allocate costs back to specific teams, projects, or departments By tagging resources, organizations can identify which projects or teams are driving cloud costs and take steps to optimize usage accordingly. Measuring the Success of FinOps in DevOps ----------------------------------------- Implementing FinOps within a DevOps environment requires continuous monitoring and improvement. To measure the success of FinOps integration, organizations should track key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect both financial and operational goals. Some of the common KPIs include: **1\. Cost Spend as a Percentage of Revenue:** Track the overall cloud spend concerning company revenue to ensure that cloud costs align with business growth. **2\. Cost per Unit of Work:** Measure the cost of running a particular application or workload in the cloud, providing insights into whether resources are being used efficiently. **3\. Reserved Instance Utilization:** Monitor the utilization rate of RIs or other discounted resources to ensure that the organization is maximizing savings opportunities. **4\. Cost Anomalies:** Identify any unexpected spikes in cloud spend and investigate the root cause to prevent future incidents. Case Study ---------- A global SaaS company recently implemented FinOps into their DevOps workflows to address runaway cloud costs. By introducing real-time cost tracking and educating their engineering teams on cloud spend management, they achieved a 35% reduction in overall cloud spend. Increased usage of Reserved Instances, leading to further cost savings. There is a culture of financial accountability among DevOps teams, who now treat cost as a key factor in their deployment decisions. This success demonstrates that with the right tools and practices, FinOps can significantly impact an organization’s bottom line without hindering innovation or agility. Conclusion ---------- As cloud adoption grows, the need for better cost management becomes paramount. By integrating FinOps into DevOps workflows, organizations can gain enhanced visibility into their cloud spending, optimize resources, and foster a culture of financial accountability. The key lies in fostering cross-functional collaboration, leveraging real-time data, and automating processes to ensure that teams can focus on innovation without losing control of their cloud budget. The future of cloud management lies in the collaboration between technical and financial teams, and FinOps provides the framework to make this collaboration a reality. Implementing FinOps into DevOps is not just a cost-saving strategy, but it’s also a business imperative in today’s cloud-driven world. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Programmatically Enforcing Cost Optimization Policies Author: Nikhil Bhansali S Published: 2024-10-30 Tags: Cloud technology, Cost Reduction URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/programmatically-enforcing-cost-optimization-policies-cm2vt5zqq002w13fez8a1xmg0 Understanding Cost Optimization Policies ---------------------------------------- Managing cloud costs efficiently is essential for any business. Cost optimization policies are key to keeping expenses in check. By using APIs and automation tools, you can enforce these policies programmatically. This means real-time monitoring and control of costs, preventing budget overruns. **Why use APIs?**: * **Real-time Insights**: Gain immediate access to data for better decision-making. * **Consistency**: Ensure resources are tagged and managed effectively. **Benefits of Automation**: * **Efficiency**: Automate monitoring to reduce manual errors. * **Cost Control**: Set budgets and track expenses automatically. Integrating these policies into your operations enhances financial governance. It’s about smarter management of resources and maximizing ROI. Embrace these tools to streamline your cost management process. Automating Cost Management -------------------------- Automating cost management improves how businesses control expenses. Cloud provider APIs let you set up automated monitoring and budgeting easily. Here's how to do it: 1. **Set Up APIs**: Use cloud provider APIs for real-time cost data. This gives you better control over expenses. 2. **Tag Resources**: Tag all resources correctly. This helps allocate costs and manage resources accurately. 3. **Use Budgeting Tools**: Automated budgeting tools track expenses against set budgets. This keeps you within financial limits. 4. **Set Up Alerts**: Track spending in real-time with alerts. Get notifications about budget thresholds and potential overspending. 5. **Optimize Resources**: Use automation to optimize resource usage. This cuts waste and boosts efficiency. For businesses looking to enhance productivity and reduce errors, our [Cloud and DevOps services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) offer robust CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation. Integrating these tools improves financial governance and operational efficiency. It helps maximize resource use and minimize waste. Start automating your cost management now to boost your organization's financial health. ![Matrix movie still](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730288612274-compressed.jpeg) Implementing Policy Compliance ------------------------------ Implementing policy compliance in cloud environments requires smart strategies. Identity and Access Management (IAM) APIs are essential tools. They allow you to programmatically enforce governance standards, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources. Service control policies (SCPs) offer another layer of governance. They help define what actions users and services can perform, maintaining control over cloud activities. Automation plays a crucial role in compliance: * **Continuous Monitoring**: Automate compliance checks to ensure ongoing adherence to policies. * **Real-time Alerts**: Set up alerts to catch deviations instantly, preventing unauthorized access. Consistent tagging is vital for resource management. Proper tagging helps with cost allocation, making it easier to attribute expenses to specific departments or projects. It also simplifies monitoring and billing. Integrating these strategies into existing workflows enhances governance and control. Here's how: * **Use IAM APIs**: Integrate IAM APIs into workflows for seamless access management. * **Implement SCPs**: Embed SCPs within operations to define and enforce permissible actions. * **Standardize Tagging**: Ensure all resources are tagged consistently to track and manage them effectively. These approaches not only streamline your cloud operations but also ensure that spending remains under control, aligning with governance standards. For those looking to optimize their cloud environments further, consider exploring our [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review), which can enhance infrastructure security, performance, and cost-efficiency. Optimizing Resource Usage ------------------------- Optimizing resource usage is crucial for reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. Using APIs can automate infrastructure scaling and resource provisioning. This ensures resources match demand patterns, minimizing idle resources and unnecessary expenses. Here’s how to optimize resource usage: 1. **Scale Infrastructure**: Use APIs to automatically adjust infrastructure based on real-time demand. This keeps operations efficient and cost-effective. 2. **Rightsize Resources**: Continuously assess and adjust resource allocation to fit actual usage. This reduces waste and improves cost efficiency. 3. **Adopt Serverless Architectures**: Implement serverless solutions where possible to pay only for what you use. This aligns resources with precise needs and reduces overhead. 4. **Implement Tagging Strategies**: Tag resources accurately for better cost attribution. This provides clear insights into where resources are being used and helps allocate costs properly. These strategies align resources with business objectives, ensuring optimal use and cost savings. By leveraging APIs and automation, businesses can streamline operations and focus on growth. The right approach to resource management not only saves money but also enhances overall productivity. For more insights into optimizing logistics and supply chain operations through technology, explore our [solutions for logistics and supply chain](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-and-supplychain) that highlight innovative management techniques. ![laptop computer on glass-top table](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730288613687-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways on Cost Optimization ---------------------------------- Enforce cost optimization policies programmatically to boost financial control and efficiency. Use APIs and automation tools for precise management of cloud expenses, ensuring smart resource use. * **APIs for Automation**: Use cloud provider APIs to automate monitoring and budgeting. This gives you real-time insights and better cost control. * **Tagging Importance**: Use consistent tags to accurately allocate costs and simplify resource management. * **Resource Optimization**: Automate scaling and provisioning of infrastructure. This cuts waste and boosts cost efficiency by matching resources to demand. * **Continuous Monitoring**: Create alerts for budget limits and potential overspending. Track spending in real-time to manage budgets proactively. Our IoT and AI/ML expertise creates smart solutions that align with your business goals for best ROI. These tactics optimize resources and improve cloud governance. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Implementing Cloud Governance with Policy-as-Code Guide Author: Nikhil Bhansali S Published: 2024-10-30 Tags: Cloud Services, Cloud technology, Governance URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/implementing-cloud-governance-with-policy-as-code-guide-cm2vswll5002u13fe57lwm5dx Why Cloud Governance Matters ---------------------------- Cloud governance is essential for modern businesses. It ensures security, compliance, and cost-efficiency in cloud environments. Poor governance exposes companies to security risks and increased costs. Cloud governance aligns strategies with business goals, keeping companies competitive. It involves creating policies that protect data and improve operations. Key benefits include: * **Security**: Protects sensitive data and stops unauthorized access. * **Compliance**: Ensures companies follow industry regulations and standards. * **Cost-Efficiency**: Optimizes resource use and cuts unnecessary spending. Weak governance leads to serious problems. Companies risk data breaches, regulatory fines, and financial losses. Focusing on cloud governance helps organizations avoid these risks. Policy-as-code is vital for effective governance. It automates policy enforcement, ensuring consistent application across cloud environments. This approach boosts security and supports growth by aligning technology with strategy. Clear structures and automated policies create a strong framework. Businesses can quickly adapt to changes while maintaining control over cloud resources. In today's digital landscape, cloud governance is a strategic necessity. Understanding Policy-as-Code ---------------------------- Policy-as-code is essential for cloud governance. It uses code to define and automate policies, making compliance checks consistent and efficient across cloud environments. By codifying policies, businesses automate enforcement, reduce human error, and enhance security. Think of it as setting digital rules that stick. Coded policies ensure uniform system configuration and security. Key benefits of policy-as-code: * **Automation**: Streamlines compliance checks, freeing teams from manual work. * **Consistency**: Applies rules uniformly across all cloud setups. * **Security**: Automates security measures, reducing breach risks. We suggest tools like Open Policy Agent and Cloud Custodian for implementing policy-as-code. These tools work with CI/CD pipelines, enabling automated policy enforcement in development workflows. They help maintain security standards and compliance effortlessly. We recognize the importance of strong cloud governance. Our services align technology with business strategies to boost security and efficiency. For businesses looking to enhance their cloud operations, our [DevOps and Cloud Computing services](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops.php) offer comprehensive solutions to control, adapt, and improve cloud environments effectively. ![turned-on flat screen monitor](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730288174836-compressed.jpeg) Integrating Policy-as-Code in Cloud Operations ---------------------------------------------- Implementing policy-as-code in cloud operations transforms how businesses manage governance and security. It involves defining policies through code, ensuring automated enforcement, and enhancing security across cloud environments. Here's a simple guide to get started: 1. **Choose Tools**: Use tools like Terraform and AWS CloudFormation to write and manage your policies. These platforms allow you to define infrastructure as code, making it easier to automate policy enforcement. 2. **Define Policies**: Clearly outline your security and compliance requirements. Codify these policies to ensure they are consistently applied across all environments. 3. **Automate Enforcement**: Integrate policy checks into CI/CD pipelines. This automates compliance validation before deployment, ensuring that only code adhering to predefined standards reaches production. 4. **Continuous Monitoring**: Implement continuous monitoring to track compliance. This helps in identifying and addressing any deviations from your policies promptly. 5. **Auto-Remediation**: Set up auto-remediation processes for non-compliance events. This ensures that any issues are automatically corrected, maintaining policy adherence without manual intervention. Policy-as-code supports operational best practices by automating checks for resource configurations. It ensures that resources are provisioned and scaled according to your defined standards. This streamlines operations, optimizes performance, and reduces costs, aligning with business goals efficiently. For businesses looking to enhance their cloud infrastructure, the [AWS Well-Architected Framework Review](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/cloud-devops/aws-well-architected-review) provides a structured assessment to optimize security and performance. Challenges and Use Cases ------------------------ Implementing policy-as-code comes with its own set of challenges. Tool complexity is a common hurdle. Many open-source tools require a deep understanding to leverage them effectively. Integration issues can also arise, especially when trying to fit new tools into existing systems. This can be a roadblock for teams looking to streamline their processes. Real-world use cases highlight the power of policy-as-code in cloud governance. It plays a crucial role in managing permissions, ensuring proper access controls, and optimizing costs. Automating these policies helps maintain consistent configurations across environments. Common scenarios include: * **Admission Reviews for Kubernetes**: Automates the validation of configurations before deployment. * **Zero-Trust Implementations**: Enforces strict access controls, ensuring security. * **Cost Management**: Monitors and adjusts resources to avoid unnecessary spending. Policy-as-code complements infrastructure as code by integrating seamlessly to automate policy enforcement during infrastructure changes. This ensures that any changes adhere to predefined security and compliance standards. By embedding policies directly into the development process, businesses can reduce human error and improve overall security. This approach supports a more agile and responsive cloud environment, adapting quickly to change while maintaining governance. To further enhance these processes, exploring [AI and ML solutions for intelligent automation](https://pacewisdom.com/center-of-excellence/ai-ml) can provide additional insights and efficiencies. ![a computer tower with a purple light](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_clu29gsff000exapilx92i9qn/images/image-cp-1730288175739-compressed.jpeg) Key Takeaways ------------- Implementing cloud governance with policy-as-code ensures security, compliance, and efficiency in businesses. Automating policy enforcement helps organizations maintain consistent security measures and compliance across cloud environments. Policy-as-code offers clear benefits. It reduces manual effort and human error, leading to more secure and reliable operations. Continuous monitoring helps businesses quickly spot and fix policy deviations. This approach boosts security and improves operational efficiency and cost management. Adopting policy-as-code future-proofs your cloud operations. It provides a strong framework that adapts to changing business needs and new technologies. This keeps your governance strategies in line with your business goals and regulatory requirements. We help organizations smoothly integrate these practices. Our cloud and DevOps expertise supports businesses in optimizing operations and maintaining strong governance. By using policy-as-code, companies can effectively manage cloud environments. This approach builds a resilient and flexible cloud infrastructure ready for future challenges. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Sample Page Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2024-03-22 URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/sample-page This is a page. Notice how there are no elements like author, date, social sharing icons? Yes, this is the page format. You can create a whole website using Superblog if you wish to do so! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Optimizing Kubernetes Registry: How to Remove Unused Images Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2022-12-08 Meta Description: Is your Kubernetes container registry cluttered with outdated or unused images? Our expert DevOps team can help you clean up your registry and improve the performance of your cluster. Contact us today to learn more. Tags: devops, Engineering Insights URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/optimizing-kubernetes-registry In this blog post, we will take a look at a common problem that many Kubernetes users face: dealing with outdated or unused images in their container registry. Over time, it's natural for a registry to accumulate a large number of images, many of which may no longer be needed. This can cause a number of problems, including increased storage costs and reduced performance. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to clean up your registry and get rid of unwanted images. The first step is to identify the images that are taking up the most space in your registry. This can be done using the _docker images_ command, which will list all the images in your registry along with their size. For example, the following command will list the top 10 images in your registry by size: docker images --format "{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}} {{.Size}}" | sort -rnk 2 | head -10 Once you have identified the largest images in your registry, the next step is to determine which of these images are still in use. You can do this using the _kubectl_ command, which allows you to query your Kubernetes cluster for information about the containers it is running. For example, the following command will list all the containers in your cluster that are using an image from the _my-registry_ registry: kubectl get pods -o=jsonpath='{range .items\[\*\]}{.spec.containers\[\*\].image}{"\\n"}{end}' | grep my-registry Using the output from these commands, you can then determine which images are no longer in use and can be safely deleted from your registry. To delete an image, you can use the _docker rmi_ command, followed by the image name and tag. For example, the following command will delete the _my-image:latest_ image from your registry: docker rmi my-registry/my-image:latest By following these steps, you can quickly and easily clean up your Kubernetes container registry and get rid of outdated or unused images. This will help you to reduce your storage costs and improve the performance of your cluster. In conclusion, dealing with outdated or unused images in your Kubernetes container registry is a common problem, but it is easy to solve using the _docker_ and _kubectl_ commands. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can quickly and easily clean up your registry and get rid of unwanted images. This will help you to keep your registry organized and running smoothly. At Pacewisdom, we have a team of skilled DevOps professionals who are experts in Kubernetes and other cloud-native technologies. We can help you to design and implement a Kubernetes solution that is tailored to your unique requirements and infrastructure. Our team will work closely with you to understand your business goals and objectives and will provide expert guidance and support throughout the process. Whether you are just getting started with Kubernetes or are looking to upgrade your existing deployment, our team can provide the knowledge and expertise you need to succeed. We offer a range of services, including Kubernetes consulting, deployment, and support, to help you get the most out of your investment in this powerful platform. Contact us today to learn more about how our team can help you implement a Kubernetes solution for your infrastructure. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Maximizing Productivity: The Keys to Streamlined Engineering Troubleshooting Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2022-12-06 Meta Description: Engineering troubleshooting is a critical part of the development process, but it can also be a major time sink. In this blog post, we provide expert tips and advice on how to streamline your troubleshooting process and maximize productivity. Read on to learn more. Tags: Technology, engineering, Engineering Insights, troubleshooting URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/keys-to-streamlined-engineering-troubleshooting Here is a complete guide for streamlining engineering troubleshooting. Troubleshooting is time-consuming and tiring. From API timeouts to network issues and misconfigurations, engineers must fix everything. Something solvable in ten minutes can easily take several hours. After substantial brainstorming, our experts bring this comprehensive guide to rationalizing troubleshooting efforts. **Common Pitfalls to Avoid While Troubleshooting.** --------------------------------------------------- * **De-emphasizing the issue:** Reducing the problem's scope increases its complexity. Being forthright and honest with cases' severity is better.  * **Playing alone:** Bring developers, testers, and users together. It leads to practical solutions.   * **Blind trust in search results:** While consulting qualified websites is ok, blindly following them can force intricate useless changes.  * **Making irreversible changes:** Make a change only when a rollback is possible. Irrevocable change can introduce errors that take additional troubleshooting hours.  * **Improper logs:** Engineers must follow record keeping. When confusion increases, the documentation helps reduce complexity.   * **Applying shotgun methods:** For a quick fix, sys admins implement multiple solutions simultaneously, increasing trouble.  * **Downplaying ramifications:** Look at the big picture to accurately anticipate the consequences of every step. * **Introspection:** Revisit the problem once it is solved. It helps trigger additional safeguards to prevent its repetition.  **Prepare for Troubleshooting.** -------------------------------- Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem-solving. Some of the following preparatory steps can ensure precise resolution. **Applications preparation**: * Signal exchange validity between components. * Structured log for defining attributes. * APIs to temporarily disable features and fix issues. * Database log analyzer and monitoring system. * Test reports with maximum coverage and performance benchmarks. **Cluster preparation**: * Cluster audits to determine API calls, their timing, and source. * Documentation of services the apps provide. * Documentation of system configurations. * A runbook documenting operation flow, known errors, and their resolution procedure. **Team preparation:** * Understand possible errors using observability tools. * Study the context to register errors' fault points and impact. * Familiarize the team with supporting system tools. **6 Key Steps to Troubleshooting**  ----------------------------------- Based on extensive experience in troubleshooting, we identify a systematic approach to problem-solving as below.  1. **Examine and diagnose.**  We begin with system monitoring and logging to identify errors, their type, and relevant configuration. 2. **Simplify and eliminate non-issues.**  Analyze the flow between applications. Minimize tests by narrowing down the error location using bisection and divide and conquer techniques. 3. **Identify the cause.** Ideally, components have well-defined functions and interfaces. Use flags, tracing, or other methods to identify factors causing deviation from their typical behaviour. 4. **Determine the system's last operational state.** Systems follow the law of inertia and do not change their outputs until an external change is initiated. It can be a sudden traffic shift or a configuration change. Recent activities on the system help cognize what went wrong. 5. **Attempt a fix.** Implement solutions one at a time, beginning with the most plausible one. Implementation results serve as a guide for the next and save significant time. 6. **Assess and document.** Evaluate the results, their longevity, and repeatability. Also, jot down issues it caused (if any) for future reference. **Troubleshooting best practices**  ----------------------------------- IT troubleshooting can be simplified by implementing standard guidelines across the enterprise. Here are seven best practices that can reduce your troubleshooting efforts remarkably. * Address issues before they grow into significant failures * Backup before beginning to enable rollbacks * Collect information to replicate the errors and find an adequate fix. * Create error outputs at the source code level to better understand and localize the problem. * Differentiate between symptoms and the root causes of the problem * Log with correlations to identify related components and the impact of the issue/solution on them. * Use analytics to draw actionable insights to prevent reoccurrence.  **Conclusion** -------------- IT Troubleshooting is a part of continuous improvement. Establishing a well-defined strategy to resolve issues is inevitable. With a decade-long experience delivering 150+ products across multiple environments, we resonate with the pain that goes into troubleshooting. Our experts provide value-added services to make troubleshooting easy, enjoyable, and agile. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## We Are A Clutch Top Development Company In India For 2022! Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2022-03-22 Meta Description: We are proud to share that Pace Wisdom Solutions has just been named as a top development company in India by Clutch for the year 2022. Tags: Tech Talk, #awards, Achievement URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/we-are-a-clutch-top-development-company-in-india-for-2022 Today we have proof beyond doubt that we are achieving exactly that. We are proud to share that Pace Wisdom Solutions has just been named as a top development company in India by Clutch for the year 2022. Every question a business can encounter can be answered with technology. All that’s needed are practiced hands that can apply said technology to solving the problem. Our team is composed of experts that have made it their mission to ensure every client we get have all their questions answered. Clutch is [a B2B platform](http://clutch.co/web-developers/india) that publishes reviews and ratings from and for companies in every industry from all over the world. They accomplish this by using a unique verification process that helps them determine whether the information sent to them comes from authentic sources. ![undefined](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/H44kyN8p6mZXPXbZIrX8G0wM9R6LmQuacXEFak5sMvSp1F_98gsyWYyE_1J2VNWx4GFKnbl8_iuZpYey97eIs2X5JlsgWlh8n7N6PDZgh90TNJeFUb6AYR9QzSDpZT7DNK1t05aU) According to their criteria, only companies that are able to earn multiple high-quality reviews from their clients like the one above, are eligible for this award. This is the most exciting aspect of this accolade for our team. In addition to the effort we put into our projects, we now know how much our work is being appreciated by our partners. We want to thank each and every one of our clients that helped make this award a reality for our team. It takes great effort in sharing thoughts about a project and make sure everything goes well up to its publication. Our team appreciates everything our partners have done and are doing on our behalf. This is an important opportunity for our team to work even harder to cement our new position in the industry and possibly rise even higher for next year. If you want to join us on that journey, feel free to explore our website and talk to us through our [contact page](https://pacewisdom.com/contact). Shape your company's future with us today. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Deconstructing Data security and Encryption Algorithms Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2022-01-14 Meta Description: Encryption and data security date back to ancient Egypt where one can see a tombstone from the early 1900 BC which had non-standard hieroglyphs engraved. Tags: Tech Talk, Cybersecurity, Data, Datasecurity, algorithms, #encryption URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/datasecurityandencryptionalgorithm Encryption and data security date back to ancient Egypt where one can see a tombstone from the early 1900 BC which had non-standard hieroglyphs engraved on it. Since then it has continued to remain in existence and has grown progressively sophisticated. The Enigma rotor machine from the days of WW2 is also encryption at play.  Data security is even more relevant in this age as all the critical data is stored in the digital form and things can go wrong in umpteen ways and data can fall into unauthorized hands. What is Data Security? ---------------------- Data security is applicable throughout the lifecycle of the data and it is the practice of preventing data from unauthorized access, corruption, and theft. Complete data security is a combination of people, policies, processes, and technologies employed by an organization to protect its digital assets from malicious elements. Deconstructing Data Security ---------------------------- Data security can be achieved with one of the methods listed here or with a combination of methods. Data that is stored in servers may be secured using a certain technique whereas data in transmission could be secured with another technique.  Some of the commonly used principles in data security are listed below ### Hashing Hashing is an algorithm performed on a file/message to produce a unique hexadecimal number termed ‘hash’. This hash is calculated at the source as well as the destination for the transmitted data. The two hashes are then compared and only if they match, the data is deemed to be untouched during transmission. Some of the popular hashing algorithms are Message Digest 5(MD5), SHA (Secure hash algorithm), RIPEMD. Use Case: Over the air software update can use hashing for ensuring data integrity. It is also used in password verification. ### Tokenization Tokenization is the process of exchanging sensitive data for non-sensitive data called ‘tokens’. Tokenized data cannot be deciphered nor can you obtain the original data without having access to a separately stored reference database. The process of obtaining the original data back from the token is called detokenization. Use Case: For storing extremely sensitive data such as PAN (Permanent account number) or your credit card details, or any data on the cloud. ### Salting When you enter your password during net banking operations, did you observe that your password is suffixed with a set of new characters as soon as you press the enter key? The bank’s website is salting your data to prevent data theft. Salt is, therefore, a random set of characters appended to the data to generate a unique output. In further parts of processing, a hash will be created for this salted data and compared against the hash generated for the salted password stored in the database. This prevents password thefts effectively. Use Case: For storing passwords in databases.  ### Encryption Encryption is where you scramble data in a way that only someone with a corresponding ‘key’ can unscramble it and retrieve the original information. The algorithm used to encrypt a data file is called a ‘cipher’. Encrypted data is called a ciphertext. Use Case: For sending confidential data over public networks. Some more on Encryption algorithms ---------------------------------- It is interesting to delve into some of the popular encryption algorithms used in the digital world today. The symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms used these days primarily use public and private keys **The public and private keys**: The public and private keys are the primary constituents of public-key cryptography. While the public key is known to all, the private key is privy to the intended recipient of the data.  ### Asymmetric encryption Asymmetric encryption is deemed to be strong and more secure than its symmetric counterpart. In the asymmetric method, encryption is done with the public key whereas decryption requires a private key. Since it employs two sets of keys, it is slightly slower. ### Symmetric encryption  In this method, each concerned party has its own set of private keys that can be used for both encrypting and decrypting a file. This renders the process of encryption and decryption faster. Modern encryption algorithms ---------------------------- Some of the popular modern-day encryption algorithms are **AES** - Advanced Encryption Standard, also known as Rijndael encrypts data in blocks of 128 bits each. For robust encryption, it also uses 192 and 256-bit keys in some cases. **RSA** \- Named after its creators Rivest-Shamir-Adleman, RSA is an asymmetric encryption algorithm. RSA keys are typically 1024 or 2048 bits long. **ECC** \- Elliptic Curve Cryptography is an effective public key-based algorithm and is hyped to be the next generation implementation and much more advanced than RSA. **Blowfish** - A symmetrical encryption method, blowfish fragments data into blocks of 64 bits and encrypts them individually. This algorithm is not patented and finds wide use in the e-commerce sector **Twofish** - A successor of blowfish, Twofish encrypts 128-bit long blocks of data. The key used in encryption is usually 256-bit long. Conclusion ---------- Not having data security measures for your data makes it extremely vulnerable to thefts and attacks, directly costing you money and user trust. Depending on the type of data operations and the risk profile, you can choose an appropriate method for retaining your data’s integrity. Let us know in the comment section below if you would like to know more about encryption algorithms and how exactly it is implemented on real-world data. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## When should businesses switch from traditional code development to low code development? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-12-14 Meta Description: As businesses invest heavily in digital transformation and expect a quicker return on investment, hastening the code development phase is a much welcome move. Tags: Tech Talk, development, Development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/lowcodevstraditionaldevelopment As someone who loves to prepare my meals every day, I have different styles of cooking. On leisurely days I make everything from scratch, paying utmost attention to cleaning, chopping, blending, and adding different quantities of seasoning and other condiments. But on busy days, I rely on pre-cut vegetables and canned purees to prepare my meals in the shortest possible duration. I call it my instant meal. The instant meal does the job of filling my tummy just the same as my elaborate meals. The only thing it lacks is the choice factor. Just like low code development to build a software system as opposed to traditional code development More on traditional code development ------------------------------------ To understand the difference between the two genres of code development, let us first try to list out the steps involved in traditional code development Traditional code development begins with a set of developers analyzing the requirements, brainstorming a versatile detailed design, choosing the suitable programming language and the associated development stack (other development tools and databases), and formulating the test strategy. This is a long process that involves hiring the developers, paying them by the hour spanning months’ worth of effort in exchange for a fully-customizable code solution. What is low code development? ----------------------------- Low code is a visual approach to software development that does not expect the developers to know the syntaxes of programming languages. One can develop well-functioning apps merely by using the pre-coded function blocks that can be dragged and dropped on visual editors. These pre-configured function blocks can be reused to build applications on a plethora of use cases. What are the advantages, you ask? --------------------------------- Apart from the very intuitive drag-drop feature that facilitates easy coding, other advantages of low code development include, 1. Allows faster deployments to multiple platforms 2. A single app can work for mobile, web, and cloud platforms 3. Effortless maintenance and easier up-gradation of features  4. Easier to create apps specific to the business needs 5. Flexible costs dependent on the number of running instances of the framework 6. Drives the culture of innovation 7. Quicker time to market Can we completely replace traditional code development with low code development? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, I’m afraid that’s not quite desirable. Low code development lags on the customization front. Since the function blocks are precoded, small changes/customizations are to be done in the pre-defined allowable boundaries of the blocks.  For businesses where the end goal is to be formulated on the go, low code development is not recommended. Traditional code development serves well for such scenarios since making changes and redesigning some parts is easier with it. However, Gartner predicts that by 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for over 65% of application development activity. When should businesses opt-in for low code development? ------------------------------------------------------- When businesses try to develop MVP for a certain concept or if they want to launch a beta version of their app, low code is an ideal choice. Low code allows businesses to be more agile. Some popular low code development platforms are Google app maker, Mendix, Microsoft PowerApps. For applications at the production level, the traditional coding approach is still a better choice considering security and maintainability. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Trends in the tech world: What should your next big tech move be? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-12-07 Meta Description: What business resolutions have you set for the coming year? What should you keep in mind before embarking on new technology? Tags: Tech Talk, Tools & Technologies URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/techtrends As the world moves towards digitization at an astounding rate, it is distinctly clear that a digitally mature organization succeeds financially ([Source](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/digital-transformation/digital-transformation-survey.html)). That said, starting with the digital journey can be quite challenging. When the goals are not clear, the available technologies can get a little too overwhelming to choose from. In such instances, some of the following strategies can help organizations to set goals and to do the right things in their digital journey to achieve the set goals. Identify what you lack ---------------------- Answers to the following questions can give you a vague idea as to what is your biggest drawback.  ### What do your customers frequently complain about?  Your customers are your first-hand source to identify drawbacks in your services.  For example, do they complain about having to come to the store to pick up their favorite products? Then it is a good choice to invest in an e-commerce space as the first step in digital transformation. ### What do your competitors have that you lack? Once you identify your drawbacks, it is also a good idea to understand in what areas are your competitors getting it right? Do your competitors provide end-to-end digital solutions for purchasing from their website? Do they cater to not just retail customers but to B2B clients also? The answer to the aforementioned questions can help you formulate unique offerings to your services. Improve customer experience --------------------------- Putting yourself in the shoes of the customer can give you a new perspective on what can bring value to the customer. When the customers identify themselves with your products or take pride in owning your products, you can consider yourself completely successful in impacting your client base. Some trending technologies -------------------------- Once you have identified the areas that need attention, your organization can benefit from some of the following trending technologies  **Blockchain** \- Blockchain assists in secure data exchange between the stakeholders. Using blockchain for your operations like purchases and digital contracts makes them trustworthy and can help you gain an edge over your competitors. **Data science** - Data science and more particularly data analysis helps you deduce useful insights from the data you have at hand. For example, you can use data analysis to analyze your sales pattern and prepare your inventories accordingly. **Robotic process automation** - For production industries, having automatic machinery for routine tasks can help in cutting down on manual labor and its associated error margins. **Internet of things(IoT)** - This technology enables embedded systems to communicate amongst themselves without the intervention of humans. This technology forms the foundation for popular concepts like fully automated homes and smart cities **Edge computing** - An extension of IoT, and the next step to cloud computing, edge computing facilitates the data calculations close to the data source(embedded system) or the user. This eliminates the involvement of a central computer. **Cyber security** \- This technology protects digital data from theft and corruption during data transmission and storage. As organizations store more and more user data, protecting it from malicious attacks is of paramount importance and cybersecurity explores many tactics to achieve this objective. Scope for innovation -------------------- Necessity is the mother of invention. When a single technology or a combination of a couple of them still doesn't cut to solve your problem, you can always lookout for innovative ways to solve it.  With XaaS, you can have a pay-as-you-go model for your digital tools, facilitating you to start small scale without burdening your finances. Conclusion ---------- Digital transformation can begin small. But with the right tools and technology, it can drive the accelerated growth of small businesses and organizations. By defining clear goals, businesses can take the best advantage of the latest technology trends and achieve financial gains in the long run. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Do your developers need college degrees? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-11-26 Meta Description: Does the background of developers influence the value they bring to the table? Do developers require college degrees? Read on to know more. Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, mobile app development, Web Development, Programming, Programming languages, Web app development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/do-developers-need-college-degrees Is it time to break with the tradition of hiring fresh college graduates and go in for novel methods of recruitment? Does the background of developers influence the value they bring to the table? What is more useful, a traditional college degree or certifications from coding boot camps?  The fact that the likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and many other successful millionaires and billionaires do not have a college degree gives the general public an opinion that a degree is not in fact mandatory to be a successful entrepreneur. Also, given the fact that the aforementioned millionaires started out developing software adds to this opinion. But what is the real picture in the present-day world? Barring a few outliers, if we look into the developer community at present, we see that more than 75% of them hold a college degree (Source: [Stackoverflow](https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#education)). This brings us to the question, is it mandatory for software developers to have a bachelor's degree? The essence of coding --------------------- Coding is an art. Writing a good code that completely fulfills the product and system requirements without proving to be heavy on resources (like computing power and memory) is a rare skill that can be acquired through critical thinking and regular coding practice. A creative developer can come up with more than elegant ways to achieve the objective of a smooth functioning system. However, one cannot be a skilled developer overnight. One has to study the principles of programming and the programming language before venturing out as a software developer. What does a college degree have to offer? ----------------------------------------- With structured courses and access to experienced faculty, a college is a good place to learn the ins and outs of the area that you have chosen. Coders traditionally earn a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or software engineering before venturing into the software industry. The experience from college helps the developers to deliver results within the agreed timeline (all thanks to the projects and assignments at college). They also come exposed to other areas related to programming languages like networking, requirement management, and business management. This comes to the benefit of employers as such broad knowledge makes the developers versatile to take up different roles in the organization at different points of time. What are the alternatives? -------------------------- College is not the only place to learn to code. With the infinite tutorials available online, anybody with an interest to learn can become a self-taught coder. In addition, coding boot camps equip the learners with the principles of coding in the programming language of their choice.  The courses are tailor-made to suit the requirements of the current software industry. Hence all the subjects taught here are guaranteed to be of use on the job.   What’s the verdict? ------------------- It is unfair to compare the backgrounds of developers and assess which one of them is better. Both have different skill sets that are useful in entirely different ways. ### From an individual’s perspective The ideal choice for one would be to first get a college degree and then get certified in a coding boot camp. This holistic approach will make one the most desired candidate given the vast knowledge one acquires in the due course of earning a degree. However, for someone who could not get a college degree for some reason and yet wants to pursue a career in the field of software engineering, committing to a coding boot camp is the best way forward. Whatever be one’s academic background, learning should never stop and one should continuously upskill oneself by availing different courses from the internet. Ultimately the openness to learn new skills, the speed with which one adapts to various platforms, in-depth know-how of one’s domain decides one’s growth in the software engineering domain ### From an organization’s perspective  The choice depends totally on the role. If the organization is looking to make an MVP/prototype, a self-taught coder or should be sufficient to do the job. But for the role of a system architect or a product engineer, it is safer to opt for someone with a college degree and some years of extensive coding experience. Also, when a developer possesses skills like an ability to learn independently, specializations in niche areas, and excellent collaboration skills, their background is of little importance to the organization. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## What is DevOps? When do you need it? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-10-19 Meta Description: DevOps is a combination of practices and tools that help deliver a company’s applications at an accelerated speed to the customer. Tags: Tech Talk, Devops, devops, Uncategorized URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/devops Given the rate of innovation in the tech world, time to market is a decisive factor for the profitability of a product. After launching the software in the market, quick and continuous support, be it in releasing bug fixes to the customer base or inculcating new features in the existing software is a critical detail for the product popularity and customer retention. Sequential execution of activities in a software development lifecycle introduces several unwanted delays. An approach that emphasizes on parallelization of activities markedly mitigates the delay. DevOps is one model that serves exactly this purpose. Unlike Agile(which also aims at speeding up the operations), DevOps addresses the gap between development and operations. The DevOps model ---------------- Designed to evolve and improve a company’s product at a pace faster than traditional development techniques, DevOps is a combination of practices and tools that help deliver a company’s applications and services at an accelerated speed to the customer. DevOps, whose name stems from “Development” and “Operations” aims to solve many of the problems faced in the traditional techniques of development that prevent organizations from giving quick and continuous improvements on their products to their clientele. Some of them have been listed below.  1. Delayed deployments due to organizational silos between the development team and the IT team 2. Slow down in deployments due to coding in one environment and launching in another leading to bugs resulting in the need for elaborate debugging 3. Time-consuming manual testing that is prone to human errors 4. Tedious and cumbersome manual management of infrastructure 5. Lack of collaboration between development, test, and deployment teams and also with other teams that play a role in the product such as the security team. The details ----------- Of the many tools and practices in the DevOps toolchain, it is interesting to note some of the fundamentals that form the core of DevOps as listed below. ### Monitoring and Logging By monitoring the metrics and logging that data organizations can get a feel of how their products perform in the market. This also acts as first-hand feedback for further phases of improvement and bug fixes. ### Continuous Integration - Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) In traditional methods, completion of the development stage was mandatory to proceed to the integration phase. DevOps addresses this issue and runs development and integration continuously, allowing a feedback loop between the two activities. Due to this, development bugs are identified earlier, drastically improving the quality of deliverables and the meantime for recovery. ### Containerization software To address the errors cropping up from launching the software in a platform other than what it was developed in, containerization software like Docker or Kubernetes is employed by the DevOps model. Containerization software make the code portable, allowing developers to launch their products across multiple platforms ### Automated tests CI/CD tools like Jenkins can also have automated tests integrated into them. So, as you integrate your new patch of code, the tool also runs the test cases on the new code automatically thereby reducing manual test efforts and maintaining system stability. Advantages of DevOps -------------------- **Short release cycles**: Continuous delivery turbocharges innovation and drives the development teams to deliver value to their customers faster than traditional methods **Rapid delivery**: With continuous integration and continuous delivery, your product and services reach the customer much faster **Reliability**: The coherent automated tests with continuous integration leaves no part of the codes untested thus rendering the delivery fully tested and reliable **Scale**: Scaling up can be done at ease with DevOps with automated tests that perform consistent efficient testing on changing and complex systems. Who needs DevOps and when? -------------------------- Organizations with sizable in-house development teams can reap maximum benefits out of DevOps. It is most suitable when the product has surpassed the glitches of the teething period and has reached a slightly mature phase.  However, it is ideal to consult the DevOps experts in the initial phases of development to align the development with the DevOps principles. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## What is Data Transformation and why do you need it? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-10-08 Meta Description: The process of enriching, managing, and manipulating the raw data to make it comply with different processing platforms is called data transformation. Tags: Tech Talk, Big Data, Data, Data Integration, Data manipulation, #datatransformation URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/datatransformation Data - the most precious element in the digital world, is of little use in its raw form. Akin to extracting metals from their ores, data has to be converted into useful information for getting the maximum use out of it in algorithms.Any form of analytics needs to use transformed data, be it visualization, analysis, or reporting.This brings us to the question, what exactly do we mean by data transformation? Data Transformation - The Definition ------------------------------------ The process of enriching, managing, and manipulating the raw data to make it comply with different processing platforms is called data transformation. In simpler words, it is the process of converting one form of data to another form that improves the data quality and makes it more compatible with the target system. Advantages of Data Transformation --------------------------------- 1. Transformed data is more organized and hence it is easier for humans and computers to decipher. 2. Transformed data can be compressed orderly and stored securely. 3. Transformed data is easier to port within various analytics platforms, saving time and effort. After learning about the ‘what’ of data transformation, it is interesting to note ‘how’ is data transformed. Steps in Data Transformation ---------------------------- ### Data Discovery and Interpretation Identifying the type of data at hand is the first step in data transformation. To get it in the format of our interest, we should first determine the format it currently is in. Data profiling tools like Atlan, Microsoft DOCS help in identifying the data. ### Quality checks and Data Mapping This involves eliminating corrupt values, redundant data and identifying missing values in the data set, and fixing it. Further on, analysts define how individual data fields should be modified, mapped, and filtered.  ### Data Extraction and translation In this step, data is extracted from its original format and is suitably replaced by the data as expected by the destination format. Data translation also involves converting the overall format of the source file into the format expected by the target destination. For instance, converting a .xls into .csv file ### Quality checks and Data Encryption Translated data is once again checked for missing fields and other translation-induced errors. When it is found to be satisfactory, data is encrypted for security purposes and stored in the destination. It is tedious to perform these steps manually each time one needs a transformed data set. To avoid the inconvenience of re-inventing the wheel, several tools are available that do this procedure How is Data Transformed? ------------------------ There are two types of Data transformation 1. **Batch Type** \- Best suited to transform bulk data in one shot 2. **Interactive Type** - Here the users can visualize the data and apply different transformation techniques to different elements in the data set Data transformation tools ------------------------- There are many ways in which data can be transformed. Some of the most popular methods are listed here **Scripts:** For small projects, analysts can write Python or SQL-based scripts to perform their specific operations of extraction and translation. The advantage of this method is that you can write scripts specific to your dataset and for your use case. However, the responsibility of debugging the script in case of erroneous conversion and the maintenance of the script lies on the analyst. For scenarios in which scripts are not quite feasible, analysts can explore the possibility of using readily available tools that simplifies the transformation and also offers the benefits of automation. ETL tools are generally used for data transformation. ETL stands for Extract, Transform and Load, a combination of steps involved in data transformation. There are two types of ETL tools, On-Premise, and Cloud-based ones. **On-Premise ETL tools**: These are hosted on the company’s servers and can be used to automate the data transformation. **Cloud-based ETL tools**: Cloud-based tools serve the same functions as on-premise ETL tools but are hosted on cloud servers instead of on-premise servers. Bottomline ---------- Data transformation is essential for better organizing the data and converting its structure and semantics to match the desired format. Transformed data is indispensable for activities such as data integration and data management.  For organizations, having an encyclopedic view of their data gives them a solid foundation to take productive decisions and enhance their growth prospects. Data transformation proves to be crucial for such applications. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Streamline communication with your Remote development team Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-09-21 Meta Description: It is important to streamline communication among the members of the team early on to avoid snowballing of small problems. Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, development, Web Development, chatbot, Devops, devops URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/streamline-communication-with-your-remote-development-team It is important to streamline communication among the members of the team early on to avoid snowballing of small problems and misunderstandings. Before we explore the ways to streamlining communication, we need to understand the challenges of remote working. Before blowing up in large proportions owing to the Covid situation, remote working or virtual teams have existed in many organizations for a long time, on a small scale. Certain work profiles required round-the-clock support and having a team that works at different time zones, perfectly served the need.  While on one hand, having a remote team spread across the globe brings in the benefits of cross-culture diversity and timezone, on the other hand, by not employing suitable measures, intra-team communication can stagger.   Challenges with remote teams ---------------------------- The most significant challenge with remote teams is the lack of face-to-face interaction among the team members. This cascades into many more problems like poor communication and information exchange, and the absence of a feeling of belongingness amongst the employees all leading up to a dip in KPIs and throughput of the team. In a typical remote team with poor communication and information exchange, on one end of the spectrum exists an employee who is perennially frustrated that their contributions aren't reaching their bosses, and on the other end lies a worrying manager who wonders why their team lacks the vigor and productivity expected out of them. Amidst all these are the clueless new joiners who are left perplexed seeking information. They do not know whom to approach for clarification and are hesitant to ask questions they deem silly. The challenges of virtual teams can be summed up as follows: **Miscommunication**: Not communicating necessary inputs or conveying incorrect information comes under miscommunication, which is one of the prominent challenges in remote teams. **Disconnect**: In the absence of regular meetups and casual interactions and info exchange among the team members, it takes much longer for information to reach all team members. **Alienation**: Team members feel lost and stressed out in the absence of face-to-face interactions, leading to poor mental health, increased anxiety and ultimately a shunted professional growth. This results in loss to the organization and the employee as well. **Management challenges**: Hurdles in communication also cost to the management of the organization whereby the managers cannot track their team members, comply with strategies, all culminating in poor KPIs Can technology solve these issues? What measures can organizations implement to streamline communication within their remote teams? Measures to streamline communication ------------------------------------ In situations where manual effort is not effective, technology helps to bridge the gap and streamline communication. We have curated some of the professional software solutions that ease out the communication woes. **Tools for quick communication** A chat tool for instant messaging, analogous to ‘asking the colleague in the adjacent cubicle’ can avoid communication delays and can pave way for a quick catch-up among the colleagues. As it is devoid of all communication formalities that exist in email communication, a chat tool can also double up as an ice breaker among many employees. **Video calling tools** Video conferencing is the closest one can get to real-world face-to-face communication. Tools like Zoom, Hangouts, Google Meet, Microsoft teams all aid in real-time virtual face-to-face communication. Having frequent video calls focuses on non-verbal communication and thereby improves the trust factor between the participants. **Chatbots for FAQs** A chatbot for frequently asked questions and for documenting the knowledge that lies in the public domain is a great tool to swiftly onboard and integrate new employees into the team. It also saves a lot of time and avoids delays in fetching information. **Arena for info share** Having a common SharePoint with training materials, tech discussions, documentation of unsolved problems, and info share will encourage employees to interact more, discuss innovative solutions and in general put their views across the table(albeit a virtual one) **Digital tools for task tracking** A transparent ticketing system where all stakeholders get to view and document the progress of their tasks helps the management to track progression. Team members also get to glimpse at the bigger picture and are motivated to work further towards completion.  Organizations can also look into digitally gamifiying their operations. [Click here](https://esputnik.com/en/blog/gamification-digital-marketing-formula-solutions-examples#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20digital%20marketing,service%20more%20diverting%20and%20engaging.) to know more. Benefits of Digital tools for streamlined communication ------------------------------------------------------- Employing one or more digital tools for streamlined communication yields an assortment of benefits to the organization 1. With digital tools, it is easier to reach the team members anytime and anywhere 2. It saves time and manual tracking effort 3. Data exchange is secure with advanced digital tools. There is no fear of data leaks or data theft. Conclusion ---------- Remote teams are here to stay for years to come. They have proven to be an incredibly successful model once seamless communication is established among the members of the team.  In addition to following the right team-building techniques and having effective leadership, inculcating effective digital tools can boost coherent connectivity and communication.  As effective communication prevents most of the problems cropping up on-site, in addition to existing tools, organizations can also use custom-built tools to suit their application. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Mobile App Development with Flutter Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-07-24 Meta Description: Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit created by Google. It is used to develop cross-platform applications. Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, iOS, iOS app development, Android, Android App URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/flutter-app-development Apps of BMW, eBay, Philips Hue are used by many regularly. The common factor amongst all these apps is that they are developed using the Flutter framework, which is gaining traction as the most versatile and convenient platform for developers. What makes Flutter the most desired platform for development? What problems of the previous platform did it solve? Should you use it for your project? Read on to know more What is Flutter? ---------------- Flutter is a Software Development Kit(SDK) maintained by Google. The most interesting aspect of Flutter is that it supports cross-platform development. This means that the application developed in Flutter can run on both mobile and web platforms. Not just that, it can run on Android as well as iOS systems. Sounds wonderful? Let us explore other benefits of this SDK Benefits of using Flutter ------------------------- The most striking feature of Flutter in comparison to its alternatives like Android studio is the cross-platform advantage. This gives a lot of benefits as listed here ### 1.Cost savings In the traditional approach, if you wanted to develop both Android and iOS apps for your product, then you had to employ two teams for development. Or, with a single team, you had to wait for a longer duration to get the app up and running since the two apps had to be developed separately from scratch. With Flutter, you can have a single team develop an app that can run on iOS as well as android operating systems, in one shot. This saves costs. ### 2.Early to market With Flutter one can quickly develop an MVP (Minimal Viable Product) in Android and iOS. This accelerates the software development cycle and the prototype product will be available quicker(fast prototyping) ### 3.Easier maintenance Flutter allows you to have a single codebase for apps on different platforms. With a single codebase, it is easier to track the changes and implement bug fixes to reflect on all platforms. This allows for reduced maintenance costs. Additionally, Flutter provides a Hot-reload feature. With this, developers can see the changes made on code immediately on the app. This is very helpful in reducing the time needed for fixing bugs. ### 4.Developer libraries Who wants to reinvent the wheel every time? Flutter makes it easier for the developers by providing ample developer libraries. Commonly used algorithms need not be coded again. Use the existing libraries to get the intended results. This also saves a lot of time for the developer. And time saved translates to cost savings ### 5.Convenient backend programming language(DART) Flutter is based on the DART programming language. It is quite simple and easy as compared to Javascript, the other programming language used in another cross-platform framework, React Native ### 6.Native feel, Native performance Though the app is developed independent of the target machine, when running on various platforms, the operational speed and response times are not compromised. Apps perform just the way they would if they were developed for the native operating systems. ### 7.Community support Flutter is open source. As with most open-source software, there is a community of contributors who enhance and maintain the framework. Due to this, Flutter is constantly improving. When developers hit a roadblock, they can consult the community for resolution or support ### 8\. User-friendly UI Flutter enables developers to provide attractive UI (User Interface) to the app users. An attractive and easy UI  is a very lucrative feature to have in an app to retain customers. Flutter provides developers with a wide range of widgets that they can use to create attractive UIs. Conclusion ---------- Flutter is easy to use and gives a great number of cost benefits. It is growing in popularity and is adapted by developers across the globe. Google Ads is a recent app made using Flutter and is being received very well by its user community. Given its immense advantages, Flutter has all the potential to be a go-to platform for app development. Especially the ones which need to be developed in a short period without compromising on performance and user experience. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Understanding Beacon Technology and its applications. Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-07-17 Meta Description: Beacons are small, wireless transmitters that use low-energy Bluetooth technology to send signals to other smart devices nearby Tags: Tech Talk, IoT, IoT devices, bluetooth, wifi URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/beacon-technology In hand in a world that runs at a fast pace fueled by technology, hardware and software go hand in hand. Technical innovations such as beacon technology have empowered the marketing space giving a boost to businesses. What is this beacon technology? How does it work and how do businesses benefit from it? Definition of Beacon technology ------------------------------- As general knowledge goes, beacons are the guiding lights for ships in the seas. However, things are different in the digital world. Here, they are tiny transmitters that do not use visible light.  Beacons are based on Bluetooth technology. The low energy Bluetooth(BLE) to be precise.They are small, wireless transmitters that unidirectionally transmit small amounts of information to the receiving devices that are at a small circumference around them. How does a beacon work? ----------------------- A beacon repeatedly broadcasts an identifier signal. A receiving device in its vicinity such as a smartphone picks up this identifier and a connection is established between the beacon(transmitter) and the smartphone(receiver). Upon establishing the connection successfully, the beacon then executes the function it is intended for.  For example,If the beacon is installed at the entrance of a national park the intended function could be sending the map of the hiking trail to the recipient. If it is in a shopping complex, the beacon could send the receiver a curation of discounts and offers available for that day in the stores of the complex. The applications of beacon technology are endless. Dissecting the beacon technology -------------------------------- As with all communication, beacon technology consists of a transmitter and a receiver. ### Transmitter The word “Beacon” reminds me of a lighthouse. Is this beacon you talk about as big as a lighthouse? you ask. The answer is, No.  The main component of a beacon is a proximity sensor. And then there is a tiny CPU, a BlueTooth transmitter, and a battery for the power supply. This makes the beacon flexible in size and application. You can stick it on a stationary object, say a wall, or on a moving object like a laptop for the purpose of asset tracking. And what does it transmit? A beacon transmits an “identifier” in the form of radio waves. That is all they do. The magic happens at the receiver end. ### Receiver The receiver in the beacon technology is your smartphone. To be precise, the apps on your phone. As the beacons are not capable of duplex communication, they will not read back any data from the receiver. A smartphone app, on receiving a signal from the beacon, decodes the signal. In simpler cases, a few characters are displayed as push notifications enabled by this transmitted signal. In more sophisticated applications, the app connects to the internet and looks up the received code. Then, it performs the actions corresponding to the identifier.  For example, in a coffee shop, a signal from the beacon can prompt the smartphone to show the latest menu or offers available. Beacon only facilitates the connection to that particular webpage on the internet. You can frequently change the displayed content without having to reconfigure the beacon hardware Applications ------------ The applications of beacon technology are infinite. Some of them are mentioned below. Retail sector: Beacons can be placed at each section of a supermarket that informs the user about the products/discounts/offers available in that section. Navigation and Transportation: Beacons can be used to guide paths to visitors in museums and national parks where GPS is not suitable. In Airports and Rail/Bus terminals, beacons can be used to intimate the user about the scheduled arrival or delays with the next train/bus in the terminal Notification system: In smart cities, beacons can be used to publish area-wise news and notifications to residents as they pass by the beacon’s location. Know more about smart cities Asset tracking: Beacons can be used to track assets and containers in large warehouses. Why only warehouses? You can also use it to track coffee table books in your cafe lest anyone carries them out mistakenly.  Apple has recently launched Air Tags for tracking assets. Air Tags are based on beacon technology Pace wisdom has also implemented a similar tracking device. Read all about it Better targeted advertising: With beacons, it is possible to know the browsing and shopping patterns of individuals. This will help to build a more precise digital twin based on their offline purchase patterns.  What’s good about beacon technology? ------------------------------------ 1. Beacons are small. You can install them almost everywhere and they won’t be an eyesore 2. Beacons are inexpensive. You can install many beacons on your premises without burning a hole in your pocket 3. Installation is easy. 4. Beacon technology is supported by both android and iOS(iOS 7 onwards). So it will serve a major chunk of mobile users Hiccups ------- 1. The user would have to install an app to receive the information from the beacon and execute the task. This might discourage a lot of users from availing the benefits of beacon technology because not everyone needs another app on their phone. 2. Another expectation for smooth execution of beacon functions is that the BlueTooth has to be ON all the time on users’ smartphones. There is resentment in the general public to do this as they fear battery drainage.  In a nutshell ------------- Beacons cannot read back data from user devices, therefore they are safe from a data security perspective. As Android and iOS support this, the technology can be utilized to [hyper-personalize](https://www.convinceandconvert.com/research/hyper-personalization/) the user experience.  All in all, beacons are good touchpoints for analyzing user behavior and for marketing purposes. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Web Vitals: Why are they important? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-07-09 Meta Description: Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or developer, Web Vitals can help you quantify the experience of your site and identify opportunities to improve. Tags: Tech Talk, User Experience, Debugging, DevTools, Media, Performance URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/web-vitals Optimizing the quality of user experience is key to the long-term success of any site on the web. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or developer, Web Vitals can help you quantify the experience of your site and identify opportunities to improve. Foreword -------- In this blog, let us try to understand what happens inside a search engine and what sets one website higher than another one in Google page rankings. We shall try to understand some jargon like core web vitals, speed metrics, page ranking, SEO, and more. We will illustrate them in simple words to understand them better. For a brief and compressed version, please scroll to the last section of this article Introduction ------------ Do you sometimes wonder if your new website is reaching all your target audience? Are the users comfortable using your website or are they unhappy with the experience? As a blog owner do you wonder why don't you get new readers despite putting up thoughtfully curated diverse content? Well, in the backend of your search engine (Google for example), there is an intelligent algorithm at play, called SEO(Search Engine Optimisation) that is responsible for displaying websites when a user searches for one, with a keyword. A site’s SEO score is determined by four factors. Technical, content, user experience, and mobile. Tackling that algorithm will help you gain more visibility and reach more audiences. Page ranking is one of the most crucial segments of a good SEO score. Understanding Page Rankings or SEO ---------------------------------- From time to time, Google announces what according to them makes a good webpage. Web pages that meet their standards are ranked from best to worst. To put it in simple words, **Page rankings by Google indicate how important the website is to them**. A higher position in Google’s ranking list paves a path for **increased user traffic**. Viewers also tend to associate a higher-ranked website as highly **reliable** and **authentic**. A higher page rank also translates to a good SEO score. This time around, Google announced that they have modified their page ranking algorithm to focus on ‘**page experience’.** What determines the best page experience for a user? What benchmarks can you monitor to understand if your website gives the user a good experience? The answer is core web vitals. What are core web vitals? ------------------------- Core web vitals are the important aspects that influence the user experience on a web page. Google defines three core web vitals. They are, * **Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)**  * **First Input Delay(FID)**  * **Cumulative Layout Shift(CLS)** Let us now try to understand each core web vital in more detail Largest Contentful Paint ------------------------ LCP is the time taken for the largest element of the website to appear on the screen. If there is a video of 1 megabyte, a gif of 40kb, and an image of 100kb in a webpage, the time taken for the video to load completely determines the LCP time for the web page (not the total time taken to load the video, gif, and image together) ### Benchmark  Tools like [Lighthouse](https://developers.google.com/web/tools/lighthouse) and [chrome user experience report](https://developers.google.com/web/tools/chrome-user-experience-report) help in the measurement of LCP for a webpage. According to Google, the LCP should be less than 2.5 seconds. An LCP above 2.5seconds but less than 4 seconds needs improvement. LCP greater than 4 seconds is considered poor as per google standards. Applying it to our example, the video should be ready to be played within 2.5 seconds of loading the website on the browser, to provide the best experience to the user ### How to optimize LCP? You can use some of the following suggestions to optimize LCP 1. Improve server response time: It is a good idea to optimize your server, or route the user queries to CDN(Content Delivery Network) near them. You can also cache assets for a quicker server response 2. Reduce blocking times: render-blocking resources like scripts and stylesheets introduce delays to LCP. So it is better to defer non-critical JavaScript and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Also, reduce CSS blocking time with tools like minify CSS or by inlining critical CSS 3. Minimize time taken for loading resources: You can compress images and text files or preload some resources. You can also employ adaptive serving 4. Special care for sites that render on the client-side: If your websites are rendered on the client-side instead of servers, then try to do some pre-rendering or minimize critical JavaScript. If possible, try to shift to server-side rendering. First Input Delay ----------------- The first input delay is the time between the user’s first interaction and its response from the website. The quicker the response, the better is the browsing experience for the user. Though the webpage is completely loaded complying with the LCP benchmark, if the touches and swipes go unresponsive even for a short duration, the user experience is compromised.  ### Benchmark FID can also be determined from the Chrome user experience report. For a good user experience, the FID should be less than 100milliseconds. Google classifies a response time between 100ms to 300ms as needing improvement and anything greater than 300ms as poor performance. ### How to optimize FID? You can use some of the following suggestions to optimize FID 1. Avoid heavy JavaScript execution by breaking up long tasks and deferring unused JavaScripts 2. Optimize your web page and keep it ready for interaction.  3. Keep an eye on third party script executions so that they do not pre-empt the first party scripts Cumulative Layout Shift ----------------------- CLS measures how stable the webpage is by checking how fast do elements move around in the webpage. If a clickable button or an image moves while the user tries to click on it, or if the webpage shifts down due to an ad banner loading on top of the webpage, it leads to a layout shift. Google suggests keeping layout shifts to a minimum for a better user experience. ### Benchmark [Lighthouse](https://developers.google.com/web/tools/lighthouse#:~:text=Lighthouse%20is%20an%20open%2Dsource,web%20apps%2C%20SEO%20and%20more.&text=From%20there%2C%20use%20the%20failing,how%20to%20improve%20the%20page.) can be used to measure CLS too. By comparing the displayed frames, movement is identified. With this data, CLS is calculated. A value less than 0.1 is considered to be a good score by Google, while a score between 0.1 and 0.25 needs improvement, anything above 0.25 is considered poor ### How to optimize CLS? 1. Avoid images without dimensions on your webpage. Always include size attributes in your image and video elements 2. Reserve space for Ad slots and dynamic contents (like pop up dialogue boxes) 3. Use transform animations instead of animation of properties In a nutshell ------------- Core web vitals are considered for page ranking in websites on mobile browsers only. Google defines 3 core web vitals that greatly influence user experience and page ranking. * LCP is a measure of webpage loading performance * FID gauges responsiveness of the webpage * CLS evaluates the visual stability All three web vitals must fall in the ‘good’ score band as defined by Google to secure a higher position in page rankings and thereby improve SEO score. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Minimalist UI for Appealing Apps Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-07-01 Meta Description: Simplicity is at the heart of Minimalist UI Design. “Less is more” is the mantra that the concept of minimalism thrives on. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, Design, minimalist ui, UI Design URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/minimalist-ui As per [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/276623/number-of-apps-available-in-leading-app-stores/), there are over five million apps on various mobile app stores on the internet. There are over 50 apps on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s app store just for accessing emails. How do you make your app stand out in this competitive scenario? How do you make people choose and keep coming back to your app regularly?  A first impression makes the best impression on a new customer. Therefore, the appearance or UI of the app/website can be classified as one of the demarking factors among different options available for the customers. As counterintuitive as it sounds, a thoughtfully made minimalist design stands out in a crowd of blingy and stuffed spaces. In arts and design, the essence of minimalism is to focus and convey only the essential element.  One can adopt Minimalist UI to make a strong and memorable impression on users. Principles of Minimalist UI design ---------------------------------- Simplicity is at the heart of minimalist design. “Less is more” is the mantra that the concept of minimalism thrives on. In a minimalist UI(User Interface) design, * The figures and illustrations are kept simple and minimal. Usually, geometric or simple two-dimensional patterns are preferred. * The color scheme is built around a few solid colors that are close to one another in the color chart. Heavy gradients, shadows, and other effects are not preferred in the minimalist design scheme. * Minimalist designs use only basic fonts that are clear and simple. Since the objective is to convey the mandatory information to the reader without much fanfare, heavily beautified calligraphic cursive fonts and their likes are discouraged. Advantages of having a minimalist UI ------------------------------------ 1. Apps and websites designed on the principles of minimalism are friendlier to users. They are simple. And since they are not cluttered with unnecessary information and options, they are easy to navigate and use. 2. A minimalist website loads faster and the apps designed with minimalist UI launch quicker. In the absence of data consuming unnecessary details like heavy designs and fonts, the performance of the app/website is great even with low internet speeds. 3. Search engine bots can easily crawl through websites that are designed on minimalist design principles. Therefore websites with minimalist UI are SEO friendly 4. In a mechanical system, the probability of failure is directly proportional to the number of moving parts. Similarly in digital systems, the probability of crash and breakdown is higher with increased complexity like plugins, several integrated applications, and animations. Hence, a minimalist UI reduces the number of failure incidents in the app/website Guidelines for a Minimalist UI design ------------------------------------- Some common guidelines to keep in mind while designing an app or a website with minimalist UI principles are explained below ### Understand the target devices The design approach should be different for mobile apps and desktop websites. While mobile apps are all about a touch interface, websites have to be optimized for mouse movements and clicks. Also, mobile screens are smaller than desktop displays. All these factors have to be taken into account while planning the layout of the app/website and also the information that you plan to include in the app/website. ### Retain only the necessary elements When designing the application, before introducing each element ask yourselves if it is necessary. Introduce it only if the end product would lack something in the absence of the said element. Always remember, less is more ### Choose a color palette  Colour sets the mood and tone of your app. An app designed for meditation and sleep assistance is better displayed in soothing colors like blue or green instead of loud and bright colors such as red or orange. A reading app is better designed in neutral colors. For a minimalist design, you can either pick different tints of the same color or you can pick 2-3 colors that are close to each other in the color palette and make it the principal color theme for your app/website ### Choose a font For mobile applications, it is better to stick with system-provided fonts. This is favorable since the mobile screens are small and users are familiar with system fonts. For websites, it is better to stick with the default fonts of the OS. Also, keep the size of the fonts nominal (Or as recommended by Android and iOS). Spacing between the lines also affects the readability of the text. Keep it at an optimal spacing to avoid a cluttered or scattered appearance. ### Use the white space to your advantage The presence of white space on the screen attracts the user’s attention to the most important elements of the page. If white is not in the chosen color palette, you can keep the mildest color/tint from your chosen color scheme as a blank background. The presence of white space as a page divider greatly enhances the aesthetic beauty of the web page. ### Images and Icons An image can be used to convey a message that is better expressed in figures than in words. Or, a simple abstract design can be used to complement the white space. Whenever the images are used, make sure that their color scheme matches with your chosen color palette and keep it subtle. Icons help in easier navigation in mobile apps. In a minimalist UI design, it is advisable to keep the icons small and simple. It should also clearly convey the function it executes. Successful Minimalist UI designs  --------------------------------- In 2015, Microsoft opted in for a flat design for the logo of Windows 10. The entire OS also saw a transition from the previous intricate and colorful appearance coupled with shadow effects to minimal 2D icons and bars. This gave the popular OS a refreshed and professional look.  Today, most of the brands have migrated towards minimalist logos. You can observe the evolution of logos of Airbnb, Google suite, Mozilla firefox and notice a paradigm shift towards minimalist design. These examples prove that minimalist design and UI appeal to the users. Coupled with all the advantages that this school of design brings in, the aesthetic beauty of minimalist products is unparalleled. Minimalist UI and [visual hierarchy](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/boosting-ux-with-visual-hierarchy/) is a great design choice for a new product launching in the market. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Instant Apps - A tool to expand business outreach Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-06-17 Meta Description: Instant apps allow the user to partially reap the benefits of an app without downloading it. We try to analyze this magic in the article. Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, mobile app development, app clips, instant apps URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/instant-apps How many of us have a slow responding smartphone cluttered with apps? How many of us thought twice before downloading a new app with the fear of overriding our phone’s memory budget? How many of us get annoyed when we are forced to download an app for a better user experience that we cannot get from the same application’s website on a mobile browser? We do not want to upgrade our phones for the sole purpose of installing more applications, but we would love to enjoy the seamless experience of an app without installing it. How is it possible? Google has given thought to this problem and has come up with the concept of “Instant Apps”. Apple has also recently announced, “[App clips](https://developer.apple.com/app-clips/)” that are similar to Instant Apps. For users who ponder “I want the app, I want the app not”, “I want to have the cake and eat it too”, Instant apps come as the perfect solution. What are Instant Apps? ---------------------- Instant apps allow the user to partially reap the benefits of an app without downloading it. Let us consider an example. Let us assume that you do not use any ride-hailing apps in your daily life. But on one unlucky day when your car broke down, you wanted to take a cab to reach home. Downloading and installing a ride-hailing app, registering yourself, and then booking a ride would be overkill since you aren’t likely to use it in the future. Uninstalling it, later on, will leave residual files in your smartphone.  If only the ride-hailing app had enabled the instant app feature, you just had to open (just open, not download/install) the app on the Play Store and book a ride just as you would if you had the native app in your phone. Instant apps are a middle ground between websites and mobile apps. They are more powerful than websites accessed from browsers. They offer the experience of an app without having to install them on phones.   Advantages of Instant Apps -------------------------- As we have already established, instant apps allow you to enjoy the benefits of apps without having to install them. The other benefits are 1. Direct navigation to the desired page on the app without installation. 2. Instant apps are the best way to try an app for its performance before installing it. This works best for paid apps. 3. There is no fear of apps running in the background and secretly collecting user data. 4. Instant apps are easier to share. It is even easier for the receiving party to try it immediately. How can businesses benefit from this feature? --------------------------------------------- Businesses can use the feature of Instant apps to their benefit in many ways 1. The ease of access of apps will increase engagement with users. This might also translate to increased sales. 2. Instant apps can be used to provide users an option to try before they buy the app. This will reduce the negative reviews from users who didn’t particularly like the app. After all, they haven’t spent their money on it 3. When users have tried instant apps, businesses get instant feedback about their product based on how many users install the app after trying it 4. Owing to the easy share feature, the app is likely to reach a wider user base. Also, hyperlinks to the instant apps can be given via blogs, websites, and social media thus increasing the user base. Use Cases --------- As demonstrated by Google, one of the applications of this feature is a parking meter. It is not practical to keep a parking meter app on the phone for accessing a parking meter in a street that you visit twice a year at max. In such scenarios, one can simply tap the parking meter with their NFC-enabled phone, which immediately opens the instant app landing on a QR code to make payment for the duration of parking. This idea can be extended to rental bikes, umbrellas, and several such day-to-day use cases Another popular use case is for simple mobile games like crossword or tic tac toe. Gaming applications have a larger scope for sharing among friends and social circles thereby widening the user base Final thoughts -------------- As it is supported by both Android and iOS, Instant apps are sure to gain popularity in the forthcoming days. This will have a great impact on [how mobile applications are developed](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/ios-app-development/). To gain a wider foothold, businesses can seriously consider whether they want to launch instant versions of their apps. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## What is Serverless Computing? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-06-11 Meta Description: Serverless computing is when the physical server hardware is located elsewhere and hosted by a third-party vendor. Tags: Tech Talk, Cloud Services, Devops, devops, serverless computing URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/serverless-computing I don’t drink tea regularly. Once or twice a year, I do fancy a cup of green/black tea. Given my consumption pattern, it would be ridiculous if I own a tea garden and a processing unit solely for domestic use. It would be a waste of land, water, manpower, and many more resources for a minuscule demand. Buying tea leaves from the market is a more viable plan. _Why am I speaking about tea gardens in a tech blog?_  If you have an idea for a web-based startup, you don’t have to break your head about setting up a physical server, what configurations to use, or how to maintain them. With the advent of serverless computing, the entire responsibility of the server part of your business will be taken by third-party vendors. As with the tea gardens, you don’t have to have a big server farm when you are unsure about the computing power required and the number of users you will be serving over time. Serverless? Does that mean servers are obsolete now? ---------------------------------------------------- Serverless does not mean that a server is absent. It means that the physical server hardware is located elsewhere, hosted by a third-party vendor and you access the services remotely. This third party that hosts the server is called a cloud vendor or cloud service provider. Conveniently, you only have to pay for the resources like space, computing power, that you consume for running your applications. The resources offered by the vendor are completely scalable. That is, there is no concept of pre-allotted space in the server. You can use as much or as little computing space and power as your business applications demand. What applications run on serverless architecture? ------------------------------------------------- Any application that runs on a traditional on-site origin server can run on serverless architecture too. It is most suitable for beta or prototype applications where time to market is crucial. And also when the usage and user volume of the application is unpredictable. FaaS and BaaS are popular services that are hosted on serverless platforms. ### A note on BaaS Serverless architecture can be a good platform for hosting backend applications. Backend as a service (BaaS) is a third-party vendor service that allows the developers to concentrate on the front end while backend operations like database management, user authentication are handled by the vendor. Sometimes the same vendor provides both serverless computing and BaaS facilities. ### A note on FaaS Function as a service (FaaS) is also a cloud service. It runs on serverless architecture and can be considered as a subset of serverless computing. FaaS lets developers write code that executes as a response to events (like clicking something on a webpage). The physical server hardware, the operating system running on that virtual machine, and management of the web server are all maintained by the vendor allowing the developers to fully concentrate on developing their applications Why opt for Serverless Computing? --------------------------------- As we have already established, in the serverless computing model, you **pay as you go**.  In the conventional on-site server model, there are fixed cost overheads for unutilized and underutilized resources too. It is avoided in the serverless computing model resulting in notable cost savings. Another advantage of a serverless computing model is the **ease of scalability**. If you want to scale up your code for an increased number of users, you do not have to worry about changing the server architecture. The cloud vendor who hosts your server applications will do it for you by altering the relevant configuration in the server. As with scaling up, scaling down is also handled with ease by the vendor. **Accelerated time-to-market** is another desirable advantage of adapting the serverless computing model. This is because deployments are quicker owing to the provision of FaaS by vendors. **Reduced latency** is another benefit of using serverless architecture for your applications. This is because the vendor has servers distributed across the globe. So, the data and instructions have to travel a lesser distance to reach the server when compared to a traditional single server. Serverless computing is **friendlier to the environment** as compared to traditional server-based architecture. This is because, in the traditional model, the server needs to keep running whether or not it is in use by the applications. But in the serverless model, the remote servers are shared with many more customers. Hence, they are always in use and there is no idle run time. Here is more on [Sustainability from an IT standpoint](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/sustainable-it/). Disadvantages of the Serverless Computing architecture ------------------------------------------------------ Serverless computing does not come without its fair share of disadvantages, data security being the biggest point of concern. There is a risk of a data breach since the serverless vendor hosts many customers on the same physical server. This occurs if the vendor has made an error in the client configuration.  Also, since many applications run on a single machine, there could be issues with performance and response times. Another drawback is what is called the ‘cold start’. If a certain application is dormant for a long duration due to lack of user demand, it will take some time to get launched when a user requests it.  Difficulty to port applications between two different vendors can also be another disadvantage of adapting the serverless computing model. This is because the features offered and workflow adapted by the vendors could be different. Bottomline ---------- The disadvantages of serverless computing can be avoided by choosing the right vendor who provides a favorable server platform. In the digital age, [everything is offered as a service (XaaS)](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/xaas/). And hence, by honing the benefit of BaaS, FaaS, and serverless computing methods, startups, and new businesses can invest more budget in their business plan, as serverless computing does not cost a fortune. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## The importance of technology in Supply Chain Management Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-06-07 Meta Description: Enhancing supply chain management methodologies with Simulation models, Real-time tracking, Analytics, and Blockchain. Tags: Tech Talk, Blockchain, Supply Chain Management, logistics, Supply Chain, SCM, Technology in SCM, Tracking, Transport URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/supply-chain-management I remember the events of March 2021 when the gigantic carrier 'Ever Given' was stuck in the Suez canal threatening the global economy by disrupting the supply chain for almost the whole of Europe for a week. The domino effect of the blockage is predicted to last a long time widening the gap between demand and supply in crucial sectors such as the semiconductor industry. Was this a case of poor supply chain management? Was this disruption preventable? Does technology play a part in supply chain management? Is it possible to avoid such disruptions in future with the help of technology? Should the global supply chain face the brunt of bottlenecks like the one at the Suez canal?  To answer these questions, we should first understand what is supply chain management. Basics of Supply Chain Management (SCM) --------------------------------------- Supply chain management is the handling of the movement of goods and services from the manufacturers to the consumers. The handling starts with the raw materials necessary for manufacturing the goods and ends with placing the finished goods at the hands of the end customer. #### **SCM consists of five basic components:** #### **Planning** Involves planning of all resources needed to fulfil the customer demands for a particular good/service. #### **Sourcing** Involves identifying the suppliers of raw materials required for the product, ordering the raw materials, transporting them, working out the storage of raw materials, and handling the payment to suppliers. #### **Manufacturing** This is the stage that includes building the product from the raw materials, packing, and shipping them. #### **Delivery and logistics** Deals with supplying the required number of finished goods to customers, transporting them, and receiving payments for delivered goods. #### **Returning** Consists of taking back defective goods and arranging for replacement or repayment There can be unexpected disruptions in all the aforementioned phases of SCM. Interleaving technology with the general operations of SCM can help predict and mitigate such disruptions before they occur and cause damages. Let us see how Role of technology in handling disruptions in SCM ------------------------------------------------- Technology is used in SCM for identifying potential problems in the supply chain, for adjusting the dynamic pricing and for ensuring the availability of the product that is promised to the consumer. Disruptions in the supply chain are many. There are natural disruptors like floods and storms(like the snowstorms in Texas in 2021), accidents like fire incidents that could burn down the entire inventory and machinery used for manufacturing (like the fire in Renesas plant, Japan in 2021), security attacks, tax dynamics, and pandemics like COVID19.  The role of engineers is to find solutions to problems using technology. Indeed, there are ways to prevent and mitigate these disruptions. Some solutions are listed below ### Simulation models  A digital twin of the physical supply chain model will help in studying the effect of problems on supply chains. Disruptions can be artificially introduced in the digital model to study the cause-effect relationship. Knowing the behaviour in the presence of disruption will enable the planning committee to be better equipped to face it. In best-case scenarios, the losses can be minimized when the extent of damage is known in advance ### Real-time tracking Keeping a tab on inventory in real-time gives a clear picture of the current state of affairs at the supply chain. Disruptions in transit of products like vehicle strike, road closures etc can be identified almost immediately and addressed at the earliest ### AI and ML for prediction The supply chain operates to supply for demands. Using AI and ML on past data, future demands can be predicted, thus triggering a stock up in inventory for quicker delivery of goods in case a higher demand is expected. In case the AI predicts a reduced demand, wastage of perishable inventory can be prevented by not stocking excess products. ### Blockchain Blockchain finds application in SCM for tracing the origin of each raw material. [Blockchain being secure](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/exploring-blockchain-based-data-security/), creates a transactional record at every phase. Any problem arising at any point in the supply chain can be traced back to its origins thus preventing a similar problem from occurring again Other applications of technology in Supply chain Management ----------------------------------------------------------- ### Analytics Analytics helps to optimise the supply chain. AI-based analytics tools can crunch a large amount of data and provide accurate business forecasts. Planning can also be more accurate with AI-based analytics.  ### Inventory management Inventory management ensures the presence of the right products in the right place at the right time. Effective inventory management tools will reduce shipment times, minimize oversells and stockouts. Accounting also becomes quicker with these tools Conclusion ---------- To answer the questions we started with, could disruptions like that of shipments being blocked at the Suez canal be prevented by technology? Possibly not, at present. But other disruptions like overselling of stocks can certainly be prevented. However, such problems can be foreseen with technology. Organizations then have some time to think about possible solutions to foreseen problems. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise when the disruptions do happen and the organization is not left fumbling for solutions. Here are some [SCM tools](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/essential-supply-chain-management-tools/) that organizations can explore for their processes. Thus, it is safe to say that technology makes the supply chain agile and better equipped to handle disruptions. It also optimizes the usage of resources thereby minimizing loss due to wastage. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Best practices to improve Digital Experience Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-06-02 Meta Description: A cluttered place tends to confuse the audience, and the digital experience becomes far from great. Moderation is the key. Tags: Tech Talk, Design, UX Design, User Experience, digital experience URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/digital-experience Modern-day businesses are very dynamic and fast-paced. Hence it becomes important for them to create new avenues to generate revenue, enhance brand identity and keep the customer engaged. These days, the average attention span of the human brain is 8 seconds. Businesses that connect to potential customers in the digital domain have to make an impression on them within this duration. What can they do the best to capture their attention? How can they improve their digital experience? How can they provide the best user experience? UI and UX are the commonly used terms in digital design platforms. UI stands for User Interface whereas UX denotes User Experience. These elements are crucial for a product and they go hand in hand in creating an elevated digital experience. A well developed UI/UX can make or break a product. In this regard, a business can follow the following tips to create an improved digital experience for a user: #### **Know your user** It always helps to know the general characteristics of your customer base. These include the age group, region, individual shopping history. These can be incorporated into the design element for a better experience #### **Keep it simple** A cluttered place tends to confuse the audience, and that is not the goal. Moderation is the key. Keep the design layout, colour scheme, graphics and text visually appealing. You can use tools like [Xcode](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/xcode-setting-up-a-colour-style-guide-for-a-project/) to set up a uniform colour palette. Avoid redundant elements #### **Clarity** Don’t keep the customer guessing your product. Your design must convey what your business/product is all about. It should help the user understand the real value of what is being offered. Ensure to articulate and guide the experience to follow a natural pattern or instinct. #### **Flexibility** The best experience would come when the design is visually appealing, and most importantly works for interactions on all touchpoints. Focus on a design that functions perfectly in all formats, utilizing solid topography across multiple device resolutions like a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Boosting digital experience with visual hierarchy ------------------------------------------------- The concept of the visual hierarchy has been applied in design much before the Internet came into the forefront. Visual Hierarchy determines the order in which people view and process the information put out, regardless of whether digital or print. The main purpose of defining a clear visual hierarchy is to guide the user towards the content or actions of importance.  When in print, the onus would be more on the caption of a heading of the advertisement. Whereas, in the digital product, it is more of a branding message or a call to action. Visual hierarchy is an exceptional way of creating an orderly and purposeful customer experience while striving to improve the chances of achieving a strategic outcome. So here are few steps UX designers can follow to achieve a clear sense of visual hierarchy in digital products and give the users an amazing experience. ### Defining Brand Objectives and UX: There are various methods through which product teams define specific goals for each section of the products. One tried and tested technique of shaping the definition of UX goals is “S.M.A.R.T”, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Trackable.  Brand objectives are also equally important as these reflect the goals of a business.  A collaborative visual hierarchy workshop is the most effective way of documenting the UX and brand objectives of various phases of the customer’s journey. ### Ranking Actions and Content: After setting the UX and brand objectives, it is time to define the appropriate visual hierarchy. This refers to the content, each piece of the action, and documentation of design. When designers start getting acquainted with taking visual hierarchy into account while designing, it opens up possibilities and adds real depth to user interfaces. ### Building Visual Hierarchy into the Design: The third step is laying out the necessary templates and deciding upon the placement of highly ranked elements. Multiple variations may be needed to cater to a range of scenarios and it all must be created at this stage to ensure that nothing is overlooked. Benefits of Visual hierarchy ---------------------------- Introducing a visual hierarchy workflow into the design process is sure to result in a great user experience. It can be woven into every element of a brand’s imagery, composition and tone. The deeper the design, the more appealing it appears to the customers and the more focused the experience is bound to be. It is evident that a clear visual hierarchy is not only beneficial to boost UX but also creates a sustainable workflow that provides the design process with a strategic focus, which is very crucial in today’s modern product design environment Conclusion ---------- A successful product is a true reflection of an organization, of its values, mission, and vision. As the product gains feedback, it drives a desire to innovate and make it better. AI, webchat and augmented conversation play a major role in making designs more sophisticated and they strike a winning chord for customers and businesses. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Why is Software Maintenance so important? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-05-25 Meta Description: Software maintenance is an activity that is performed throughout the lifetime of a software product, to ensure security and relevance. Tags: Tech Talk, Web Development, Software Development, software lifecycle, software maintenance URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/software-maintenance Let us assume, you want to own a shiny new car. Buying a car is just one step in the process of owning the car. For the car to be a reliable mode of personal transportation, regular maintenance is a must. Similarly, your house needs to be vacuumed and dusted, leaks to be fixed and electrical short circuits to be repaired on a regular basis. When left unattended, the house becomes uninhabitable over time and collapses under its own weight. Software is no different. As the lines of code increase, greater becomes the need of software maintenance. Software development life cycle typically consists of the following phases * Requirement analysis * Design * Coding * Testing The phase after the tested software is released is the maintenance phase which lasts for the rest of the time the software is in use. What is the scope of Software Maintenance? ------------------------------------------ Software maintenance basically consists of making small but significant changes to the delivered software that is in use. These changes are done either to fix bugs or to optimize and make enhancements to the [user experience](https://pacewisdom.com/services/digital-experiences) of the software. Sometimes, it is also done to discontinue some features that were originally a part of the delivered software. Types of Software Maintenance ----------------------------- It can be broadly classified into the following categories: ### **Preventive Maintenance** This is done proactively by the developers post-release. The intention of preventive maintenance is to prevent software deterioration and help it run seamlessly for a longer duration. Activities included in preventive maintenance are * Code optimization * Detailed documentation * Identification and fixing sleeping bugs in the code ##### **Impact on the user** Preventive maintenance is not noticeable at the user end as the changes are completely centered in the backend. However, this kind of maintenance is helpful for avoiding any foreseeable problems that the user might face in the future, in turn improving the reliability of the software product. ### **Corrective Maintenance** This is adapted to correct the errors and misbehaviours in the software. Usually, user-reported bugs are fixed in corrective maintenance and the fixed code is released as software patches that would take a short time for installation, causing negligible disruption to the end user. ##### **Impact on the user** When user-reported bugs are fixed, the user experience becomes smooth. Also, the users’ trust in the software product is amplified. ### **Adaptive Maintenance** Adaptive maintenance refers to the modifications that are to be made for the software to adapt to the changing environment where the software is running. A recent example is when Apple introduced Macbooks based on the M1 processor, several applications that were designed for Intel processors had to be modified to suit the M1 architecture. ##### **Impact on the user** Adaptive maintenance is necessary for the software to continue to function in dynamically changing environments. Changes are usually done at the backend. Like in corrective maintenance, a small installation might be necessary. ### **Perfective Maintenance** This one focuses on giving the best user experience. Perfective software maintenance lasts for the longest time in the maintenance phase of the software and includes activities such as the addition of new features or refining existing features for enhanced user experience, deletion of legacy features that are no more relevant, and a few redesigning here and there. ##### **Impact on the user** Changes made in perfective maintenance is noticeable to the end user. There might be a small learning curve at the user end to adapt to the changes made. Seeking feedback from the users is recommended when major changes are done. Expertise needed for Software Maintenance process ------------------------------------------------- Software maintenance is an integral activity that needs to be performed throughout the lifetime of a software product, to ensure security and relevance in the changing environmental scenarios. Barring corrective maintenance, other forms of maintenance are slow processes. Nevertheless, the expertise needed for effective maintenance operations is high. The developers should know the entire product and software architecture for knowing the exact impact of their changes. A much dreaded scenario is that a so thought harmless piece of code for slight enhancement results in a serious bug elsewhere in the system. Hence, it is important to have software specialists oversee the maintenance activities. As a software product owner, you can [outsource your project](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/it-outsourcing/) work to consultants like Pace Wisdom who can use [their expertise](https://pacewisdom.com/services.php) for the advantage of the project. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## XaaS: Changing the world, one service at a time Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-04-10 Meta Description: XaaS can be thought of as a periodical subscription to products and services that could be very expensive to purchase in its standalone form. Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, as a service, everything as a service, iaas, paas, saas, software as a service, xaas URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/xaas Today’s world runs on services. Do you want to go somewhere? Hail an uber via the app! Want some blood tests to be done? Summon a lab technician home, via an app on your phone! Unable to cook dinner? Order some food in, with your phone! Everything is provided as a service these days. And there is a term for it. XaaS - Anything/Everything as a Service.  When you hailed an uber taxi, you used Transportation as a service (TaaS). You availed the services of Healthcare as a service(HaaS) when you summoned the lab technician. And with home-delivered food, you were a customer for Food as a service(FaaS). Umpteen services can substitute the ‘X’ in XaaS, thereby making XaaS a collective noun to represent the entities that are offered as a service over the internet. More about XaaS --------------- XaaS can be thought of as a periodical subscription to products and services that could be very expensive to purchase in its standalone form.  For ease of understanding, let us compare it to shelter. We require a house to live in. We can either buy a house paying a huge sum at once or we can rent a house for a fraction of the sum and stay there for a duration that is convenient to us.  When we rent a house, we have the flexibility to move out to a different location for a new job or to explore a new place without any hassles of finding a buyer or tenant for the house. Availing the necessary services with the XaaS model is like renting a house in our analogy. We make use of services as long as we need by paying the required amount and forget about it once we are done. In the following chapters, we shall find out why do customers prefer XaaS? What value does XaaS bring to the table? Advantages of XaaS ------------------ ### Speed For a customer, the greatest benefit of adopting the XaaS model is the speed with which new technologies and process can be adopted. Infrastructure setup time is minimum for the customer. For an organisation that relies on XaaS for various infrastructure related requirements, this is particularly beneficial as there is better access to newer technologies and scope for frequent scaling. ### Expenditure Investment needed on infrastructure is avoided when the customer goes in for XaaS. For example, consider a new e-commerce startup. In the conventional approach, the business should be investing in computer hardware, server, set up a database, look after the data security and hire a full-time development and IT team to maintain them. With XaaS however, all these can be availed as a service from the vendors who also supply the hardware as a part of the service. This allows the business to cut down on capital expenses and convert them into operational expenses. To sum it up, XaaS provides high-quality state of the art services with minimal investment and setup time. This allows organisations to redirect their time and resources to core competencies and trust the XaaS service providers to handle the other necessary routine activities. * ![IT folks optimizing expenditure using SaaS model](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20943477-min-1024x683.jpg) SaaS - a popular model in the XaaS family ----------------------------------------- Most popular among all the XaaS models is the SaaS aka Software as a service. It is one of the three main parts of cloud computing. The other two parts are Platform as a service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a service(IaaS). SaaS allows the users to use cloud-based apps over the internet. In simpler words, you do not have to download and install software on your laptop/mobile phone. You can simply access the services via the browser Most of us have used software without realising that it was in fact SaaS. Some popular apps offered on the subscription model are Dropbox, Google Apps(G Suite), Adobe creative cloud, Netflix, Uber, Spotify...the list goes on.  How much does SaaS score when compared to the traditional licensing model? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- #### **Cost advantage** Cost-wise, SaaS works out cheaper for a short period. For example, let us say that you want to edit one single video and won’t likely be doing it regularly for the rest of your life. Then, you do not have to pay for the entire software and install it on your computer. You can pay for the software for a month, edit your video by creating an account on their website and download the edited content for your use.  #### **Hassle-free update** In the SaaS model, the apps get regularly updated automatically and multiple users can access the services at the same time. No worries about losing your data due to a computer crash or virus attack. Data is safe in the servers of the website where you avail your services from. #### **Benefits for organizations** For organizations, SaaS is the most convenient way to use enterprise applications such as [ERP](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/six-reasons-to-implement-erp-software-in-business/) and CRM. Additionally, in the SaaS model, one can access the data from anywhere. This feature is especially useful for present times where remote working has become the norm. Drawbacks of SaaS ----------------- #### **Security issue** SaaS comes with a question of security about the personal data of end-users. Since we are not sure about the encryption employed by the service provider, there is a slight hesitation from the users to provide private information. Organizations also think twice before uploading proprietary data on the servers of service providers and worry about information theft. #### **Software integration issue** When organizations need to use more than one service provided by two different vendors to implement their products, integrating the two software in the SaaS model turns out to be challenging. #### **High reliability on the internet** As SaaS is a cloud-based technology, it relies heavily on internet connectivity to reach the customer. Internet downtimes can dampen the business goals of organizations Conclusion ---------- Given its ease of use and many other benefits, XaaS, especially SaaS is the most suitable way for organizations to undergo [digital transformation](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/what-is-digital-transformation/). As most enterprises move to cloud-based services, SaaS is the most convenient way to gain access to their services. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Digital Healthcare Trends - A gradual but significant change Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-04-02 Meta Description: The various digital technologies that will fuel the growth of the digital healthcare landscape are outlined in this article. Tags: Tech Talk, Healthcare, Mobile Digital Healthcare, digital healthcare, health monitors, healthcare data, mobile healthcare URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/digital-healthcare The circumstances of 2020 have reinforced the need for an accelerated digital transformation of the healthcare sector. The many digital technologies that will fuel the digital healthcare sector are compiled in this article. Exploring AI in Digital Healthcare ---------------------------------- The digital healthcare sector is expected to further deep dive into AI in the coming years. Artificial Intelligence powered tools shall help doctors in detecting diseases at an early stage (predictive analytics). AI is also used in chatbots for providing information and consultations to patients. AI is best suitable for areas such as precision medicine and medical imaging. With AI, the treatments can be personalized considering the patient’s disease history, genetic makeup when applicable, and allergy information than subjecting the patient to blanket treatment. Making best use of 5G --------------------- 2021 is seeing a surge in hardware support for 5G communication from mobile handset manufacturers. 5G promises increased speed and reliability in data communication between devices. More details on the [implementation of 5G here](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/software-infrastructure-5g/). The healthcare sector could leverage this to its advantage by realizing remote diagnosis and treatments. Wearable Health Monitors with extended feature list --------------------------------------------------- Health parameters measured by wearable health monitors like smart watch has been increasing with every new release of the hardware. New addition to the list of features would be the 5G support. With 5G, health practitioners can reach distant patients easily and collect their vitals in real time.  ![Person running with Health monitor](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4317681-1024x1024.jpg) Blockchain for securing data records ------------------------------------ The history of ailments and other private details of the patient is to be securely stored to prevent it from slipping into malicious hands. Blockchain continues to be the go-to technology to chart out what is called the electronic health records of the patients. Such health records ensure that patients receive a precise treatment considering their disease history. Here is more on [Blockchain and its uses in the healthcare industry](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/blockchain-on-healthcare/). Digital Healthcare on Mobile ---------------------------- With the advent of apps like Practo that enable patients to know about the qualifications of available doctors, book an appointment and also get remote consultation, medical care is practically at the finger tips of the users. Owing to the current circumstances where people refuse to step out unnecessarily, mobile healthcare is expected to get even more popular.  Conclusion ---------- Good and affordable healthcare should reach all individuals independent of their location. This is largely possible with the digitization of the healthcare sector. Implementing these technologies is a sure shot way to gain a firm foothold in the digital healthcare sector. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Why is Managed IT good for your business? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-03-25 Meta Description: The most important aspect of Managed IT is it reduces the burden of having to hire full-time IT experts for the organization. Tags: Tech Talk, Business Process, IT outsourcing, it services, managed it URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/managed-it Let us assume that you are running a small-scale e-commerce website. All data crucial to your business such as sales catalog, payment info, details of customer orders reside on your computer’s hardware. For a trouble free running of business, it is important that these hardwares run continuously and are maintained regularly. Any malfunctioning of these hardware components needs to be troubleshot in the minimum possible time to avoid business disruptions. Who fixes your hardware and IT in times of trouble? The answer is IT services. IT services is a blanket term for the teams that continuously maintain the hardware/database/information and business processes and fix the outages to prevent and reduce downtimes. Basically, they provide value by facilitating the outcomes expected by the customer without the customer having to take ownership of specific costs and risks. When organizations cannot afford to have an in-house IT services team, they can go to Managed Service Providers (MSP) to avail the services of Managed IT, which is a third-party service provider for IT services. Why Managed IT? --------------- Managed IT reduces the burden of having to hire full-time IT experts for the organization. While the management can concentrate on business, Managed IT takes care of the IT services needed. Other than this, there are a few more advantages of Managed IT. Some are listed here: * Managed IT services ensure that downtimes are kept to a bare minimum. Thereby, organizations can have better value to KPIs linked to the efficiency of IT services * With the work experience in the field, Managed services can identify potential problems in the systems before they occur, thus preventing downtimes * Having IT services also ascertain higher efficiency and productivity. * Availability of IT infrastructure is also increased with Managed IT services  Challenges ---------- The most common challenge with Managed IT is the lack of communication between the IT services team and the company’s management. If this is addressed at the time of signing the contract there is not much of a challenge to speak of. Managed IT brings in more benefits to the table than challenges Types of Managed IT services ---------------------------- Most common IT services that can be easily handled by Managed IT are 1. **Data backup services** - As a security measure, it is always a good idea to have a copy of all your data. This will prevent losses in case the database gets corrupt. As data gets refreshed every day, it is important to take a backup of updated data on a routine basis. 2. **Network security services** - Managed IT providers are trained in detecting and eradicating viruses, trojans, malware, and spam in your organization’s computer network. This is also a very important operation one should do regularly to prevent malicious attacks. 3. **Storage services** - For companies with large amounts of data, storing the data in an easily accessible format for easy retrieval is a challenge. Managed IT would be a good choice in this regard as the service providers are equipped with the necessary infrastructure and the knowhow to handle copious amounts of data 4. **Systems management services** - Managed IT services keep an eye on all your network nodes and terminals and monitors the data traffic. This is crucial to predict potential problems before they occur. IT services are also equipped with the expertise to make necessary changes in the system to avoid the expected problems from occurring Types of outsourcing contracts for Managed IT --------------------------------------------- Managed Service Providers (MSP) offer various kinds of engagement models for organizations that wish to avail their services. The most common engagement models are Basic, consulting, and fully outsourced models. ### Basic model  In the basic engagement model, the organization usually has an in-house IT services team. Only a few activities like systems management are handled by the MSPs. This works well when organizations want the internal team to focus more on strategic topics. ### Consultation model In the consultation model, MSPs provide strategic solutions in addition to the services offered in the basic model. Strategic solutions, for example, could be a detailed plan for scaling up the IT operations of the organization. This is suitable if the organization’s internal IT team is young and inexperienced in strategic topics. ### Fully outsourced model In the fully outsourced model, MSPs provide all the IT services needed by the organization. If need be, the equipment for conducting some routine maintenance are provided by the MSP. In addition to the routine activities, there could also be a virtual CIO provided by the MSP. A CIO makes executive decisions such as the purchase of IT equipment. Bottomline ---------- IT services are essential for all businesses that involve computers and software. Hiring a full-time IT services team will prove to be expensive for small and medium-sized businesses. From an economic standpoint, Managed IT works out much cheaper than having in-house IT services. For large businesses, Managed IT frees up the internal employees from mundane everyday activities. They can better utilise their capacities for implementing strategic business ideas and for innovations. All in all, Managed IT relieves the management of the burden of maintaining IT systems and ensuring cybersecurity. Hiring one would undoubtedly be a wise decision and an intelligent investment choice. Here is a deep dive into the field of [IT outsourcing](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/it-outsourcing/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Hyper personalization: An effective tool to attract attention and influence retention Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-03-16 Meta Description: Hyper personalization is the amalgamation of AI and automation with behavioral data to present the most relevant content to the customer. Tags: Tech Talk, Big Data, Machine Learning, artificial intelligence, hyper personalization URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/hyper-personalization Was there a day in your life where you went to a restaurant, read through the menu card and didn’t know what to order? Or a day where you sat in front of the TV and didn’t know what to watch? On such days, would you have appreciated it if the waiter suggested something, you ordered that and ended up loving it? TV suggested a few programs, you picked one and now that is the best program you have ever watched? Studies say that customers desire brands that understand their needs precisely and give them what they want. For instance, advertising meat to a vegan is not an effective utilization of resources. Rather, advertising vegan alternatives for dairy and eggs might help both the seller and the potential customer. Hyper personalization is just that. It is a way to make the brand stand out by giving the customer a very targeted and highly personalized service. Definition of the term hyper personalization -------------------------------------------- By definition, hyper personalization is t_o provide products and services to the customers based on their real-time behavioural data._ Deep down, it is an amalgamation of artificial intelligence(AI) and automation with this behavioural data to achieve the single purpose of presenting the most relevant content to the customer. But then, almost all brands send emails and notifications addressing their customers by their names. Is that hyper personalization? As a matter of fact, not really. Hyper personalization is more evolved and advanced and it involves a lot more algorithms that work on myriads of user data. Personalization vs Hyper personalization ---------------------------------------- Personalization has been around for quite some time now. It merely takes data like user name, user location and purchases history into consideration. Whereas hyper personalization takes into account additional information such as the browsing history of users, or data of any product that is left in the cart without purchase during online shopping, the pictures/pages/videos liked by the user on social media, time spent researching a particular product and other traceable data.  It uses such real-time behavioural data to formulate a digital model of the person with help of AI and then show suitable content to the user in mails, advertisements and shopping suggestions. Some examples ------------- Netflix has different versions of teasers and display-images for the same show. Based on the subscriber’s viewing history, an appropriate teaser is picked and displayed to the viewer by the recommendation engine as push notifications. For example, if the subscriber has watched 2 shows starring a hero x, Netflix will recommend a third show to the subscriber and show the teaser with x’s footage. The subscriber will recognise the hero x in the teaser and there is a higher chance of viewer engagement Amazon’s homepage is also a good example of captivating the customer’s attention with hyper personalization. Various deals and discounts are offered on products that the algorithm picks based on the customer’s browsing pattern and previous purchase data. In India, another apparel e-commerce website Myntra, predicts whether a dress will fit the buyer based on previous purchases of the individual. ### Advantages of hyper personalization For the customer, hyper personalization comes with the advantage of reduced effort. One need not spend much time and energy browsing for products of one’s liking from an ocean of options and researching the suitability of the product.  The customers are not presented with infinite choices that would ultimately overwhelm them. Rather, thoughtfully picked suitable choices are presented before them thereby streamlining and easing the transaction The organisation using this is likely to see the customer coming back to avail their services. This is because hyper personalization adds a personal touch to the process of picking products and services making the customer feel at home. This ensures higher customer satisfaction which largely translates to increased sales ### The early bird catches the worm Hyper personalization is not adopted by most businesses yet. Regular marketing contents are beginning to bore potential customers. Thus, early adopters avail advantage of captivating a large chunk of their target audience.   The initial investment for data collection and formulation of a precise AI algorithm will churn out profits in the near future. Conclusion ---------- Hyper personalization is a sure-shot way for emerging businesses to stand out in the competition. Many customers do not have a clear idea as to what they want. They would appreciate it if options that match their tastes are laid out before them. With the average attention span of the human brain being reduced to 8 seconds, it is very important to catch their attention within that time frame. Hence, hyper personalization makes it to the list of the most sought after [IT trends in 2021](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/it-trends-2021/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Sustainable IT for a Greener Future Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-03-10 Meta Description: The focus of Sustainable IT is to not compromise either on technological progress or on environmental conservation. Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, sustainability, sustainable computing, sustainable IT URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/sustainable-it What comes to your mind when you hear the words like green energy, sustainability, reuse, recycle, low carbon footprint, reduced energy consumption? I asked my friend and he thought I was talking about an eco-friendly home. Would you be surprised if I told you that these terminologies also apply to information technology in a similar context? Organizations across the globe are now progressing towards reducing TCE, Total Cost to Environment. Yes! Sustainable IT is a thing and it is very essential for a green and prosperous future for our planet. WHY DO WE NEED SUSTAINABLE IT? ------------------------------ Execution of a computer program consumes resources. When I say resource, I do not just mean electricity. Memory, the power needed to cool the generated heat are also to be considered while calculating consumed resources. Web-based applications that run on phones and computers additionally use data services to communicate with data centers/servers. Higher the data exchange between the handheld device and the server, the greater is the heat dissipation at the data centers. The hardware components do not work well at temperatures above a certain threshold. Hence the data centers need to be cooled explicitly, thus leading to more energy consumption. It is estimated that data centers constitute nearly 2% of the world’s electricity consumption. It is possible to reduce the consumption of electricity by computing devices if we adopt a greener and optimized approach to computer programming. Reduced wastage of electricity in turn contributes to environmental conservation leading to a more cooperative arrangement between humans and nature. WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE IT AFTER ALL? --------------------------------- The term sustainability applies to both hardware and software parts of the computing device. The intention here is that the progress in technology and communication shall not harm the wellbeing of the environment. The motto of sustainable computing is to not compromise either on technological progress or on environmental conservation. In the forthcoming paragraphs, we focus on the software factors that constitute what is known as green computing, to aid in sustainable IT. Ideal place to implement sustainable measures is the data centre which houses a large array of servers and is a consumer of copious amounts of electrical power. WHAT CAN BE DONE AT DATA CENTERS? --------------------------------- ### Geographical distribution and assignment When a user’s device requests certain data, it is cheaper to send the data from a center that is geographically closer to the device than the one which is in a different continent altogether. Algorithms that facilitate such distributions are the need of the day for greener computing. ### Intelligent distribution of server load For large servers,computation load can be evenly distributed. That is, background tasks of lesser priority can be made to run whenever the data center caters to reduced user traffic.  This will ensure efficient use of continuous power supply and reduced wastage of supplied power. It is also possible to save a considerable amount of energy by designing the user hardwares like mobile phones, home assistants, and other consumer electronics intelligently. SUSTAINABILITY FROM A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE ------------------------------------------ Most of the time, programs do not utilize the capacity of the computers they run on to 100%. A lot of applications are profitable to be run on publicly hosted cloud platforms than investing in local servers. This will result in power savings which would otherwise be spent on keeping the local servers running even when it is not utilized to its max capacity. Hardware at the cloud can be optimized to cater to other programs when the user demand at one terminal reduces. Moving the execution to the cloud also reduces the amount of e-waste produced. SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY ------------------------------------- Computer application developers can also greatly contribute to a greener computation environment by writing applications that are energy and data efficient. Some ways to do the same are listed below. ### Introduce sleep modes Hardware consumes less energy when fewer applications are running on it. Developers can explore the possibility of launching an application only if the user wants it to run. And when no applications are running on the hardware, it can be designed to switch to low energy consuming ‘sleep mode’. This behaviour can also be adapted as an event-driven software. ### Event-driven software The applications are to be designed such that the hardware does not ‘wake up’ from sleep mode unnecessarily and frequently. A transition from sleep mode to normal running mode should happen only if there is a request to do so. This request can be in the form of a hardware/non maskable software interrupt or a synchronisation event provided by the OS. ### Timer synchronisation While designing the applications for embedded systems, be mindful of the timer resolution at the hardware the application is targeted for. If you design your application to run every 50ms but the hardware gives timer interrupts at every 30ms, your application would be delayed by 10ms. If your application is for programming the hardware to go to sleep, a delay of 10ms will cost you in terms of energy expenditure.  On the contrary, if the hardware has a provision for timer interrupts every 1ms, it is not necessary for you to make your applications run in that raster. Unnecessary execution of programs also drains out the energy source. It is hence important to assess the demand and pick the most optimal time raster to run your application. It is always a good idea to estimate the resource consumed once you finish coding for your feature.There are several tools available to measure the energy consumption of an application. Some examples are [Joulemeter](https://joulemeter.en.uptodown.com/windows) and [phoenix](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7845334). CONCLUSION ---------- It is safe to conclude that the lesser a program utilizes resources such as power, data, and memory, the better it is for the environment. A sustainable IT solution shall see to it that there is no wastage of resources at the user end, at the communication channel as well as at the data centre. Further on, if the data centers are powered by renewable energy resources, it would prove to be a great leap in the steps taken to ensure sustainability and that technological advancements and conservation of the environment move hand in hand. Here is how smart cities around the world are taking small steps towards [sustainability with the help of IoT](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/?p=784). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Software Infrastructure for 5G Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-02-26 Meta Description: The software infrastructure for 5G is fundamentally implemented in the cloud. Additionally, it will be completely open and software defined. Tags: Tech Talk, 5G Network, Mobile Networks, 5G technology, software defined nerworking, telecommunication URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/software-infrastructure-5g This might sound cliche but mobile connectivity has indeed developed by leaps and bounds in the last five decades. In the 1980s, 1G delivered analog voice service. Then came the 2G in the early 1990s that introduced digital voice. 3G that came in the 2000s introduced mobile internet. 2010 onwards, 4G LTE (Long term evolution) found its applications in the era of mobile broadband.  5G is the next big thing in mobile networks that promises to take connectivity to the next technical advancement that includes a better use of spectrum,higher speeds, increased reliability and negligible latency. The high data speeds and reliability will be a huge booster for businesses. Accessing cloud based services, augmented reality in online shopping experiences will now be a cakewalk for implementation.  The USP of 5G is that it is not limited to just mobile networks. 5G networks can be used by machines to communicate with other machines (IoT) and also by laptops and other handheld devices.The software infrastructure for 5G is fundamentally implemented in the cloud. Additionally, it will be completely **open** and **software defined**. Software defined network(SDN) - What does that mean? ---------------------------------------------------- The main idea of a software defined network is to decouple, or physically separate the infrastructure of wireless networks from closed hardware network controller and shift it to an intelligent software running on the commodity hardware (your 5G enabled phone, laptop or any other device) This decoupling enables the network control to become directly programmable. Also, the underlying infrastructure can be abstracted for applications and network services.  The SDN architecture is hailed for being 1. **Directly programmable**  2. **Agile** 3. **Centrally managed** 4. **Configurable** 5. **Vendor neutral with open standards** Unlike the seven layered OSI model, the SDN model has three layers. The layers in SDN model are: #### Application layer Hosts the SDN applications and communicates with SDN enabled controllers via APIs. #### Control layer Controls and presents a logical map of the network for the applications running in the application layer ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sdn-arch.jpg) #### Infrastructure layer Actual network hardware consisting of switches, routers and base stations Network slicing --------------- For SDN to truly act as a foundation for 5G, network providers should adopt what is known as network slicing. With network slicing, operators can create thousands of virtual, independent networks within the same physical network that connect from the device through to the application. Whether it’s connecting a handset to mobile broadband or a robot to an automation application, the network operator is able to guarantee service levels for the slice as if it were a distinct network. With network slicing, each slice can have its own architecture, management, and security to support a specific use case. While functional components and resources may be shared across network slices, capabilities such as data speed, capacity, connectivity, quality, latency, reliability, and services can be customized in each slice to conform to a specific Service Level Agreement (SLA) Network slicing is a purely software operation wherein several virtual networks can be created in a matter of minutes through automation. This is where software companies like Pace wisdom come into play, orchestrating, providing configuration and automation services.  Open source - a gateway for innovations --------------------------------------- An open source software is the one whose design is in the public domain and wherein the community contributes to the development and maintenance of the program. An open sourced technology is easily adopted by vendors and consumers alike, because of the magnitude of innovations and quicker resolution of issues. Hence, a combination of SDN and open source, in the form of 5G is sure to be well received and successfully implemented in the communication sector. 5G ushered transformations -------------------------- As [Ericsson](https://www.ericsson.com/en/5g/what-is-5g) predicts,5G has the potential to transform several industries in different ways, as listed below 1. Connected cars that can exchange information and prevent collisions, all by themselves 1. Faster deployment of emergency services to accident locations 2. Autonomous production lines with fast response 3. Increased use of IoT in factories, transforming them into smart factories 4. Greater precision and realism in AR and VR devices To sum it up ------------ The world is moving at a pace where the existing network technologies like 3G and 4G are not sufficient to meet the demands. 5G is indeed the pathway for progress. This technology is very promising since the software infrastructure for 5G is open source and is software defined, guaranteeing oodles of innovation and swift advancements. The IoT sector will stand to benefit the most from this advancement which will eventually boost [Smart city projects](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/smart-city/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How Pace Wisdom Solution Helps in Agricultural Advancement through App Development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-02-23 Meta Description: We received a near-perfect 4-star rating from one of our long-term partners, AgriApp Technologies Pvt Ltd. Tags: Tech Talk, News, agritech URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/clutch-agriapp The avenues that are open in software development seem to be limitless now. Because of the evolution of development technology and [industry-standard practices](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/10/14/nine-software-development-trends-in-2021-to-watch-for-now/?sh=50649ba32e19), we’re able to create something that solves even problems we’ve had for centuries. Pace Wisdom Solutions is here to help clients solve problems through modern technology. Since 2011, we’ve been at the forefront of delivering precise and exquisite development solutions to our clients, helping them achieve their desired outcomes. We’re also in it every step of the way — from the idea visualization to market implementation, we want our partners to create groundbreaking solutions through software and applications. Not too long ago, we received a review from one of our clients on Clutch.  To explain in detail, Clutch is an established platform in the heart of Washington, DC, committed to helping small, mid-market, and enterprise businesses identify and connect with the service providers they need to achieve their goals. Their team of analysts interviews service providers’ clients to collect client feedback, analyze industry data, and compare competitors in a specific market to arm businesses with the information they need to connect with the right service providers. The platform is invested in publishing in-depth client reviews, data-driven content, and vetted market leaders that businesses can access for free. What Clutch does differently is the curating of lists of the absolute best agencies and organizations by industry and location, simultaneously enabling companies to establish credibility and buyers to find the right services. For this review, we received a near-perfect 4-star rating from one of our long-term partners, AgriApp Technologies Pvt Ltd. This project involves assisting in the development of an Android-based mobile application, AgriApp. The objective of the project was to help our partner create an app that provides complete information on crop production, crop protection, smart farming with agriculture, and allied services. As such, they needed a third party that can enable the app to connect all farmers using IoT and Big data. ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/best-1024x744.png) ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/new.png) _“AgriApp \[is\] powered by passionate professionals and dreams about making agriculture more sustainable, in terms of both ecology and economy, with the help of technology in a short time. This is an agriculture app for farmers that will be greatly beneficial to the farming community.”_ — Shreedhar Girennavar, Product Owner, AgriApp Technologies Pvt Ltd While further development enhancements are still ongoing, it’s safe to say that we’ve come a long way since we started in 2017. _“Pace wisdom is quick and agile. Their founders, especially Azzan, go all the way out to fix the issues like the owner. They are practical and deliver value for the project. We are a bootstrapped company and they understand our needs and budget. They actually come with options to choose \[from\] in place of constraints with which we typically get overwhelmed. They are hungry, they are committed, they are design thinkers, they are impressive.”_ You can also view our services on [The Manifest](https://themanifest.com/de/software-development/c-sharp/companies) and leave us a review. That said, Pace Wisdom Solutions can help you build a brighter future for your business. [Connect with us](https://pacewisdom.com/contact) today and find out your development opportunities. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## A curation of interesting IT trends of 2021 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-02-15 Meta Description: The emerging IT trends are classified into three buckets - People centric , Location independent, and Resilient delivery technologies. Tags: Tech Talk, Cloud Computing, Enterprise, cybersecurity, distributed cloud, hyper automation URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/it-trends-2021 We tried looking around for what’s hot and happening in the field of IT and on what technologies do various consultants and business houses place their bets on. What fields received increased funding for this year’s research activities and much more. Read on to know further about the IT trends of this year. [Gartner](https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/gartner-top-strategic-technology-trends-for-2021/) has done the market survey and has classified the emerging technology trends into three buckets, viz., People centric technologies, Location independent technologies, and Resilient delivery technology People centric technology:  --------------------------- Engineering is the application of technology to simplify and ease the lives of people. Hence, the fundamental motto of most engineering companies is to develop applications and products that people cannot imagine living without, once they are introduced to them. One such people centric technology is the **Internet of Behaviours(IoB).** #### Internet of Behaviours Gartner predicts that IoB would be on the top of trends in 2021. IoB is the extension of IoT(Internet of things). While things collected and exchanged data with the IoT technology, IoB utilizes that data to draw some conclusions. For example, if a person has a smartphone, and a wearable fitness tracker like a smartwatch, data about the person’s routine concerning how often does the person order food, what kind of food, how often does the person exercise, and for what duration, sleep quality are collected.  These data are then organized to create a complete health status model of the person. This information opens the gates for a plethora of personalized content like advertisements, insurance suggestions, health tips, etc. This technology could also find apt use cases in applications like ensuring safe driving, maintaining social distance in crowded places, financial applications that regulate spending, and encourage savings and investments to name a few. And this is why Internet of Behavior makes it to our list of emerging IT trends of 2021. Additional to the growth in IoB technology,  there shall also be an emphasis on the **total experience** and **security of private data** of people in 2021. #### Total experience (TX) TX is going to be the new buzzword in 2021. TX is basically an approach that combines employee experience, customer experience, and user experience to ensure the holistic growth of the organization. Implementing effective communication tools that can handle multichannel communications is one way of achieving a good TX. When employees and users know that they are treated with importance, they stay. #### Data Security during computations With the advent of digital transformation in sectors like healthcare and finance, sensitive private data of people is now on the internet. To prevent it from falling into wrong hands and be misused, data security is of paramount importance. One vulnerable point for data theft is during computations on private data. Though the private data is encrypted during storage, the computations are done on fairly unprotected data.  Hence, there is a need for computation and data processing techniques that protect and enhance the privacy of user data during operations, and this is going to be among the top IT trends of 2021. Technologies to ensure location independence: --------------------------------------------- 2020 was a game changer for the way organizations ran the daily operations. It made most organizations realize that it was possible to accomplish work targets even without all the employees necessarily gathering at the office for fixed hours. This discovery has led the organizations to invest more in technologies that open the door for location independent working structure. One such technology is distributed cloud that is expected to gain some traction in 2021. #### Distributed cloud Distributed cloud is a public cloud computing service. Here, the services are not necessarily run on the service provider’s native infrastructure. Instead, it can be run on several infrastructures that are in different geographic locations. This technology will significantly reduce the risk of network failures. Successful implementation of distributed cloud architecture would also pave the way for other operation models like anywhere operations. And with the decentralization of operations, the security of data and communication becomes crucial. For this, a cybersecurity mesh can be of great use and is hence predicted to be a top trend of 2021. #### Cybersecurity Mesh Cybersecurity mesh is a robust and modular approach to the subject of IT security. The term ‘mesh’ refers to the idea that cybersecurity does not apply to only the devices of an IT network rather to all the access points in the network. The security at access points can however be controlled by a centralized control point. This strengthens the weak links of the IT infrastructure network.  Technologies for resilient delivery: ------------------------------------ Organizations should always strive towards gaining complete customer satisfaction. Come rain or shine, the delivery game should go on. In this regard, companies focus more on having technologies that can help them stomach more risks and sustainably deliver outputs by evening out the disruptions in regular work structures. One such idea for flexible business operations is an intelligent composable business #### Intelligent composable business A business that adapts to changing market conditions in real-time and takes quick data-driven decisions is the need of the hour, as the covid related market fluctuations taught us. To realize this, inside info and data of the business should be easily accessible to be augmented and to draw insights. Modularity is at the heart of the intelligent composable business and it is a breath of fresh air from unnecessary bureaucracy and bloated processes. Speaking of processes, there are several process overheads at businesses that add very little value to the business but cannot be done away with. To address such processes, hyper automation is the best solution. #### Hyper automation Hyper automation is a concept that is likely to be adopted by organizations to dampen the factors affecting deliveries. The definition of hyper automation is simply that any repetitive task has to be automated. To realize this, one has to seek help from many tools and technologies like artificial intelligence(AI), Machine learning(ML), and Robotic Process Automation(RPA). Hyper Automation is the answer to how to ease effort consuming complex and repetitive work and it opens a gateway for digital transformation which is another thing most organizations are working on. Intelligent composable business, hyper automation along with AI engineering constitute the IT trends for agility in organizations in 2021. If you enjoyed reading this article, we have an interesting piece on everything you wanted to know about [Smart cities](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/smart-city/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Gamification of Software Development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-02-04 Meta Description: Gamification is not for the entertainment of the employees. Rather, it is to achieve business goals through healthy employee competition. Tags: Tech Talk, Business Process, Software Development, business outcomes, gamification, leaderboard URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/gamification-software-development An old English saying goes “Where there is a will, there is a way”. In the software industry, the employees who are determined and motivated to solve the toughest of the problems, do solve the toughest of the problems.  Software projects are run by a team of software professionals performing different roles. The challenge for project managers is to keep them all motivated to achieve the collective target of quality, on-time delivery, reduced defects and most importantly customer satisfaction. Gamification is the application of design elements and principles of games in non-game contexts. It has been applied in the fields of education and marketing for quite some time now. Interestingly, gamification can also be applied for the field of software development, to engage the employees, recognize their contributions, and reward them. Studies have shown that factors like sense of belonging to the organisation, rewards, recognitions, incentives and feedback improve an employee’s levels of motivation.  Gamification wins here because employees don't have to wait until the appraisal season(that usually happens once in a year) to hear good things about themselves. Rewards and recognitions are received throughout the course of their project work. Framework of gamification ------------------------- The most commonly used gaming principles to incentivize developers in software development teams are: * Points * Levels * Badges * Rewards * Leaderboards/Scoreboards This works well because the young engineers grew up playing computer and video games regularly and it is more like a part of their lives. As they resonate with the gaming principles, naturally they get more focused and excited about the work they need to do to achieve different milestones. More on gamification -------------------- There are two types of gamification: ### **Internal gamification** This keeps the employees satisfied and encourages them to excel at their work ### **External gamification** This is focused on keeping the customer base happy and make them return to the organisation to get more work done, thus achieving business goals Execution --------- The first step in the gamification process is to identify a problem area.  Answers to the following questions can help narrow down on areas of concern * Which phase of software development is most overlooked by my team? * What kind of bugs are mostly reported by the client? * Where is the maximum resource consumed? Once the problem area is identified, the next step is to **set goals** to solve the identified problem. The management team needs to set goals and communicate them to the members of the project. Goals need to be clear, well defined, and relatable to the employees.  The third step is to **set rules** for the game. To spell out what a player(employee) is not allowed to do. To also set the **points table** and allocate points for each kind of accomplishment.  With these steps, the game is set rolling.  As and when the employees complete the task allocated to them on time, they ought to be duly **rewarded. The Reward** is the most critical step of gamification. When employees are rewarded in larger forums, they are likely to get more motivated and aim at even higher recognitions. Badges can also be given to deserving employees in recognition of their unique contributions. This gives an identity to the employees. **Leaderboards** are also a good way to motivate the players. Employees like to assess how well they fare as compared to their peers. Sense of progress is a strong motivating factor. Metrics for assigning ranks in the leaderboard should be defined while setting the rules of the game. Also, the leaderboards must be updated in regular intervals (at the end of every sprint, for instance) **Timely feedback** is also crucial for achieving goals. Positive feedback stimulates the employees’ spirit whereas negative feedback encourages them to approach the problem differently. The defined metrics might have to be changed in the course of gamification. The rules of the game should be flexible enough to accommodate such changes. After all, the game is to achieve the client's requirements in the best possible way. Benefits for the organisation ----------------------------- Gamification benefits the organization in the following aspects 1. Upskilled employees who bring in innovation 2. Higher employee retention due to their active involvement 3. Improved tracking of employee progress 4. Increased productivity 5. Client satisfaction 6. Healthy competition amongst employees Conclusion ---------- Demotivated teams are prone to induce bugs in the software, delivering substandard codebase that may overutilize the resources or delay the completion of projects.  Long term goals need more focus. Small wins are essential for fulfilling the long term goals. Whatever gets measured, improves. For example, in a sales team where every datum counts towards success, [collecting and analyzing sales data](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/sales-analytics/) can efficiently transform sales processes. As we have seen, gamification is not for the entertainment of the employees. Rather, it is to achieve business goals by the virtue of employee motivation and a sense of belongingness to the project. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## IoT - The backbone of smart city projects Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-01-29 Meta Description: A smart city deploys ML algorithms to avoid manual interference for controlling certain actuators. Here we explore the possibilities. Tags: Tech Talk, IoT, smart city URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/smart-city For a city municipal corporation, the safety, comfort, and well being of its citizens is the priority. It is only when the basic needs of the residents are met, are they able to concentrate on other activities that contribute to the growth of the city in terms of GDP, creation of employment, and attracting more investors. With the growing population in cities, it becomes rather difficult for the city administration to keep a manual tab on all the aspects of city development and maintenance. Technology comes to the rescue here, in the form of the Internet of things(IoT) and manifests as a smart city to help the administration ensure smooth traffic management, timely garbage collection, efficient operation of streetlights, and many more interesting operations that shall be dealt with in detail in further paragraphs. By definition, the [Internet of things](https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-the-internet-of-things-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-iot-right-now/) is a system where a set of objects(sensors and actuators) connected to the internet, communicate with each other (send and receive data) without human intervention.  Possible areas where IoT can be adapted to make cities smart ------------------------------------------------------------ ### Road traffic control Anyone who has driven in the rush hour city traffic would know what a bane it is to wait endlessly in signal lights. Good news is that this situation can be eased a lot with smart solutions that include IoT #### How does it work?  Instead of switching the traffic lights in a predetermined fashion, smart cities use GPS sensor data from the smartphones of drivers to know the approximate number of vehicles and their average speed in a particular location. Knowing the vehicle density, the switching on and off of the traffic lights can be centrally controlled, to let more vehicles clear from a congested area, thus aiding smoother traffic flow. If all traffic lights are connected to the network, it is possible to make frequent adjustments to their timings thereby making them work in tandem to collectively facilitate smoother and safer movement of vehicles. ### Smart parking Efficient management of parking spaces also accounts to a lot of savings in fuel, time and productivity of the city residents. Smart parking systems is the solution for most parking woes of the cities #### How does it work? The first step is to map all the parking spaces available in the city and install sensors(either cameras or road surface sensors that sense whether the parking lot is occupied)  in each parking space. A real-time parking map is made available to the public with the occupancy data, as received from the installed sensors. Drivers receive notifications about available parking spots in the areas of their choice thus preventing them from driving around in search of empty parking spots ### Street lighting Switching schedules for street lights decides the expenditure of electricity and influences the running costs of a city. Adapting IoT solution for it by connecting the network of street lights to the internet can alleviate the power wastage #### How does it work? Luminescence sensors are attached to the street lights to gauge daylight availability. Individual streetlights can be programmed to switch on when the intensity of daylight falls below a certain level and to switch off when it exceeds another calibrated level. To make it even more efficient, pedestrian movement can also be sensed at the ends of the street. When no pedestrian movement is detected only a few streetlights can remain on. Upon detection of movements, all of the streetlights can be switched on for better illumination in the dark. Other environment data can also be integrated in this algorithm. Bus schedule for example can be used to control the brightness of streetlights. In sparsely populated areas, the streetlights can remain dimly lit. But when the city bus arrives, the brightness can be increased so as to provide better visibility to alighting passengers. ### Environment factors Quality of air and water decides the average state of health and longevity of the residents. It is therefore important to monitor the air for pollutants, particulate matter and water for contaminants and dissolved oxygen levels. IoT can provide an efficient solution here #### How does it work? Sensors are deployed across the potable water reservoir. These sensors can measure pH level, percentage of dissolved oxygen and ions in water. Whenever the composition of water falls below configured threshold for these parameters, the central control system(to which all the sensors are connected) can alert the taskforce to attend to the issues in water reservoir Similarly, air quality is also measured with the help of sensors that measure the composition of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and also particulate matter. Whenever the composition of these gases breaches the safe threshold, citizens are notified on their phones and the municipality can immediately take emergency measures to control the situation Basic infrastructure needed for transitioning a city into a smart city ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If a city has to freshly transition into a smart city, the following stepwise architecture can be adopted to build a scalable smart ecosystem. Depending on the use case, consultancies like Pace Wisdom can give you a [custom made plan](https://pacewisdom.com/services/custom-application-development). #### **Step 1:** Build basic infrastructure for the smart city Foundation of a smart city is its hardware components. Basic hardware prerequisites are 1. A network of sensors and actuators - Sensors and actuators are the basic units of a smart city. Depending on the use cases, relevant sensors and actuators are to be installed. For example, if the city wants to implement smart solutions in areas of traffic management and air quality control, it can install remotely controlled digital switches at the traffic lights (actuators) and air quality sensors at different areas of the city (sensors) 2. Gateways and data lakes - Data from sensor nodes have to flow through a channel called field gateways to the cloud. Field gateways gather data, compress, and pre-process it before pushing it on the [cloud](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/benefits-of-the-cloud-in-iot/). Data lakes store the raw data. 3. Data warehouse - Data warehouse is the storage for structured data. It contains additional information about sensors like the date of installation, command sequence for actuators, etc. #### **Step 2:** Monitoring Once the sensors are in place, thresholds have to be set for the entities measured by the sensors. For example, for an air quality sensor network, rules can be set as to what composition of particulate matter in the air should raise an alarm. Such rules are programmed in the controller where all the sensors are connected to. #### **Step 3:** Deep analytics and smart control For more automation, cities can deploy ML algorithms to avoid manual interference for controlling certain actuators. For example, road traffic data over a period can be collected and analyzed and traffic lights can ‘learn’ when to switch to green or red depending on factors such as the density of vehicles in each direction of the intersection, presence of congestion further down the road, the day of the week and time of the day. #### **Step 4:** User applications and notifications to citizens To integrate the citizens as contributors in the smooth functioning of the city, an app where they can share their inputs or report problems would be ideal. This will also cut off the bureaucracy and facilitate quicker solutions.  City management can also alert the users about traffic congestions, interruptions in supply of water and electricity and other important announcements. Integration of smart solutions  ------------------------------- Transitioning into a smart city is a gradual process that happens over an extended period. Proper planning is crucial for a successful implementation and working. It is always a good idea to start implementing smart solutions for a single function(like air quality monitoring or smart parking) and then slowly expand it to related areas. For example, if you began with air quality monitoring it is easier to expand to water quality monitoring and control.If you began with smart parking, it is easier to extend to smart traffic control. This kind of iterative strategy is beneficial also from a financial point of view. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Sales analytics - A growth accelerator Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-01-14 Meta Description: Sales analytics consist of measurement, management, and analysis of sales data to describe and predict the efficiency of sales processes. Tags: Tech Talk, Big Data, analytics, business intelligence, data science URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/sales-analytics Two florists have their petty carts near my apartment. The one on the left side of my apartment ( let us call him florist\_1) always has the same kind of flowers in nearly the same numbers throughout the year. The other one(florist\_2 for the sake of our analogy) stocks up a lot of red roses around valentine's day, a large number of flower bouquets in the wedding season, and traditional flowers during the festival season. Florist\_2 has understood his market and consumers well. Therefore he has less wastage, more sales and hence more profits. Florist\_1 could learn a thing or two from florist\_2 to improve his sales. For a business like florist's, it is easy to assess the market and derive conclusions because most of the use cases are visible out in public. If businesses whose products were not so apparent want to assess their markets and get feedback, how can they do it? How can an app developing company or a logistics company measure its market? The answer is, sales analytics. Sales analytics =============== By definition, sales analytics is simply the process of analyzing sales data. To elaborate further, sales analytics consist of measurement, management, and analysis of sales data. This is followed by modeling and predicting sales for the future. By incorporating sales analytics tools, businesses can reap more benefits out of sales data. Apparent benefits comprises a deep insight to product and staff performance. This insight will help the businesses define their strategies for future growth by focusing on opportunities and pain areas In simple words, sales analytics gives a sort of direction to businesses. They guide the company which practices to start, what to keep doing and what practices to stop. Types of Sales Analysis ----------------------- Several different kinds of data crunching can be done on recorded sales data. Some of the popular ones are listed below. Before we move into the crux of analysis, it is important to verify that we have [uncluttered and clean data](https://www.tableau.com/learn/articles/what-is-data-cleaning). ### Analytics by SKUs SKUs or Stock Keeping Units are unique codes that are assigned to each product (e.g barcode) that holds information about the inventory ,category and other details pertaining to the product. Tracking the SKUs is one of the basic forms of sales analytics. This gives you an insight like what kind of product sells more in a particular geographic location and in what time of the year.  ### Analytics based on channel of distribution A product can be sold in different channels of distribution such as retail stores, in brand shops, or on online e-commerce portals. The logistics, transportation, and operation costs for each of these channels is different Analysing the sales on each of these channels can give a good idea for coming up with business strategies. With this approach, businesses can find answers to questions like Which channel in which demographic generates more sales? ### Per capita analysis A kind of relative analysis, per capita analysis can reveal surprising sales trends. The method of doing this analysis is to divide the amount of sales ( per annum for one brand) in a given area( a state or district) by the population of that area. This gives the amount of sales per person per annum. For more insights, the sales can be analysed for the male population, female population or people of a certain age group. This analysis can help businesses accelerate sales with better targeted advertisements Similar to this approach, businesses can also do a **per comparable economic data analysis** by including the GDP of the demographic area in the per capita analysis ### Category Development Index(CDI) and Brand Development Index(BDI) Category development index(CDI) aims at calculating the sales index for a particular category of products. This is calculated as the percentage ratio of an area’s per capita index to the per capita index of the country. Generally, a value of 100 is considered as a benchmark average index. If the calculated CDI for a certain product category  amounts to a value greater than 100, then the product category is considered to be above average market. If the process is repeated for a particular brand in the product category, it becomes the **BDI (Brand Development Index)** These indexes can help the businesses decide which regions need more attention in terms of advertising and promotions ### Analyzing competitive trends For a brand or business to stay relevant in the market, it is important to know their share in the market. Analysing competitive trends gives exactly this information.  For example, you know from independent survey agencies that your brand of cooking oil has a 10% market share in a certain state. Knowing your annual sales in that state, you can calculate the total worth of cooking oil market in the state. Having an **analytical database** is very useful for analysing competitive trends. An analytical database is a database of all sales data along with relevant economic, competitive and demographic data.   This analysis is particularly helpful for businesses to understand their market and competitors better. Knowing what lies ahead of you helps you to come up with appropriate roadmap for progression ### Loyalty programs Loyalty programs give more insights into the spending pattern of an individual over time. This micro-level data helps businesses to understand sales trends at different times of the year ### Marketing research  While sales analytics deals with operations on historical data, marketing analysis focuses on the future. It is useful for identifying opportunities and problems. Sales analytics along with marketing research can steer the businesses towards better growths and profits Final word ---------- When used in the right way, data can be a currency for the future of businesses. To make the best use of available data, it is equally important to use the right technology and analytics. These processes are the building blocks of [Digital Transformation](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/what-is-digital-transformation/) and consultants like Pace Wisdom can help you out to pick the right analytics tools for your businesses. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Technology in Clinical Trials Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2021-01-03 Meta Description: Clinical trials are conducted by researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of a new drug. Technology can greatly optimize these processes. Tags: Tech Talk, Healthcare, clinical research, clinical trials, cro URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/clinical-trials Recent talks about the clinical trials for the Corona vaccine got me interested in the procedures of clinical trials. and the extent to which technology is a part of this. For someone who comes from a pure technical background, understanding and exploring the field of pharmaceuticals and clinical trials has been an interesting journey which I would like to share in this blog post What are Clinical Trials? ------------------------- The making of a remedial drug/treatment for a disease or anomaly is a procedure that consists of several phases. Clinical trials are the third phase in drug development. The first two being discovery/development and pre-clinical research. When there is a new drug or treatment identified for a particular condition, the researchers have to further study its effects on humans. Clinical trials are the primary method by which researchers evaluate if the new drug/treatment/medical device works as effectively as intended. Clinical trials constitute the most critical part of the drug’s development and they are also expensive. How are Clinical Trials conducted? ---------------------------------- Clinical trials are conducted in different phases. In all the phases, there are a certain number of human participants. The participants are subjected to the drug in focus and are continuously monitored by the research team. The participants are also expected to provide the desired information to the research team. As we can see, there is a lot of regular data exchange between the participants and research team. When there is data, there needs to be some technology Challenges at Clinical Trial Operations - Technical Solutions ============================================================= ### Participant enrollment Usually, the participant group would be from geographical locations around the centre of clinical trials. Sometimes when the number of enrolled participants do not meet the planned numbers, it becomes necessary to recruit participants from other parts of the world. In such scenarios, digital technologies like  Electronic Informed Consent (eICF), Electronic Data Capture (EDC), electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment (eCOA) help in increasing patient enrollments ### Global Clinical Research In some cases, it becomes necessary for research organisations to conduct clinical trials with participant groups spread over the entire globe. These are called decentralized clinical trials(DCTs) or virtual clinical trials. Here the participant need not visit the clinical research centre. The communication with the participant in this method is heavily dependent on technology. Logistics of drug delivery, routine collection of data and monitoring of patient healths can all be done remotely, thanks to digital technologies ### Consent Regulations laid by countries require the participants of the clinical trials to record their consent to be subjected to the process.At present, the process of obtaining  consent from participants is a paperwork intensive process. Since the participants can withdraw their consent at any point in time of the trial, maintaining the consent documents also becomes a tedious process for the research group. In this context, digital technology can play a major role in easing out the operations. Tools like eICF can be employed for easy record keeping and maintenance.  ### Funding When the research scholars at universities are not completely funded for the research, they can use online tools to raise funds for the clinical trials from the general public. Having an online tool will ensure transparency and security of the finances. ### Communication among study personnel In several instances, the research body would have to broadcast messages to its participant group. Having a dedicated website is very useful for this purpose. This website can also act as a forum for discussion where the experts can address the concerns of participants. Additionally, the website can also be integrated with a secure and encrypted communication channel where the group of researchers can talk to each other. ### Randomization The protocol for clinical trial necessitates dividing the participants into two groups. One group will be given the actual drug whereas the other will be given a placebo. Both the groups will not be informed whether they have received the actual drug or placebo. To avoid selection bias,the division of the participants into groups can be done by digital tools. There on, the progress can be tracked by these tools knowing which category the participant belongs to. Why should Clinical Trials adopt technology? -------------------------------------------- The participant group for a clinical trial will be large and spread across the world in various time zones. The continuous inflow of data would be huge making manual handling an impossible feat. Hence, it is necessary to do basic data processing with software tools. For pharma companies, clinical trials are an expensive phase. The outcomes can make or break the reputation of the company as well as its financial standing. So, in order to ensure that the process is in accordance with the plan and for ease of operations, it makes sense for pharma companies to adopt relevant technologies as much as feasible. When it is not possible for pharma companies and other research bodies to have an in-house software team, the work can be easily outsourced. Consultants like Pace Wisdom are experienced in [integrating technology](https://pacewisdom.com/engagement-model) to clinical trials. Best suited technologies for Pharma Industry -------------------------------------------- ### 1\. Blockchain Blockchain can be adopted in clinical trials for ensuring transparency of  the process as dictated by the country’s regulations. Other integrations of blockchain in this field can be in the form of smart contracts or for the identity protection of participants. [Source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153067/#:~:text=The%20blockchain%20features%20are%20a,the%20clinical%20trial%20recruitment%20process.&text=These%20features%20ensure%20the%20authenticity,occurred%20during%20the%20clinical%20trial.) The implementation of this technology is still in a nascent stage and holds a lot of scope.  ### 2\. Artificial intelligence and Machine learning Attempts are being made to employ machine learning for identifying erroneous data coming with the data coming from participants. However, these technologies have the potential to be commonplace in clinical trials. [Source](https://www.outsourcing-pharma.com/Article/2020/05/12/Artificial-intelligence-technology-improves-clinical-trials) Conclusion ---------- Clinical trials should comply with the regulations laid down by the concerned body in the countries they are conducted in. Protecting identities of participants while disclosing the outcomes of the trial is of paramount importance for pharma companies. Technology can help pharma companies to comply with the aforementioned conditions easily, in addition to doing the usual operations on data like filtering, performing plausibility and drawing conclusions. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Benefits of a Virtual CTO Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-11-18 Meta Description: For non-IT industries, it makes financial sense to hire a Virtual CTO since their scope would only be for a limited amount of time. Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, consulting, cto, virtual cto URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/virtual-cto Suppose you want to reach place B from place A within the next 30 minutes. Suppose there are 3 routes connecting places A and B. How do you choose the best route? You'd most likely refer to a navigation app that suggests you the best route considering real-time data like traffic density, closures due to repair work, etc. The navigation app here was your technical guide helping you reach your destination. Extending this analogy to the IT business, a CTO plays the role of a guide who would help the organization realize its goals efficiently. Roles and responsibilities of a CTO ----------------------------------- A Chief Technology Officer leads the engineering and technology department in an IT company. CTO acts on the ‘how’ part of achieving technical milestones and is responsible for choosing the right platform and tools for implementation, for shaping the software development strategy in the organization, and overseeing the research and development at the organization. Prerequisites for a CTO ----------------------- In order to execute their duties effectively, CTOs should have vast knowledge about software development platforms and methodologies. It is also crucial for them to stay updated about the latest technology trends and developments in the industry as well as have strategies to adapt them to meet the goals of his/her company.  Innovative thinking would be an added advantage. Also, it is a huge value add if the CTOs have an expert skillset in a few niche areas. Why virtual CTO? ---------------- Given the time and effort they invest in amassing their knowledge base, CTOs are to be compensated equally in salaries. This might prove to be expensive for startups and small companies to afford a full-time CTO. Also, for industries like real estate, construction, pharma where the volume of projects is limited, it does not make financial sense to hire a full-time CTO since their scope would only be for a limited amount of time. In such scenarios, an organization can avail the services of virtual CTOs that are provided by consultancies like Pace Wisdom. Virtual CTOs are CTOs who reside in offshore locations. Organizations can stay associated with the virtual CTOs for a duration until their project is stabilized and becomes self-sustainable.   * * * ##### _Find out more about how our engagement models suit your IT needs_ [ ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Contact-Us-PNG-Background-Image-300x117.png) ](https://pacewisdom.com/contact-app-development-company)  * * * What does a virtual CTO do? --------------------------- Virtual CTOs are not your in-house hires. Rather, they provide the same service while residing offshore and working at a different consultancy. They will, however, understand the goals and objectives of your organization and work towards achieving them. Other responsibilities handled by virtual CTOs are: 1. They provide unbiased expert opinions while taking technical decisions for the organization 2. Provide efficient and elegant solutions for difficult tech problems faced at the development front Study the landscape of your organization and suggest optimizations and measures to increase your output* Find a middle ground between user expectations and constraints at your organization and provide appropriate solutions for the benefit of both the parties * Help your organization in adopting new technologies or to undergo [transformation](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/what-is-digital-transformation/) * Design a framework for the technical growth at the organization giving enough room for flexibility and scalability Advantages of virtual CTO over in-house CTO ------------------------------------------- As opposed to full time in-house CTOs, having a virtual CTO is beneficial in the following aspects: * Cost-effectiveness * Ease of hiring and a higher probability of finding the best fit  * Wide range of experience from working for different organizations and a different set of challenges * Diversity benefits when the consultancy provides a team of learned resources who work as virtual CTO in tandem * Minimal ramp-up time and training needed Final word ---------- A CTO is the answer to all tech-related confusion at an organization. Considering the cost benefits and other advantages, hiring a virtual CTO seems like a wiser decision for IT startups and non-IT companies requiring backend IT services. Large companies can also hire virtual CTOs for some standalone projects to take advantage of the benefits that come with this model. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## What is Digital Transformation? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-11-12 Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, Artificial Intelligence, digital change, digital transformation, legacy systems, technology adoption URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/digital-transformation In the past century, a concept that has been proven right time and again is that it is not the strongest that survives, but the one that is most adaptable to change. In order to not just survive, but to thrive in the changing times, businesses need to keep re-inventing themselves periodically. Digital transformation is the major contributing factor for businesses to thrive. Defining Digital transformation ------------------------------- Digital transformation could be interpreted differently for different kinds of businesses. To put it in generic words, digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of business in order to deliver more value to customers. The process of complete digital transformation comes after a few experimental iterations and would bring in a lot of cultural changes to the business operation. Adapting digital transformation ------------------------------- The method of adaptation could be different for different kinds of businesses. For example, for a traditional brick and mortar business, the first adaptation would likely be to have a digital presence on social channels for their business and eventually move on to online portals for selling their products whereas, for an IT company, digital transformation would mean a more data-driven market analysis to deliver more value to the customer Areas of digital transformation  -------------------------------- Digital transformation can be applied in various departments of the business. The major areas are — ### User experience(UX): For all businesses, the customer is the king. With an [effective UX](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/how-to-deliver-better-ui-ux-experience/), the business can give out clarity on its ideas to the customers on digital platforms on mobiles/tabs. Proven methodologies like [Design Thinking](https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/what-is-design-thinking-and-why-is-it-so-popular) can be applied here to map the user journey on the company's digital platform - be it a website or a mobile app. It helps the businesses come out of the ambiguity of ideas and come up with a solid agile strategy. ### Operational process: The idea behind a transformation in the operational process is to create maximum value at every stage of business operation. While designing the operational process, the important thing to keep in mind is that the operational process should align with the envisioned strategy. Digital tools and technologies can be used for a better flow of information and increased collaboration. The workflows of a project or a process can be tracked through these digital tools which facilitate not only transparency but also optimizing the process. ### Accounting and finance: Traditional finance models are mostly inefficient in present times. Hence, this area has a large scope for transformation as most of the tasks can be automated. Digital databases, ease of transactions, and blockchain are a few examples of the impact digital transformation has had in this field. Further, data-driven insights and data analytics can be applied here which will boost the organization’s profits. ### Logistics and supply chain: Digitally enabled logistics services help businesses in scaling up their businesses easily. For e-commerce, it is a very essential integration. A supply chain backed by digital technologies has more cost savings in terms of fuel and time as opposed to legacy systems. This also enables real-time reporting which further enhances the end-user experience. Optimizing the supply chain and enhancing user experience are the top concerns in the e-commerce industry. Pacewisdom provided a niche [solution for a renowned e-commerce brand](https://pacewisdom.com/app-development-portfolio/storeking.php) which grew their revenue by a substantial margin. Let us explore a possibly phase-wise model for the business transformation of a traditional small business **Phase 1**: Digitisation of records for building a database Converting the records of past years into a digital database can be an ideal step to begin with. This would give a good overview of the operations and aid in the subsequent phases **Phase 2**: Tidying up and organization of the digital database Here, we take the digital records from phase 1 and classify it into logical brackets for easier retrieval and analysis.  **Phase 3**: Automate mundane tasks Automation is a proven pathway for improved efficiency and thereby increased profits. Everyday tasks can be automated with software tools thus saving time and energy. **Phase 4**: Identify strengths and weakness In the first three phases, we have gathered all data in digital form and organized it in a tangible format. This paves way for running some analytics to identify areas in which the business is doing good and the areas that need improvement. With the results of the analysis, more measures to improve efficiency can be identified. Business processes can be simplified and available resources can be optimally redistributed. **Phase 5**: Transform the business Once the business gets used to the changes made until phase 4, it becomes rather important to arrive at the most noticeable phase of transformation. In this phase, we concentrate on growth and sustainability. Basically, here we define how the business shall operate for years to come. New processes are defined, the business ecosystem is made more agile, flexible, and even more customer-centric. Good planning is the key to successful digital transformation. Consultants like Pace Wisdom have had experiences in facilitating [transformations across businesses](https://pacewisdom.com/services.php) and these experiences will be a good value add in formulating a strategy. Technologies in digital transformation -------------------------------------- New technologies and tools can aid businesses in seamless transformation into the digital world. Some of the proven technologies that are already helping businesses do better are listed below Artificial Intelligence ----------------------- Artificial intelligence(AI) can be defined as a technology where the computer systems learn by themselves and execute tasks with an intellect that mimics human minds. Today, AI finds its applications in several fields. ![Artificial Intelligence](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/19406375-min-1024x640-1.jpg) Artificial Intelligence Some of the common platforms where AI can be employed are,  * Chatbots on websites (Consumer engagement) * Dynamic analytics like suggesting products of interest for customers on websites (Insights) and [re-marketing](https://neilpatel.com/what-is-remarketing/) * Voice assistants Cloud computing and storage --------------------------- With cloud service providers like Amazon web services and Microsoft azure being accessible to all, adopting cloud-based solutions has become easier for even small businesses. As opposed to legacy systems, cloud-based systems come at a reduced cost, do not break down (no downtimes), are accessible from anywhere, are flexible, and scalable. Another important feature of the cloud model is that it allows users to pay for the exact amount of resources they use. This helps smaller companies in better strategizing their financial reach. The efficiency of the business improves in leaps and bounds when it adopts cloud computing. Cloud computing is burgeoning by the day and here is our elaborate take on the [benefits of Cloud and IoT](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/benefits-of-the-cloud-in-iot/). Internet of things (IoT) ------------------------ Internet of things is a system where a set of objects connected to the internet communicate with each other (send and receive data) without human intervention. The collected data can be analyzed for streamlining business models. ![IoT & Cloud](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/344-min-1024x688-1.jpg) IoT & Cloud For example, if you run a cab service with a fleet of cars, the speed of the car and the distance traveled can be collected in real-time with IoT and you can use that data to optimize routes and get an understanding of fuel expenditure. Challenges in digital transformation ------------------------------------ Digital transformation is not an overnight phenomenon. It is a rather lengthy process that requires a lot of patience and commitment from the business owners. Another major challenge for venturing into digital transformation is the general inertia of people. Change is not outright accepted. So this aspect also needs to be addressed before starting the process of transformation. To set the ball rolling, here is a list of [Top 20 Software Development firms in San Franscisco](https://www.designrush.com/agency/software-development/california/san-francisco) that offer Digital Transformation Services through Software Development. One-time investment for digital transformation might appear a little expensive. But it is well justified by the returns that it fetches when done right over a period of time. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## IT outsourcing in the digital age Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-11-03 Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, IT outsourcing, offshore development, outsourcing, outsourcing models, staff augmentation URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/it-outsourcing As per [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/189788/global-outsourcing-market-size/) the global market size of outsourced services was 92.5 billion USD in 2019. Why is it such a huge and popular segment? Why do companies opt to outsource their work? What are the gains? What is IT outsourcing? ----------------------- Outsourcing is a practice in which a company avails the services of an external company to get its job done. In the field of information technology (IT) this practice is most prevalent for the immense benefits it brings to the table. What are the benefits of outsourcing? ------------------------------------- The most striking advantage of IT outsourcing is cost-benefit. For companies in the US and Europe, onsite development is expensive owing to the high wages of employees, higher costs of living resulting in high expenditure for logistics. When offshore teams offer the same skill set for a much lower price, it makes financial sense to outsource the work to these teams. Additionally, organizational complexities are also reduced to a great extent. Finding developers with rare skills and competency is a near to impossible task. This is solved with outsourcing to companies that specialize in rare skill sets. Repetitive tasks in an organization can also be outsourced. This will enable the company to focus more on its internal core competencies and innovations. Hence the bandwidth needed for executing repetitive tasks can be utilized in a better fashion. Types of IT outsourcing - Outsourcing models -------------------------------------------- IT development can be done either in-house or it can be outsourced to off-shore or near-shore consultants. _**In-house development**_ is when the project is completely developed by the full-time developers hired by your company. Here are some of the best practices to [hire good software developers](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/hiring-software-developers-for-startups/) for your organization. _**Offshore consultants**_ implement your project from remote locations that are usually in a geographic location far from yours. For example, if a US-based company outsources its work to a consulting firm in India, the Indian team becomes the off-shore team. In this scenario, the two teams work at different time zones and bring in the benefit of cultural diversity into the project. _**Near-shore consultants**_ work from a geographic location very close to yours. The advantage of having near-shore consultants is that all stakeholders of the project work in the same time zone (or at a slightly offset timezone of one or two hours) thus making the communication and synchronization quicker. Staff Augmentation ------------------ In this outsourcing model, consultants like Pace Wisdom provide you with a few skilled resources whom you can manage directly. These resources could either work offshore or can work on-site. This model is suitable if your team is short of say, 2-3 resources.**The benefits of adopting this model are:** * You have the flexibility to upscale and downsize the team depending on the volume of deliverables * Rare skilled resources with specialist expertise can be easily hired with this model **Drawbacks of this model are****:** * You need to pay special attention to maintain uniformity of internal development processes * There is a management overhead to synchronise augmented resources with the internal team and timelines * The drawbacks of this model can be overcome with another outsourcing model, the dedicated team model Dedicated team outsourcing model -------------------------------- Here, the consulting firm provides an entire team to you. The team would include all roles needed to execute a part of the project. When a part of the project is outsourced, responsibilities of quality and timelines are shared between all teams that execute the project. The manager of the outsourced team also helps in the synchronization and co-operation between the teams.**Benefits of this model are****:** * Reduced effort on project management * Availability of diverse skill set and different levels of expertise * When adapting this model, there is a slight risk of communication gap between the on-site team and the off-shore/near-shore team. A full project outsourcing eliminates this. ![IT outsourcing with dedicated team](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/4529196-1024x683-1.jpg) Full project outsourcing model ------------------------------ Full project outsourcing model is the one in which the entire project is executed by an external consultancy, off-shore, or near-shore. In this case, there would be no in-house development team for that particular project. All activities of the software development life cycle would be carried out by the outsourced team.**This model is beneficial in the following aspects****:** * Reduced management overheads * Development process is more efficient since the team has the full experience of handling projects and follows its own set of best practices Which is the best IT outsourcing model? --------------------------------------- There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to IT outsourcing models. Based on the use case, the best-suited outsourcing model can be picked. For instance, if you have a business idea that would need a mobile application and you have no in-house development team, you can adapt the full project outsourcing model. Here, consulting companies can take on the responsibility of developing your app on both android and [iOS platforms](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/abc-of-ios-app-development/). Further on, they can also look after the maintenance of the database related to the apps. Consider a scenario wherein you decide to add some additional features to your product midway through the development. Hiring new developers for this, training them, and then extracting work output from them is a time-consuming procedure and could disturb the planned release timelines. In this situation, based on the number of additional features, you can opt-in for either the staff augmentation model or the dedicated team outsourcing model. Final word ---------- By all means, outsourcing is a beneficial step for a software firm. Companies can benefit from the timezone advantage of offshore teams and also enjoy the cost savings that come with it. When timezone is a matter of concern, companies can go in for nearshore teams and still enjoy the savings in training costs. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Hiring Software Developers For Startups Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-10-27 Tags: Tech Talk, Business Process, hiring, software developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/hiring-software-developers-for-startups An efficient code that does exactly what you envisioned would give your startup a huge boost. A good team of software developers would fetch you not just a good working code, but also some improvements to your ideas and make your start-up a desirable company to work for. What will a good developer bring to the table? ---------------------------------------------- A good code is readable, easily maintainable, testable, and scalable. Good software developers shall consider all these attributes while writing a code. This will reduce the organization’s effort (and also money) in maintaining the code base, scaling up the operations, or to ramp up a new joiner in the technology. Homework before starting to hire -------------------------------- Before putting up a job description, you should gather sufficient information on the following * List down all features of your product/service that needs to be coded * Identify the competency that is needed for fulfilling your software requirements. For example, should the candidate be familiar with android/[iOS platforms](https://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/ios-technologies.php), database management, big data, web design? * What are the different roles that are needed to fulfill your requirement? Do you need an architect, a specialist in a certain technology?  * Decide whether the role is relevant for a short duration or does the software need maintenance for a long duration * Finalize your budget * Write a good job description highlighting the good things your startup has to offer * In the job description, clearly indicate the skillset you are looking for. For example, if your startup deals with web servers, you can mention [Node.js](https://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/node-js-development-company.php) or PHP in the description. Likewise, [react.js](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/angular-versus-react-js-which-would-you-choose-and-why/) if you are concentrating on user interfaces. Hiring models for startups -------------------------- Startups can choose one of the following hiring models after weighing the pros and cons of each ### 1\. A complete in-house development model In this model, all developers are full-time employees of the startup. The advantage of this system is that the employees will have a higher sense of belongingness and might contribute to the organization in more than one way.  On the flip side, building an in-house team and retaining all the employees for a long time is a tough task. You need to have a good network in order to attract good talents from the industry. You are also responsible for the technical growth of the employees and other financial factors like insurance, vacation time, training costs. ### 2\. Outsourcing model If the software requirements are small and do not need continuous maintenance, you can hire freelance software developers to fulfill your requirements. However, for large requirements, a single freelance developer is not sufficient. Coordination would be a difficult thing to achieve if you hire more than one freelancer. In this situation, you can outsource the job to organizations that specialize in providing support of this kind. We, at [PaceWisdom](http://pacewisdom.com/) have full-fledged teams skilled in various software technologies. This will save you the hassles of finding the right talent, training them, and extracting bug-free work from them. Also, with an experienced team at work, the number of iterations is reduced and so is the time to market. ### 3\. Hybrid model Here, a part of the work is done by the in house development team while the rest is outsourced. The success of this model depends on the skills of the project manager who has to coordinate the activities between the two teams so that the timelines are not disturbed. A good way to start ------------------- One way to attract qualified developers is to have a prototype of your startup’s product/service. Nothing beats a visual demonstration of your idea. If you know to code, you can write a working code in programming languages meant for rapid prototyping, like [Python](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/uses-of-python-programming-language/). Or, you can also hire a freelancer to do it for you. You can find freelance programmers on websites like [UpWork](https://www.upwork.com/), [Stack overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/), [GitHub Jobs](https://jobs.github.com/). Once you have a prototype with only the basic features, it becomes easier for you to demonstrate your idea and attract developers who can help you come up with a complete production level code.  How to identify good software developers? ----------------------------------------- Usually, several cross-questions on the project mentioned on the candidate's resume bring out the passion in the candidate. If the candidate gives a satisfactory explanation to all the questions you had about his/her previous projects, there's a higher chance that he/she has given his/her 100% into it.  If you are not a coder yourself, you can use any of the online assessment tools available on websites like [HackerRank](https://www.hackerrank.com/), [Codility](https://www.codility.com/), [HackerEarth](https://www.hackerearth.com/), etc., to rate your developer.  Always make sure that the potential hire gets the vibe of your startup right. This is important when you expand your team onboarding more developers. Which is the best hiring model in present times? ------------------------------------------------ Remote hiring can be challenging in times when the world is suffering from a pandemic. Even if you are successful in hiring a few developers, onboarding will pose more challenges since continuous face to face interaction between the team members is crucial for a good start. With the majority of the developer community preferring to work from home, it would be a wiser choice to go in for pre-established teams that have good coordination skills. Pace wisdom solutions provide a complete outsourcing solution by setting up a skilled and dedicated offshore team to meet your engineering requirements. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Managing Developer Access with Vault SSH Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-07-27 Meta Description: Exploring how to set up the SSH CA Secrets Engine and providing fine-grained secure access to your team with two EC2 instances - Development and Production. Tags: Tech Talk, Devops, devops, developer workflows, secrets management, server access management, ssh otp, vault secrets management, vault ssh URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/managing-developer-access-with-vault-ssh In continuation of our [DevOps blog series](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/devops-at-pace-wisdom-solutions-a-series-continuous-integration-deployment/), we will explore how HashiCorp Vault SSH CA Dynamic Secrets Engine can be set up to manage developer access to instances. We will walk you through how to set up the SSH CA Secrets Engine. We also provide fine-grained secure access to your team with two EC2 instances - development and production. The Vault SSH secrets management provides secure authentication and authorization for access to machines via the SSH protocol. The Vault SSH secrets engine helps manage access to machine infrastructure, providing several ways to issue SSH credentials. The Vault SSH secrets management supports the following modes. * Signed SSH Certificates * One-time SSH Passwords We will talk about the One-time SSH Passwords (SSH OTP) in the next blog. Problems -------- Managing SSH keys for hundreds of servers and users can prove to be an overwhelming task for the infrastructure operations team. Server access management is maintained with SSH keys across VMs that are up to date for each user. Managing these keys is even more difficult because certain users should not have access to certain VMs. To make matters worse, access must be revoked as soon as a user leaves. These problems can all lead to error-prone processes and are handled either manually, via bash scripts, config management, or through some other solution. Imagine a Developer starts working in your company. We would like to give them access to a subset of machines based on their role.  At the same time, we wouldn't want them to worry about managing the associated (long-lived) SSH key for the duration of their project involvement. Instead of managing a unique private key for each individual developer, we can set up Vault as an SSH CA. These create signed certificates for the contractors to SSH to target hosts. This simplifies the server access management of trusted certificates on hosts down to one SSH CA public key per role (contractors in this case) on a target host instead of an SSH key per user. See the below figure for more understanding. ![undefined](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/VaultImage.png) Vault’s dynamic SSH keys can also be short-lived. This feature is built into OpenSSH and allows us to keep access windows to resources time-boxed. So instead of managing indefinitely lived SSH keys, we can just give out SSH keys that are good for say an hour (or less!). If users want to re-login to a destination box after key expiration, they must first re-authenticate to vault and request the generation of a new key for SSH (which the Vault audits). How it works? ------------- SSH leverages asymmetric public key cryptography to authenticate clients to hosts and vice-versa. We can set up Vault to act as the Certificate Authority (CA) for our SSH certificates. In the case of client signing, we can distribute the CA public key to hosts once configured. We want users to be able to SSH into. That public key is added as a trusted user key in the destination box’s sshd configuration. Once users log in, sshd will verify access by checking the user's key signatures against the trusted CA key. We can take things a step further by creating multiple “roles” in Vault for restricting access to subsets of machines. For example, we may set up a web prod role and a development prod role. Each role has a separate CA public and private key. We then distribute the public keys to the proper destination machines. This greatly simplifies key management as we only need to manage the CA key instead of individual keys for every user. In this scenario, we are going to set up Vault to sign SSH keys using an internal Certificate Authority (CA). We will configure the SSH secrets engine and create a CA within the vault.  We will then configure an SSH server to trust the CA key we just created. Finally, we will attempt to SSH using a private key, and a public key signed by Vault SSH CA. Prerequisites ------------- This guide assumes a fixed setup as given below: * A Vault Server * Two EC2 instances with Port 22 opened in the security group. * An SSH client machine for authentication. * Install Vault CLI on the client server * The client system must be able to reach the Vault server and the OpenSSH server. * The Vault user should have the capability to enable secrets and write policies to the Vault server.   ##### **Step 1**: Export VAULT\_ADDR in the client system. This will be your vault address. You can add the following to ~/.bashrc or ~/.bashprofile if you are using a macOS to make it persistent. export VAULT\_ADDR=”[http://vault\_server:8200](http://vault_server:8200)” ##### **Step 2**: Define User Policy Create a file with your preferred text editor > vim ssh-signed-cert-user-policy.hcl Add the following to ssh-signed-cert-user-policy.hcl and save the file. path "ssh/sign/\*" {   capabilities = \[ "create", "read", "update", "list" \] } Run the following command to write the policy to the vault. > vault policy write ssh-signed-cert-user-policy ssh-signed-cert-user-policy.hcl   ##### **Step 3**: Enable and configure the SSH CA secrets engine: Enable the SSH secrets engine and mount it in an arbitrary path. This path will be used to sign Client SSH keys. > vault secrets enable ssh Generate new keys in that path. You can also import keys from your existing PKI, or a Vault PKI engine. > vault write ssh/config/ca generate\_signing\_key=true   ##### **Step 4**: Add the public key to the TARGET\_HOST’s SSH Configuration. > curl -s http://vault\_server:8200/v1/ssh/config/ca --header "X-Vault-Token: " | jq -r '.data.public\_key' | sudo tee /etc/ssh/trusted-user-ca-keys.pem   ##### **Step 5**: Add the path where the public key contents are stored to the SSH configuration file as the TrustedUserCAKeys option. > echo "TrustedUserCAKeys /etc/ssh/trusted-user-ca-keys.pem" | sudo tee -a /etc/ssh/sshd\_config Restart sshd service > sudo systemctl restart ssh   ##### **Step 6**: Create a role in vault for signing client keys Create a JSON file with required parameters cat >> certsigner-role.json < vault write ssh/roles/clientrole @certsigner-role.json   ##### **Step 7**: Client Authentication Generate an SSH Key > ssh-keygen -t rsa -N "" -C "Vault" -f ~/.ssh/client\_rsa\_key Ask Vault to Sign your key > vault write ssh/sign/clientrole \\ public\_key=@$HOME/.ssh/client\_rsa\_key.pub Save the resulting signed public key to your local disk > vault write -field=signed\_key ssh/sign/clientrole \\ public\_key=@$HOME/.ssh/client\_rsa\_key.pub > signed-cert.pub (Optional) View enabled extensions, principals, and metadata of the signed key. > ssh-keygen -Lf signed-cert.pub SSH to the Host Machine > ssh -i signed-cert.pub -i ~/.ssh/vault\_rsa ubuntu@   Next Steps ---------- Vault is a great secrets management engine with deep integration to a lot of tools including your cloud accounts. We will cover more of these use cases in the near future. We would love your feedback and hear more about how you have improved developer productivity. If this is something you want to adopt in your environment, hit us up on [devops@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in](mailto:devops@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in) ##### **Author – Shibily Shukoor (DevOps Engineer at Pacewisdom)** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Pace Wisdom Stands With HESA Global's Fight Against Hunger Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-06-16 Tags: Tech Talk, Solutions, News URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/pace-wisdom-stands-with-hesa-globals-fight-against-hunger The Corona crisis has undoubtedly caused massive pain, grief and loss across the world, but it has also most certainly unveiled the humanitarian, empathetic nature of many. One such story was created by the Telangana based company HESA Global through its app (www.hesa.app). As a result of the lock down, obtaining food and essentials became a huge problem for majority households; and to address this issue, the team of HESA Global came up with the idea of an app facilitating grocery purchases and supply from the comfort of home in the city of Hyderabad. Unlike most others, My Hesa app available for download on Google Play Store ([https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.hesa](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.hesa)), offers bundle options for essentials and food products, thereby reducing ordering time along with offering good discounts to customers on their purchases.  Since its incorporation, HESA Global has strived to provide affordable and effective urban/ rural marketing solutions to companies of various sizes and types and has succeeded too. With the My Hesa app, the company took a step towards serving the general public directly. When the team approached us with the idea of this app and the urgency to serve during the times of COVID-19 crisis, we were more than accepting about the task. Our enthusiastic team of professionals dedicatedly engaged in the project with all their heart and might, and delivered the app in just ONE WEEK! We take pride in our work and our team, and our meagre contributions.  The combined efforts of Hesa Global and Pace Wisdom paid off when the app became a hit among Hyderabadis. Hesa app promises express delivery, finest quality and competitive prices on groceries, vegetables and essentials, and the 100% 5 star reviews received by the app speaks for the app’s truthfulness and success. Most reviewers have spoken about the simplicity, reliability and user friendly nature of the app. The reviews also mention that this app has turned out to be a saviour in times of the COVID crisis.  However, there is more to this app than just sales and delivery. The team of Hesa Global, seeing the monstrosity of hunger, came up with a fundraiser campaign to help the needy in the slums of Hyderabad. This campaign is helping many needy people who are suffering from lack of groceries/ food for their daily needs; this has helped the slum dwellers in feeding the children and aged in their houses instead of letting them starve to death. The aim of the campaign is to reach over one lakh families, and hence there is a need or donations. ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pasted-image-0-300x225-1.png) We, at Pace Wisdom, are honoured to be a technology partner to HESA- a business that wants to make an impact on people's lives. Join the campaign and contribute your bit and help the fundraiser in any way you can. More information here: [https://www.impactguru.com/fundraiser/help-hesa-enterprises-pvt-ltd.](https://www.impactguru.com/fundraiser/help-hesa-enterprises-pvt-ltd.) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Flutter Framework for your next App development Project? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-06-02 Meta Description: Flutter framework a cross-platform UI toolkit designed to allow code reuse across OS such as iOS and Android, allowing applications to interface directly with underlying platform services. Tags: Tech Talk, Programming URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/flutter-framework-for-your-next-app-development-project Flutter framework is a cross-platform UI toolkit that is designed to allow code reuse across operating systems such as iOS and Android, while also allowing applications to interface directly with underlying platform services. The development process for any product is the most critical aspect to consider apart from development within strict deadlines and product quality. It is crucial to have a streamlined process that guarantees the continuity and stability of the developed product. Due to its rising popularity and ease of the development process, app development has seen a paradigm shift from native to cross-platform development. This type of development process has allowed developers to design apps for Android, iOS and Windows simultaneously. With the use of the right tools and resources, users can find it challenging to differentiate among the three. Most app developers today prefer to use a single code base to design apps since it is easier to work with and saves a lot of time during the development process without compromising on the quality of the application itself. Among the various successful cross-platform development tools, Flutter, an open-source mobile UI framework from Google has been a widely accepted app development platform because of its speed and lower crash rates. Flutter works with existing code to craft a beautiful, high-quality interface on android and iOS without compromising on quality, speed and performance. With Flutter many establishments across industries such as social networking, entertainment, health & fitness, sports etc., have successfully built and launched applications on multiple platforms. Building Apps with Flutter: What expert developers have to say? --------------------------------------------------------------- App development with Flutter framework as quoted by many expert developers and industry professionals is like a breeze. The documentation available helps new users quickly adapt to the platform and work with it efficiently while easing out the on-boarding process. The enthusiastic team of Flutter experts always assist during crash or malfunctioning and are available on Github, Stack Overflow and Google groups.  Build Smarter: Benefits of using Flutter! ----------------------------------------- Since Flutter runs on a framework built with Dart and a rendering engine built with C++, it is relatively easy to get familiar with and offers a wide array of customizable options. The instant run feature in Flutter helps make changes to the code with immediate updates and the absence of flashing screens providing a great development experience. Since the code is easy to understand and flexible to work with most developers are opting for Flutter over native development platforms. The fast, smooth, and predictable UI as part of the Flutter code makes it more comfortable and hassle-free. The presence of adaptive widgets gives Flutter the ability to be deployed on multiple platforms. Flutter helps maintain extremely fast and confident release cycles and drastically reduces the time invested in app development. 3 unique features that make Flutter most sought after! ------------------------------------------------------ **Hot Reload:**  The hot reload feature helps developers experiment with various aspects of the app development process such as building UIs, fixing bugs, and adding various app features, etc. This feature is a result of the Dart code that Flutter is based on which can either be just-in-time compiled or ahead-of-time compiled. It allows developers to monitor changes to their code per second without restarting the app. **Widgets:**Everything on the Flutter framework is a widget. Flutter helps build widgets from scratch incorporating all critical platform features such as scrolling, fonts, icons, and navigation to provide native performance on different platforms. These widgets help define structural & stylistic elements and aspects of the layout during app development.  **Built-in widgets: Flutter framework** comes with premade design materials and Cupertino widgets. A feature that allows users to modify and customize as per their requirements to save time in building widgets from scratch during their app development. Flutter’s interactive widget catalog has several options that can be customized to build beautiful native apps.  Flutter enabled Business Growth! -------------------------------- Google’s Flutter has helped businesses thrive since its introduction by- \- Reducing the app development time \- Providing customized, creative and innovative UI’s \- Guaranteeing indistinguishable native performance \- Ensuring easy integration with existing apps The expertise in app development combined with multiple tested development methods has given rise to Google’s new agile UI toolkit, Flutter, that is becoming increasingly popular among expert professionals and upcoming businesses.  **Some of the Industry pioneers that have already adapted to Flutter for all their business apps are- Alibaba, Google Ads, AppTree, Hamilton Musical among many others!** Craft aesthetically pleasing apps with Flutter today! Talk to us if you have a flutter app development requirement. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How Pace Wisdom is working with AgriTech companies like AgriApp to effectively communicate with Farmers across the Country Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-05-04 Tags: Tech Talk, Solutions URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-pace-wisdom-working-with-agritech-companies-farmers-across-country Agriculture contributes to 18% of India’s GDP with over 60% of the Indian population working in this industry; and the culture of India too, reserves a special place for the farmers who sow the seeds of hard work, reap the crop with sweat & blood and feed the masses without any inhibitions. But what is the state of lives of our Indian farmers? Unfortunately, the scene isn’t very good. A majority of this population lacks economic independence; they even lack the education and knowledge that can help them attain holistic growth. Time and again, individuals & organisations have tried to help farmers in ways more than one, through means of their own. Kind hearted benefactors support through donations, scientists guide through their inventions, and industries help by creating products that help farmers.  We, at Pace Wisdom too, believe that it is our duty to participate and contribute to the agricultural sector in any way possible. And our way of offering assistance is through ‘AgriApp’- the smart farming app for Indian agriculture. When the team of Bangalore based company, Agriapp Technologies Inc. approached us wanting to build an app that could bridge the information gap and keep farmers update with the latest trends and technologies in the agricultural sector, our solutions team dived in enthusiastically, and built a roadmap for the product after conducting a deep analysis of the requirement. Following a lot of detailing and planning, we delivered the AgriApp in 12 Indian languages including English, so that more and more farmers could access, understand and benefit from the information provided in the app. The app can be downloaded on play store ([https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.criyagen](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.criyagen)) AgriApp is a freely-downloadable android based mobile application created as a comprehensive knowledge base for farmers. The app is designed with the option of chatting with industry experts and obtaining crop advisory services apart from providing information on best farming practices, crop production, crop protection, crop calendar planning and timely reminders and farming news. The app also provides a mobile commerce platform acting as a common digital medium for farmers, vendors of agricultural inputs, retailers & fulfilment services to exchange products and services.  AgriApp focuses on building a strong agricultural ecosystem where the farmers benefit without exploiting the nutrients in the land and keeping the soil healthy. Some of the prominent features of AgriApp are- **M-commerce (Buy crop solutions)** where farmers are encouraged to buy solutions for their farming needs and inputs for Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach are provided. ![agriapp-android-mcommerce](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG-1-173x300-1.jpg) **POP’s (Complete information from sowing till harvesting)** to explore the science and art of agriculture. The Package of Practices can be referred whenever and wherever the user wishes to, to understand the factors of production leading to profitable agriculture. **Crop Calendar (Timely reminders for smart farming)**  offering the schedule of operations for the planned crop on a real time basis, enabling farmers to address critical crop events at the right stage. Chat with Experts (Agro advisory from agricultural experts) through messages, videos or images to get advice and remedies with regard to soil health, nutritional deficiency, pest management and more. News and Videos (Latest information about agricultural practices) focussing on recent trends and innovative happenings from around the world for sustainable agriculture. **Multilingual Assistance (Available in 12 Indian languages including English)** helping farmers raise concerns, understand solutions & products, and benefit from them in their own native language. Involvement of agricultural experts helps provide accurate strategic agricultural information to farmers and reduce the information gap, thus enabling farmers to make use of technology-enabled methods for production and marketing of agricultural produce. The app has helped thousands of farmers adopt efficient technological practices in farming, thereby finding enriched quality in the produce, and gradually, substantial development in their lives. With more than 2.5 lakh downloads till date, AgriApp has been helping farmers throughout India by providing information and updates regarding best practises and new technologies in agriculture. Thousands of satisfied and joyous users have provided fantastic reviews about the app. Many farmers and agriculture enthusiasts have rated the  app with 5 stars and have also lauded the app for providing very useful and extensive information about crops, detailed descriptions of products and how to use them and the prompt assistance received on the app, and they have also pointed that the app is an effective and safe place for commercial dealing of farming-based products. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Implementing Effective And Simple BCP In Pace Wisdom During COVID-19 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-04-03 Meta Description: Business Continuity Plan in view of Covid-19 for Pace Wisdom Solutions. Tags: Tech Talk, News URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/implementing-effective-and-simple-bcp-in-pace-wisdom-during-covid-19 **Ensuring that our operations remain unaffected while keeping the employees safe, as we deal with COVID-19…** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire team of Pace Wisdom, along with the families, have pledged to stay home and stay safe. All our offices are closed for operations, but our team world over is 100% in action,  diligently devoted and available to deliver the best to our clients as ever. For the past many years, we already had tried and tested processes and a code of conduct in place, and our team had been extending remote services to our clients all along. Hence, adapting to this sudden pandemic situation and implementing the work-from-home at the organisational level and ensuring productive, compliant and continuous output has been quick & easy. Therefore, we reassure all our clients that we are well equipped and capable of effectively continuing our work even during a complete lockdown. Our Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a set of simple guidelines and processes that has enabled us to execute seamlessly even during the current COVID-19 crisis situation. According to this, function-specific instructions are given to every employee for maintaining business continuity. Our BCP implementation, in brief, is as follows: #### **1) IT / Server Infrastructure:** – Our entire infrastructure is on the cloud across multiple providers. – Our version control system is also privately hosted on one of the cloud providers. – An efficient CI/CD process to control deployments for all projects. – Centrally run logging and tracing infrastructure. – No project teams have direct access to the infrastructure. – Disaster-Recovery is setup on all key infrastructures, and the rest are converted to code templates to be able to bring up in a short span of time.   – We have evaluated cloud remote desktops to address cases of  rarity when an employee runs into problems with their systems. #### **2) Individual Assets:** – All team members are provided with portable and controlled work laptops. – Provision of cloud virtual desktops is under evaluation to address scenarios of laptop malfunctions. – Laptops are frequently scanned for unauthorized services. We are working with a vendor for active remote scanning of laptops.    – Some laptops have enterprise MDM software installed based on client/project requirements. – All codes are always checked into the central VCS. #### **3) Engineering Workflow:** Our workflow was always designed to support remote collaboration:  – All code related collaborations happen on the version control system – Issues and features are well documented to track changes.   – We ensure that project knowledge is always held with multiple resources to avoid dependency during an emergent crisis. – The version control system is closely monitored and repository access is restricted to team members only. #### **4) Project Management:** – We have an instance of Redmine running on the cloud. But since we work as our client’s extended team in most cases, we use client resources for the same. – Each team and customer has its own functional process, but it is always on a managed service. – Project teams strictly follow daily standup meetings to ensure that the progress is closely monitored. Additionally, the version control systems monitor developer productivity. #### **5) Network Connectivity:**  – Having stable internet connectivity at employees’ residential locations is one of the main criteria for our employees to avail work-from-home option. We have had this verified arrangement for a few years now. – The company also provides Data Dongles to employees who are working on critical assignments, which they are supposed to carry at all times. #### **6) Active DevOps Team:** – Our DevOps team runs critical infrastructure, not just for us internally, but for several clients too. – The team is available round the clock. We have a tried and tested on-call model and ticket system to support internal teams and clients. #### **7) Emergency Contact:** – We have communication details of all our employees, including their emergency contact numbers. – We have circulated our key vendors’ contact details to our employees, based on their function. We have SLAs in place with these key vendors for any emergency situation like fire, internet breakdown, infrastructure backup, license renewals, emergency/night transport, building security, etc. #### **8) COVID-19 Specific ‘RED TEAM’:** – We have recently set up a core ‘Red Team’ consisting of Company Directors, Managers and the HR to ensure that our employees get any help that they require and to ensure stead continuity of work from their homes.  – The Team is in regular touch with account managers and project managers (on a daily basis nowadays) to check on employee safety and to assess & adapt workflows. #### **9) Employee Health:** – The Corporate Health Insurance coverage provided to our employees has now been updated to cover COVID-19 as well. Despite having these set of guidelines, we are always open for feedback, with agility being the cultural core of our company. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Why does KaiOS mobile operating system continue to be in the spotlight in this era of mobile OS? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2020-01-10 Meta Description: KaiOS mobile operating system which is web-based enables a new category of smart feature phones. It is the successor of Firefox OS but with more features and robust in natureure. Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, KaiOS developer, KaiOS mobile apps, KaiOS web based, mobile OS URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/why-does-kaios-mobile-operating-system-continue-to-be-in-the-spotlight-in-this-era-of-mobile-os Is KaiOS truly an emerging OS? ------------------------------ ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/think.png) Before discussing the KaiOS mobile operating system groundbreaking entrance, Let’s focus on the first question that comes in mind. What is KaiOS? -------------- KaiOS mobile operating system which is web-based enables a new category of smart feature phones. It is the successor of Firefox OS but with more features and robust in nature. So let’s talk about some cool features. > Support for 4G LTE E, VoLTE, GPS, Wifi. > > HTML5-based apps and longer battery life. > > Less memory and energy consumption. And still, there are many more features that might need an entire blog dedicated to it. So moving on… ##### **You might think what so cool about this OS? when all these features are already there in our smartphones. Then what makes it different than others?** The price point of KaiOS mobile operating system, because all these features you can have in featured phones at an affordable price. Plus it comes with, Kaios Store with some inbuilt apps like Youtube, Twitter, Facebook. And it takes about 256 MB to run an app. ![undefined](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/giphy12.gif) So next why anyone will choose Kaios out of other ravaging Mobile OS’s out there? Why KaiOS? ---------- If we look into the world there are still vast groups of people locked out of the digital revolution; some of them don’t have even basic internet access, So for these people, **KaiOS** developer is the best choice because they can connect, evolve and learn using this technology as it provides many features like smartphones. **Fun Fact**: Recently Google has invested $22Million to develop KaiOS. Due to these upheld thinking, even Google is also ready to invest. So let’s move onto the fun stuff Which technology have they used? -------------------------------- KaiOS developing apps are based on web technologies – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and are run by Gecko runtime. Javascript is rendered using  SpiderMonkey which is Mozilla's JavaScript engine written in C and C++. It is used in various Mozilla products, including Firefox, and is available under the MPL2. So after knowing the technology they have used, we can dive into the question of how can we make apps for the kaios?  How to get started? ------------------- How KaiOS mobile operating system actually works internally. So in a short note > It has a front end called Gaia which contains application and shared js libraries ex-home screen lock screen and inbuilt apps are Gaia > > Next comes Gecko Layer which is a presentation or web engine layer which ensures that the web API works fine with all the devices. It provides the connection between frontend and underlying hardware > > And finally Gonk Layer Low-level operating system of the platform It’s a very simple Linux distribution which does all the underlying things to contact with hardware level If you want to know more about the architecture, you can refer to this link > [https://developer.kaiostech.com/introduction/architecture](https://developer.kaiostech.com/introduction/architecture)  And next What should we know in order to build apps prerequisites? --------------------------------------------------------- The basic web development technology like HTML5, CSS, and javascript that’s all we need. If you have an even basic understanding of these technologies then you are good to go. So the next step is to build apps so that Mozilla has provided a platform to build on ( Web IDE). You can find this IDE in firefox v59 or Waterfox Classic Edition or older versions of withering FF/WFox for KaiOS implementations, to download these versions, you can get them through Mozilla FTP. Or if you can’t find there then there is a trick download Waterfox. And to start Web IDE press (shift +f8) ![undefined](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/unnamed-300x169-1.png) Install a simulator to run your apps on if you don’t have Kaios supported phone. You can even get a KaiOS featured phone simulator with keypads but it’s only supported in Debian/Ubuntu or any of its derivatives. For more information and to download visit > [https://developer.kaiostech.com/getting-started/env-setup/simulator](https://developer.kaiostech.com/getting-started/env-setup/simulator) And finally, you are ready to build your first app. You can build basic apps and can use the underlying inbuilt Web API in order to connect with hardware. To know how you can visit > [https://developer.kaiostech.com/api/web-apis](https://developer.kaiostech.com/api/web-apis) If you want to know some more stuff you can freely visit > [https://developer.kaiostech.com/](https://developer.kaiostech.com/) You can check out the following link  > [https://github.com/prithesh990/KaiOS-weather-forecasting-app-angular](https://github.com/prithesh990/KaiOS-weather-forecasting-app-angular)  to see how I implemented the above-mentioned steps and build basic weather forecasting using HTML, CSS, and angular. Here are some screenshots below. ![undefined](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/wf.png) ![undefined](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/wf2.png) If you enjoyed this blog post, please share it with a friend. ##### Written By: Pritesh Chowta ( Trainee Software Engineer in Pacewisdom) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Docker Fundamentals - 1 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-09-09 Meta Description: Docker Fundamentals- a tool designed to make it easier to create, deploy, and run app using containers, can be used on local machines as well as the cloud.  Tags: Tech Talk, Tools & Technologies URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/docker-fundamentals-1 What is Docker Fundamentals? ---------------------------- Docker Fundamentals is a tool designed to make it easier to create, deploy, and run applications by using containers. Containers allow a developer to package up an application with all of the parts it needs, such as libraries and other dependencies, and ship it all out as one package. Docker Fundamentals is a containerization platform that packages an application & all its dependencies into a container to ensure that your application runs on any environment, seamlessly. Docker can be used on local machines as well as the cloud. ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/4076997.jpg) Why do we need to go for Docker? -------------------------------- As a DevOps  I have been hearing this from many developers: “It works on my machine, I don’t know why it won’t work on the server.” Another problem in hosting any application is configuring multiple environments such as development, UAT, production. It takes a lot of time to configure to each environment for different kinds of applications.  We can avoid these problems by using Docker Fundamentals.If we configure the docker for an application we can deploy the same in multiple environments quickly. We can also use in local machine so that we could avoid the dependency issues on the server while deploying. Virtual Machines Vs Docker Containers ------------------------------------- ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/VM@2x-300x270-1.png) From fig 1, you can see the traditional architecture of deployment using virtual machines. Infrastructure using the hypervisor which divides the same hardware resources for multiple virtual machines(VM). However, VM’s can take up a lot of system resources. Each VM runs not just a full copy of an operating system, but a virtual copy of all the hardware that the operating system needs to run. This quickly adds up to a lot of RAM and CPU cycles. That’s still economical compared to running separate actual computers, but for some applications, it can be overkill, which led to the development of containers. Operating system (OS) virtualization has grown in popularity over the last decade to enable software to run predictably and well when moved from one server environment to another. But containers provide a way to run these isolated systems on a single server or host OS. ![](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Container@2x-300x269-1.png) Fig 2 shows the containerization, Containers sit on top of a physical server and its host OS, for example, Linux or Windows. Each container shares the host OS kernel and, usually, the binaries and libraries, too. Shared components are read-only. Containers are thus exceptionally “light” they are only megabytes in size and take just seconds to start, versus gigabytes and minutes for a VM. Think of a Docker container as the above image. There are multiple applications running on the same machine. These applications are put into docker containers and any changes made on these containers do not affect the other container. Docker helps you to create, deploy, and run applications using containers. Images and containers: ---------------------- A Docker image is a lightweight, standalone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries and settings. A container is launched by running an image. An image is an executable package that includes everything needed to run an application--the code, a runtime, libraries, environment variables, and configuration files. Docker Installation on Ubuntu : ------------------------------- Update the apt package index: > **$ sudo apt-get update** Install packages to allow apt to use a repository over HTTPS: > **$ sudo apt-get install \\** **apt-transport-https \\** **ca-certificates \\** **curl \\** **Software-properties-common** ### **Add Docker’s official GPG key:** > **$ curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -** ### **Add the repository:** > **$ sudo add-apt-repository \\** **"deb \[arch=amd64\]** **https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \\**  **$(lsb\_release -cs) \\**   **Stable"** ### **INSTALL DOCKER CE** Update the apt package index. > $ sudo apt-get update Install the latest version of Docker CE, or go to the next step to install a specific version. Any existing installation of Docker is replaced. > **$ sudo apt-get install docker-ce** Docker should now be installed, the daemon started, and the process enabled to start on boot. Check that it's running: > **$ sudo systemctl status docker** ### **Getting Started with Docker Example:**   First step of creating a Docker Fundamentals image is creating the Dockerfile. Dockerfile defines what goes on in the environment inside your container. Access to resources like networking interfaces and disk drives is virtualized inside this environment, which is isolated from the rest of your host machine, so you need to map ports to the outside world, and be specific about what files you want to “copy in” to that environment. However, after doing that, you can expect that the build of your app defined in this Dockerfile behaves exactly the same wherever it runs. Let us take an example Dockerfile of Flask application: Dockerfile: -----------   FROM python:3.6 RUN mkdir -p /usr/src/app WORKDIR /usr/src/app COPY mylocalfolder/requirements.txt . RUN pip3 install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt EXPOSE 8000 COPY  mylocalfolder  . CMD \["python", "app.py"\]   Let us go through each line of Dockerfile and understand what it does: FROM is the Dockerfile instruction to indicate the base image. Here we are using the python3.6 image from the docker hub. Docker Hub is a registry service on the cloud that allows you to download Docker images that are built by other communities. RUN instruction signals to Docker that the following command should be run as a normal Linux commands during the Docker build. The above Dockerfile creates a directory /usr/src/app which we use to copy the code from the host. The WORKDIR instruction sets the working directory for any RUN, CMD, ENTRYPOINT, COPY and ADD instructions that follow it in the Dockerfile. Here is set the working directory to /usr/src/app. COPY instruction copies the current mylocalfolder/requirements.txt contents into the container at /usr/src/app. The second occurrence of COPY instruction in the Dockerfile will copy all the contents from my local folder into the container at /usr/src/app. RUN pip3 install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt - This instruction installs all the python packages mentioned in requirements.txt into the container. EXPOSE instruction exposes the port to the host operating system making it easy to see what port on the Docker container should be bound out to the host OS. CMD specifies what command to run within the container. requirements.txt ----------------   Flask Redis   app.py  source(docker.com) --------------------------   from flask import Flask from redis import Redis, RedisError import os import socket # Connect to Redis redis = Redis(host="redis", db=0, socket\_connect\_timeout=2, socket\_timeout=2) app = Flask(\_\_name\_\_) @app.route("/") def hello(): try: visits = redis.incr("counter") except RedisError: visits = "cannot connect to Redis, counter disabled" html = "

Hello {name}!

" \\ "Hostname: {hostname}
" \\ "Visits: {visits}" return html.format(name=os.getenv("NAME", "world"), hostname=socket.gethostname(), visits=visits) if \_\_name\_\_ == "\_\_main\_\_": app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=80)   To build the above flask app and tagging the image user friendly name here I’m naming as flaskapp: > **$ docker build --tag=flaskapp .** To list the images we have built: > **$ docker image ls** To run the above flask application, mapping your machine’s port 4000 to the container’s exposed port 8000 using -p > **$ docker run -p 4000:8000 flaskapp:latest** To view running container: > **$ docker ps** If you are working on local machine you can check on browser using [_http://localhost:4000_](http://localhost:4000) Or you can also use the curl command in a shell to view the same content. _curl_ [_http://localhost:4000_](http://localhost:4000)_._ To stop the running container: > **$ docker container stop container\_id   (get the container id from $docker ps)** To remove docker image: > **$ docker rmi image\_id/image\_name** Advantages of Using Docker: --------------------------- Rapid application deployment – containers include the minimal runtime requirements of the application, reducing their size and allowing them to be deployed quickly. Simplified maintenance – Docker reduces effort and risk of problems with application dependencies. Security - separating the different components of a large application into different containers can have security benefits: if one container is compromised the others remain unaffected. Lightweight footprint and minimal overhead – Docker images are typically very small, which facilitates rapid delivery and reduces the time to deploy new application containers. Sharing – you can use a remote repository to share your container with others using a private registry or docker hub. Portability across machines – an application and all its dependencies can be bundled into a single container that is independent from the host version. When not to use Docker: ----------------------- Multiple operating systems. Since Docker containers share the host computer’s operating system, if you want to run or test the same application on different operating systems, you will need to use virtual machines instead of Docker. Your app is complicated and you are not/do not have a sysadmin. For large or complicated applications, using a pre-made Dockerfile or pulling an existing image will not be sufficient. Building, editing, and managing communication between multiple containers on multiple servers is a time-consuming task. Will deep dive into Docker Fundamentals in terms of docker-compose, swarm in the next part of this blog. Stay tuned….. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## DevOps at Pace Wisdom Solutions: Gitlab CI/CD (Part 1) Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-06-18 Meta Description: Exploring ideas on why DevOps workflows are so crucial to modern organizations and a step-by-step approach to Gitlab CI/CD. Tags: Tech Talk, cicd, continuous delivery, continuous integration, Devops, devops URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/devops-at-pace-wisdom-solutions-a-series-continuous-integration-deployment The aim of this blog is to give a high level introduction of Gitlab CI/CD that help people get started in 30 minutes without spending much time on gitlab documents. This tutorial is geared toward beginners who wish to tinker with CI/CD tools like GitLab CI/CD. In this tutorial, I will briefly go over what is CI/CD, why I decided to go with GitLab's tool and a walkthrough on how to create a .gitlab-ci.yaml with an example application. Some Background: ---------------- Successful DevOps adaption is more of a cultural changes than setting up a bunch of tools. The boundaries between Development and Operations are blurring day by day. Teams today are shipping code more frequently than before. This practice has also led to functional teams to be responsible for what happens after the code is shipped, hence they need to automate as much of the workflow as possible. All of this emphasizes the need for proper CI/CD setup. Earlier, the developer would commit their code to SCM and the operations team would spend time on building the code and deploy it in different environments, at various levels - module, system integration, pre-prod, production to name a few. At each stage QA would need to test and would say, “ _Hey, I have tested the build and is ready to be deployed to the next environment_”. So basically for traditional development cycle with fixed release plans to a customer and in return get their feedback. But for a more agile team, this will be seen as a bottleneck. This gave rise to ‘DevOps’ and one of the key worklflow changes is CI/CD.   ![DevOps memes](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ci-cd-meme-300x225-1.png)   What is CI / CD? ---------------- Continuous integration and continuous delivery are two approaches to software development that are designed to improve code quality and enables rapid delivery and deployment of code. They are usually deployed together (CI/CD) to ensure the rapid overall delivery of new software features and fixes. CI/CD is an approach which goes by many names but covers the same basic ideas. In short, they are two practices to be followed in order to write the code more quickly and safely to reach your users to ultimately get the value.   > \[caption id="attachment\_9254" align="aligncenter" width="702"\] > > ![CI/CD Work Flow](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cicd_pipeline_infograph-768x296-1.png) > > CI/CD Work Flow\[/caption\]     The Differences: ---------------- CI is pretty straightforward and it stands for Continuous Integration, a practice that targets on making a release easier. When Developer merges their code from their working branch to the main branch, it is validated by creating a build and running automated tests on top of it. Continuous Delivery is an extension of continuous integration to make sure that you can release changes in a substantial way. This means that on top of having an automated build and test, you can also have the release process automated and deploy the application at any point of time by clicking on a button. Continuous Development is a process which is one step ahead of Continuous Delivery. With this practice, every change that passes all stages of your production pipeline is released to your customers. There is no human intervention and only a failed test will prevent a new change to be deployed to production.   How do they relate to each other? --------------------------------- Continuous Integration is a part of both - Continuous deployment and Continuous Delivery. Continuous development is like Continuous delivery, except that releases happen without any human intervention.   Why I use Gitlab CI/CD? ----------------------- I use Gitlab CI/CD for several reasons: First and foremost, we were already using Gitlab for SCM, and CI/CD is in the same place. I can create tickets, merge requests, push code, avoid creating webhooks and run pipelines without another application integrated to gitlab. I can use gitlab for the entire development cycle, it’s fast, provides monitoring etc. To get started with Gitlab CI/CD, all you need is an application codebase hosted in a Git repository, and for your build, test, and deployment scripts to be specified in a file called **.gitlab-ci.yaml**, located in the root path of your repository. Gitlab uses **Runner** to execute pipelines. **GitLab Runner** is the open source project that is used to run your jobs and send the results back to GitLab. You need to install this before you get started with **.gitlab-ci.yaml.**   #### **How do you install a Runner?** You can install the runner in your integration server, different environments or even in your local for understanding the concepts. The following are the steps to install a Runner. Step 1: Simply download one of the binaries for your system: > **sudo wget -O /usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner https://gitlab-runner-downloads.s3.amazonaws.com/latest/binaries/gitlab-runner-linux-amd64** Step 2: Give it permissions to execute: > **sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner** Step 3: Create a GitLab CI user: > **sudo useradd --comment 'GitLab Runner' --create-home gitlab-runner --shell /bin/bash** Step 4: Install and run as service: > **sudo gitlab-runner install --user=gitlab-runner --working-directory=/home/gitlab-runner** **sudo gitlab-runner start**   #### **Registering the Runner** Step 1: Run the following command: > **sudo gitlab-runner register** Step 2: Enter your GitLab instance URL: > Please enter the gitlab-ci coordinator URL (e.g. https://gitlab.com ) **https://gitlab.company.com** Step 3: Enter the token you obtained to register the Runner: > **Please enter the gitlab-ci token for this runner** Xxx (go to your project repository -> CI/CD settings -> Runner to get the token) Step 4: Enter a description for the Runner, you can change this later in GitLab's UI: > **Please enter the gitlab-ci description for this runner** \[hostame\] my-runner Step 5: Enter the tags associated with the Runner, you can change this later in GitLab's UI: > **Please enter the gitlab-ci tags for this runner (comma separated):** My-tag,another-tag ( this will be used to specify the runner in jobs) Step 6: Enter the Runner executor: > **Please enter the executor: ssh, docker+machine, docker-ssh+machine, kubernetes, docker, parallels, virtualbox, docker-ssh, shell:** Xxx ( I’ll be using shell for this tutorial) _References:_ _https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/executors/_ Step 7 (optional): Add the following into **$visudo** (only for shell executor) > **gitlab-runner ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL** Here’s a simple example of how to set up a pipeline for your angular application.   image: node:10 cache: key: modules untracked: true paths:   - node\_modules/ before\_script: - echo “Pipeline triggered” after\_script: - service nginx restart **cache** directive is used to specify a list of files and directories which should be cached between jobs. You can only use paths that are within the project workspace. **node\_modules** from **setup** stage is cached so that the **build** stage can download the same.As I mentioned earlier, GitLab CI/CD uses Runners to execute pipelines. We can define which operating system and predefined libraries we would want our Runner to be based off by using the **image** directive. This is one of the features I like about GitLab CI/CD because you don’t need to install the libraries in environments. **before\_script** directive is used to define the command that should be run before all jobs, including deploy jobs, but after the restoration of artifacts(explained below). This can be an array or a multi-line string. You can run any commands that need to be run prior to your stages. **after\_script** directive is used to define the command that will be run after for all jobs, including failed ones. This has to be an array or a multi-line string. I will restart my web server using **service nginx restart** command after all the jobs are run.   stages: - setup - build - deploy **stages** directive is used to define stages that can be used by jobs and is defined globally. Here, the **setup** stage is used to install the npm packages, **build** stage to create the build and **deploy** stage to deploy the build in the designated environment.   setup\_code: stage: setup script:   - rm ./package-lock.json   - npm install artifacts:   untracked: true   paths:     - node\_modules/   expire\_in: 1 hour tags:   - staging-runner   - production-runner Now let’s start our job dedicated to the **“setup”** stage. We will call this job **setup\_code**. In this job, In this job we want it to remove the package-lock.json and install dependencies. We can start this off with using the **script** directive. The **script** directive is a shell script that gets executed within the Runner. Then we are going to assign this job to the "setup" stage. To assign a job to a stage, use the **stage** directive. The **artifact** directive is used to specify the **node\_modules** directory which should be attached to the job after success.   build\_code: stage: build script:   - ng build --prod dependencies:   - setup\_code tags:   - staging-runner   - production-runner Now we have a job associated to the **“setup”** stage, we’ll now move to our next stage: **“build”. stage** directive is used to assign the job to **build** stage. Our build job is going to be called **build\_code** and we are going to use angular-cli to run the **ng build --prod** command. The **dependencies** directive is used to download the artifact **node\_modules** from the **“setup\_code”** job.   deploy\_staging: stage: deploy script:   - cp -r dist /var/www/html only:   - staging tags:   - staging-runner deploy\_production: stage: deploy script:   - cp -r dist /var/www/html only:   - production tags:   - production-runner In our deploy\_staging, the Runner will only execute if there was a change to the staging branch and for deploy\_production the production branch. Here is a screenshot below, if the changes were made to production branch.Now finally we are going to add a job for our **“deploy”** stage: **deploy\_staging** and **deploy\_production**. In this instance, we are going to have two different jobs for deployment (staging and production). These jobs will reflect the same layout as our previous jobs but with a small change. Currently, all of our jobs are **automatically** set to be triggered on any code push or branch. We do not want to have that for when we deploy our code to **staging and production.** To prevent that from happening we use the **only** directive. The **only** directive defines the names of branches and tags for which the job will run. ![Process](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screenshot-from-2019-06-18-15-08-37-300x82.png)   From this image, as you can see, all three stages and jobs are triggered except the **deploy\_staging** job since the code was pushed to **production** branch. Now, that’s interesting, ain’t it? Below is the final version of the **.gitlab-ci.yaml** file.   image: node:10 cache: key: modules untracked: true paths:   - node\_modules/ before\_script: - echo “Pipeline triggered” after\_script: - service nginx restart stages: - setup - build - deploy setup\_code: stage: setup script:   - rm ./package-lock.json   - npm install artifacts:   untracked: true   paths:     - node\_modules/   expire\_in: 1 hour tags:   - staging-runner   - production-runner build\_code: stage: build script:   - ng build --prod dependencies:   - setup\_code tags:   - staging-runner   - production-runner deploy\_staging: stage: deploy script:   - cp -r dist /var/www/html only:   - staging tags:   - staging-runner deploy\_production: stage: deploy script:   - cp -r dist /var/www/html only:   - production tags:   - production-runner   Conclusion: ----------- The things covered above is an introduction to the features of GitLab CI/CD can offer. GitLab CI/CD has the ability to have a more in-depth control of the automation of codebases by building and publishing Docker images to integrating with third-party tools. You can find all the GitLab CI/CD yaml directives in this link. In the [next couple of articles](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/managing-developer-access-with-vault-ssh/), I’ll be discussing on how to get started with Jenkins pipelines and multibranch pipelines, netlify, AWS code pipeline.   > ###### Author - Shibily Shukoor (DevOps Engineer at Pacewisdom) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## The Next Revolution - Blockchain Supercharged With AI Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-23 Meta Description: Data manipulation is impossible on Blockchain as if one computer gets compromised, the abnormality is often picked up by the other computers on the network. Tags: Tech Talk, Blockchain, mobile app developer, Artificial Intelligence, AI, technologies, algorithms, Bitcoin, Data manipulation URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/the-next-revolution-blockchain-supercharged-with-ai At a glance, AI and Blockchain seem two poles apart and they pretty much are. Blockchain was created by an anonymous figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto which is the underlying technology behind the sensational Bitcoin. It is a distributed ledger that enables the secure storage of data. Whereas, AI is the ability of a machine/program to learn from its experiences, was first described by John McCarthy in the year 1956. But recent breakthroughs in Big data has created a conducive environment for the amalgamation of these technologies. How Blockchain helps AI: The most compelling reason for bringing these two disruptive technologies together originates from the need to augment big data analytics. Big data has been used actively by organizations to understand their customer base and enhance customer experience, acquisition and retention. Big data helps in chalking up a target based advertising and even improve risk management. But there is huge data which needs to be processed to be converted into meaningful information. So, here is where AI comes in. The algorithms can be taught to draw meaningful insights from this vast sea of data available. With blockchain, organizations can safely store meaningful data derived. Being a distributed ledger and decentralized technology, it creates a massive database of every transaction on the network. So when a network is decentralized, it stores data on a vast network and regularly verifies the information with each other making the data stored here immutable. Data manipulation is impossible on Blockchain as if one computer gets compromised, the abnormality is often picked up by the other computers on the network. How AI can help Blockchain: AI can have a huge impact on the way blockchain networks are managed and make them efficient. For example, when transferring Bitcoin to another in a shared network, it may take up to a few days for confirmation of the transaction. This is inadvertently caused by the decentralized nature of the blockchain. This would mean an increase in the time for availing confirmation for the transactions. Now, AI can reduce the cumbersome process by reducing the computing power needed to confirm these transactions. Further, an AI system can be used to improve blockchain algorithms by providing it with the right set of data. As mentioned earlier, these technologies are already creating a positive disruption in the way businesses are being done and also garner tremendous potential for revolutionizing various sectors. But bringing these two could definitely be the advent of a new era of technology, that is sure to bring on an unprecedented level of growth. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Native Apps, Hybrid Apps or Cross Mobile Apps? Which To Choose? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-19 Meta Description: Knowing which type of app to build is crucial for business outcomes. Let's explore the differences between Native apps, Hybrid apps & Cross-platform apps. Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, mobile app development, Mobile Application, business, Cloud Computing, applications, android, Mobile App, mobile app developer, app developer, hybrid app development, Ionic Mobile App, Android, app developers, artificial intelligence, Android App, Web app development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/native-apps-hybrid-apps-or-cross-mobile-apps-which-to-choose When investing in building a mobile app, entrepreneurs and businesses often find themselves at the crossroads. With so many options to pick from, their dilemma revolves around deciding which type of app will be best for their business or service. So what are those key determining factors one needs to consider before fixing on a solution? But before we delve into understanding and choosing the right platform, let’s begin with knowing more about Native apps, Hybrid apps, and Cross-platform apps. Native Apps: ------------ Native apps are developed for specific platforms and hence are known to be fast and highly responsive. When talking about user inputs and outputs, these apps are interactive, smoother, and intuitive. This makes the user experience better, engaging, and also offers robust security. Since the native application is designed pertaining to a particular platform, the developer has the free hand of optimizing the app as per the native platform on which it is being built. Apple and Google provide app developers with their own set of development tools, SDK, and interface elements. Most would choose this app because of the myriad of benefits it has to offer when compared with Hybrid. Though the initial cost tends to be a bit higher with native mobile app development, one will end up saving up a lot of time and money in the longer run. By leveraging the device features, the business can offer better service, high performance, and great user experience. The combination of multiple advantages of Native apps will result in higher conversions and ultimately boost customer confidence and loyalty in your services. Here is how the [Ionic framework](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/build-the-amazing-native-app-with-an-ionic-framework-programming-language/) can be used to assemble astonishing local portable Native apps. Hybrid Apps: ------------ Built with the help of HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, the Hybrid apps are functional throughout all platforms. It will save a lot of money and time as there is only a single code written once and can also be run as a progressive web app providing ease in operation for the users. Hybrid apps are famed to deliver good user experience and performance across all platforms. The Hybrid mobile app can be a good choice if the business has enough time on their hands to explore the market. As discussed earlier, this is essentially a web app but due to lightweight native app “container” that allows it to leverage certain native platform features and device hardware likes calendar, push notifications, camera, etc which a web application cannot access. Cross-Platform Apps: -------------------- Lately, there has been a substantial demand for [cross-platform mobile apps](https://asahitechnologies.com/blog/will-progressive-web-apps-topple-native-mobile-apps/) due to its multiple mobile usage approaches. A well developed cross-platform app can access the product in more than one platform, a definite advantage to the users of today. And also such apps are preferred because they are based on the common language for scripting and generally very simple to use. Cross-platform mobile apps are developed using an intermediate language that may not be native to the devices operating system, for example, Javascript. This concludes that some or all of this code can be shared across multiple platforms in both iOS and Android. Now, cross-platform apps are different when compared to HTML5 Hybrid apps, as these usually use a mix of mobile app concepts and native apps to build an application. Simply put, all three mentioned above come with their benefits and flaws so the choice of what to use for building an app solely depends on the demand of the organization or the stakeholders of a business. But, in the end, a choice must be made keeping in mind user satisfaction and their experience in order to be successful in the longer run. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## FinTech Revolution - Transforming The Financial Sector Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-16 Meta Description: FinTech is all about transformation, disruption and innovation for changing the way financial institutions worldwide function. Tags: Tech Talk, Technology, FinTech, e-payment system, financial institutions, Financial services, Financial Stability Board, human capital, institutional banking. URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/finanacial-sector FinTech is all about transformation, disruption, and innovation for changing the way financial institutions worldwide function. A wide range of enterprises who are leveraging technology to deliver more bolder services, consumer and organizations. Financial services are going through sweeping technological changes that are profoundly affecting the way we have been doing business. Although still in the nascent stage, these technological advancements have made a major impact within the financial sector and show great promise for providing ease in access to financial services. Further, it aims at reducing costs associated with loan processing and underwriting. The emergence of FinTech has boosted financial literacy among the public about finance, investing, and institutional banking. It has provided them with resources and information about handling their finances, focus on savings and rethink their long-term financial objectives. In the payment sector, this revolution has led to innovations like virtual and mobile banking. As per the Financial Stability Board, FinTech can be divided into 5 broad categories which are: * Deposit * Payments, Clearing, and Settlement * Lending and Capital Raising * Insurance * Investment Management And according to a Bank of England Governor, FinTech has the potential to unbundle banking into its core functions. But industry watchers are wondering if this could anyway lead to financial instability. The reason being, most of FinTech start-ups are not regulated as much as the traditional financial institutions. So far, the open financial markets have seen FinTech develop rapidly like the Kenyan based e-payment system M-Pesa. Since its emergence a decade ago, it is one of the biggest FinTech success stories. By effectively transforming your mobile phone into a payment account - meaning bringing the ease of access to financial services for the previously unbanked people. M-Pesa is an impressive example of how it boosted the financial sector and increased efficiency across the economy. It also brings the added advantage of bringing in the savings of unbanked people into the financial system, leading to higher sum or funds available for investment. So, if FinTech can improve the financial stability of any economy as it has in Kenya, then it would be helpful to divert funds for investing in human capital, industry and infrastructure. In China, where e-payment service providers like WeChat and Ant Financial have dominated the market in a country that accounts for more than half of the world’s online payments. Recently, China has introduced a market-clearing interest rate. But by by-passing the credit card companies and state-owned banks, FinTech has driven increased efficiency in the country’s financial system. FinTech has the potential to increase the economic growth of emerging and major economies through efficient capital allocation. With financial intermediation playing an essential role in every economy, technological progress in this area will generate the type of returns that proved more elusive with other innovations. So, FinTech could very well be that digital-era innovation which we all have been waiting for raising the economy and avoid a sluggish growth in the future. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Benefits Of The Cloud In IoT Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-12 Meta Description: When it comes to cloud, we are aware of its scalability, low maintenance, cost-effectiveness and reliability. Organizations have been successfully implementing dynamic IoT solutions by harnessing the power of cloud computing. Tags: Tech Talk, Cloud, Cloud Computing, IoT, Cloud Services, Cloud technology, Data Integration, IoT devices, IoT solutions, Security and Reliability URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/benefits-of-the-cloud-in-iot When it comes to cloud, we are aware of its scalability, low maintenance, cost-effectiveness and reliability. Organizations have been successfully implementing dynamic IoT solutions by harnessing the power of cloud computing. So here’s how cloud computing can impact IoT efforts: **Offers Security and Reliability:** Many businesses, for long, held reservations about uploading their data on Cloud. They felt they would lose their ability to touch or feel the data and also questioned its protection. Due to this, many companies rejected cloud computing. While the cloud providers have started deploying security measures in place, many businesses are now trusting this technology for uploading and safekeeping of their data. Vendors now equip businesses using their cloud solutions with the tools which will help them take ownership of the security of their data. As security of the cloud progresses further, it allows companies to more efficiently and securely interact with their IoT devices. Realizing the undeniable benefits cloud offers along with the security features it possesses, organizations have begun to adopt cloud solutions as a trusted and even preferred approach. **Facilitates Data Integration:** Organizations have invested in big data, bringing together information from various sources so that they help them make quicker and more accurate decisions. Systems like CRM, ERP, etc are very efficient in generating and storing a large amount of data or record changes that happen across an organization. Companies have now begun adopting IoT as part of their data strategy to provide real-time information, offering greater visibility in terms of how a business is operating. This opens up business for multiple opportunities like streamlining costs, discovering new business models, generating higher revenue and increasing operational efficiency. **Pairing IoT and Cloud:** Both cloud and IoT bring their own set of benefits to the table. They are beneficial in different types of environments which often makes a distributed computing framework best suited for IoT deployments. Though businesses have been viewing both these separately, for all the necessary workflows that Cloud enables, there are many advantages of integrating edge computing into a solution. Cloud technology has now become more widely accepted across multiple industries as businesses have begun to realize its strength and capabilities. As the cloud landscape changes, so do IoT. With more devices being introduced every day, a greater need for efficient device management and tighter security is the need of the hour. So when utilized efficiently, organizations are better able to match their computing to their business requirements and take faster, accurate decisions, creating real business value and generating higher ROI. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Content-First Design: A New Web Order Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-11 Meta Description: Good user experience and relevant content are said to be the essential ingredient for a product or service to be successful. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, mobile app development, Design, UX Design, programming interface, Programming languages, Web application, web developers, Content, content creation, designers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/content-first-design-a-new-web-order Good user experience and relevant content are said to be the essential ingredient for a product or service to be successful. Designers do not just decorate a website but they aim to create an experience of moving through content, helping the user derive the required information which they came for. But what happens when the team members or the client does not understand how content should drive design? In order to put this in the process, there are strategies that can explain the importance as to why content first design is important.   Why should content be prioritized over design? Here’s why: ---------------------------------------------------------- If content curation is done after a design is conceptualized then there are high chances of the templates not being able to contain the text properly which is often the case when one tries to replace the dummy text. Also, it may not align with the vision of the design leading to changing or replacing the currently appealing placeholder with something that becomes an eyesore. All this ultimately leads to delay in designing, building and launching of the product. The first step- Aligning the clients and designers from the beginning: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- More often than not, clients are convinced that they need to see the design in order to know what and how the content needs to be created. In such a scenario, it is up to the designer to facilitate the decision making around what the content should be. When involving the stakeholders during this process, the vision for the end product will be set in realistic terms related to budget availability and other deliverables. Also, all parties involved will be better positioned to understand as to how great design is based on content. Content First design concept is economical: ------------------------------------------- When the content is not created at the beginning, multiple inefficiencies begin to cloud the project. A designer may create too many or too few templates, designs need to be changed when actual images are less desirable and also the layout needs to be rearranged if the content doesn't fit the existing one. This takes up a lot of time and also puts unnecessary strain on the team. This leads to delay and starts eating into the budget. So when content is designed before, there are specific actions set in place which has to be then executed by the designers. Solutions like which element has to go where on the website is readily available. A right measurement of what needs to be put up along with its relevance can be understood by all involved in the project. UX Design and Content should be based on research: -------------------------------------------------- When the design and content are based on user research, the website becomes powerful and effectively targets the intended consumer of the service/products. This further helps in the product to be better streamlined and focused on the end user. Mostly, products teams tend to focus their attention on the look and feel of a website rather than elements behind the style. Inefficiencies are bound to occur if a project is flagged off with visual design approach as the first call to action. A client can provide the design team with research, business goals, content, and the concept design should be weaved around it. Though content creation is a tedious job, it plays a key role in the whole process and essential concept for the success of any product. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Boosting UX With Visual Hierarchy Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-09 Meta Description: Visual Hierarchy determines the order in which people view and process the information put out, regardless of whether digital or print. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, Internet of Things, Design, Technology, mobile platform, Programming languages, web developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/boosting-ux-with-visual-hierarchy The concept of the visual hierarchy has been applied in design much before the Internet came into the forefront. Visual Hierarchy determines the order in which people view and process the information put out, regardless of whether digital or print. It plays a very crucial part of creating an ideal user experience and impression of the brand(s). The main aim and purpose of defining a clear visual hierarchy are to guide people towards the content or actions of importance. When in print, the onus would be more on the caption of a heading of the advertisement whereas, in the digital product, it could be more of a branding messaging or a call to action. Visual hierarchy is an exceptional way of creating an orderly and purposeful customer experience while striving to improve the chances of achieving a strategic outcome. So here are few steps UX designers can follow to understand and achieve a clear sense of visual hierarchy in digital products and give the users an amazing experience. Defining Brand Objectives and UX: --------------------------------- There are various methods through which product teams define specific goals for each section of the products. There is one tried and tested technique of shaping the definition of UX goals i.e. S.M.A.R.T.which translates to Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Trackable. Brand objectives are also equally important as these reflect the goals of a business. Preferably, a collaborative visual hierarchy workshop will be suitable and the most effective way of documenting the UX and brand objectives of the various phases of the customer’s journey. Ranking Actions and Content: ---------------------------- After setting the UX and brand objectives, it is time to define the appropriate visual hierarchy. This refers to the content, each piece of action, and document during the subsequent task of designing. So when designers start getting acquainted with taking visual hierarchy into account while designing, it opens up possibilities while adding real depth to user interfaces and aid in creating stories that it would narrate. Building Visual Hierarchy into the Design: ------------------------------------------ The third step is laying out the necessary templates, deciding upon the placement of highly ranked elements. Multiple variations may be needed to cater to a range of scenarios and it all must be created at this stage to ensure that nothing is overlooked. Introducing a visual hierarchy workflow into the design process is sure to result in some great user experience. It can be weaved into every element of a brand’s imagery, composition, tone, target audience. etc. The deeper the design, the more appealing it appears to the customers and the more focussed the experience is bound to be. It is evident, a clear visual hierarchy is not only beneficial to boost UX but also creates a sustainable workflow that provides the design process with a strategic focus, which is very crucial in today’s modern product design environment. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Software Testing In IoT Era - Prepping Up For A New Ballgame Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-04-08 Meta Description: IoT is an exciting prospect but it does bring with it a certain level of security risks. To ensure the security of the connected devices and enjoy the benefits it has to offer, software testing teams must evolve and expand their QA practices on a continuous basis to match the ever growing technology. Tags: Tech Talk, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, Technology, IoT, Programming languages, Artificial Intelligence, artificial intelligence, cyber attacks, cybersecurity, IoT software, Test Automation URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/software-testing-in-iot-era-prepping-up-for-a-new-ballgame Software Testing is a method to check whether the actual software product matches expected requirements and to ensure that the software product is Defect free. It involves the execution of software/system components using manual or automated tools to evaluate one or more properties of interest. The purpose of software testing is to identify errors, gaps or missing requirements in contrast to actual requirements. With 8.4 billion connected devices, IoT is here with a bang and Gartner predicts the number to touch 2.4 billion by 2020. As these connected devices are making their way into almost all spheres of our lives, we are now beginning to sense its impact- both positive and negative. These devices, though are invented to make lives easy, do possess potential security vulnerabilities. The research shed some light on webcams, baby monitors, and another half a million smart devices in Barcelona which were vulnerable to cyber-attacks. There were reports of parents filing complaints of hackers taking over the baby monitors.  A couple in Texas woke up to a voice over the baby monitor, who had hacked into the Wi-Fi connecting the baby video monitor as well, threatening to kidnap their child. And then there were reports of people pointing out privacy issues with webcams, with several saying they returned them as they did not want to accept the terms and conditions allowing the manufacturer to access any data collected by the devices. From an architectural point of view, IoT devices do a lot - from storing data in AWS, connecting Wi-Fi, monitoring, managing sensitive data and information; the list is endless. Now as these connections deepen, so does the security risks associated with them. The more connections each device has, the more entry points it provides hackers to access the data. As a result, the method in which software is tested needs to change soon to hold this nuisance at bay. And here’s how one needs to evolve their approach to testing in the face of these challenges: Upgrading Test Automation Plans with Service Virtualizations ------------------------------------------------------------ A huge factor contributing to the success of test automation is to replicate an ambiance that is similar to the production environment. Now, it is difficult to achieve this objective in the IoT era because all of the interconnected systems on which IoT apps depend aren’t readily available for testing. Unlike in a simple web page testing which requires a few protocols to be up, the interconnectedness of IoT means there are a lot of things that need to be working to get a proper testing environment. Hence, it is imperative to create a product-like environment that may not be the exact same thing as the actual environment the software may exist in but it will be the next best thing before sending the software into production. Continuous Security Testing A Must ---------------------------------- A survey by Fortune 500 CEOs states - the rapid pace of technology change and cybersecurity are the top two concerns. With multiple connection points and so much going on within those connections, it’s quite a task to lose sight of what poses a security risk and what doesn't. But this has to change and continuous security testing is very important as the rate of change for IoT software gathers up speed. To ensure best security models, testers need to infuse security testing into the software in the development process itself, so that the security checks occur more frequently. Figuring Out What Need Not to Be Tested --------------------------------------- Deciding what to test and what not test without sacrificing security will help bring down concerns about maintaining appropriate test coverage and relieve pressure around strict deadlines. If you want to identify areas that can be excluded from the testing then look for protocols that have already been tested and will remain the same for the next few releases. This will give much time and make it easier to prioritize the test plan. Undoubtedly, IoT is an exciting prospect but it does bring with it a certain level of security risks. To ensure the security of the connected devices and enjoy the benefits it has to offer, software testing teams must evolve and expand their QA practices on a continuous basis to match the ever-growing technology. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How To Deliver Better UI/UX Experience Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-03-26 Meta Description: UI/UX- UX design refers to the term “user experience design”, while UI stands for “user interface design”. Both elements are crucial to a product and work closely together. Tags: Tech Talk, Internet of Things, mobile app development, Design, Technology, UI and UX, mobile app developers, artificial intelligence, Web app development, Web application, web developers, Web development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-to-deliver-better-ui-ux-experience UI/UX- UX design refers to the term “user experience design”, while UI stands for “user interface design”. Both elements are crucial to a product and work closely together. Modern-day businesses exist in a fast-paced environment which is very dynamic, hence they prioritize their operations like 1. Create new avenues for generating revenue, 2. Enhance brand identity, 3. Increase customer engagement and keep their interests piqued, always. In today’s time, these goals can be achieved through a digital web or mobile app which is designed to make it convenient for the customers to engage with the business. And while doing so, it becomes imperative to ensure that users have an excellent user experience. Hence, a well-developed UI/UX can either make or break your product. Being good enough isn't going to work anymore, businesses have to aim a notch higher to stay above the competition and match customer expectations. The design is beyond creating eye-pleasing structures, it is now meant to create and deliver experiences that are personally relevant and meaningful. Here’s how to ensure your business creates a better UI/UX experience: **Know the user:** Whether it’s a website or mobile app, it is of extreme significance to understand the target demographic while designing. Demographics like age, gender, region, shopping history, etc should be considered and the designer must come with an interpretation of these to be later incorporated into the design element. **Simplicity is best:** Moderation is the key. Get right to the point and don't confuse or make your customers wait for what they have come seeking for in the website. Decide upon the appropriate color scheme, layout, graphics, text to make it visually appealing, avoiding clutter, and other redundant elements. **Clarity:** Your design must convey what your business or product is all about. Every great design must help the user to understand the real value of what is being offered to avoid disappointments later on. Ensure to articulate and guide the experience in such a way so that it follows a natural pattern or instinct. **Flexibility:** The best experience would come when the design is visually appealing, cannot stress this enough, and works for interactions on all touchpoints. Focus on the design that functions perfectly in all formats, utilizing solid topography across multiple device resolutions like a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.\> A successful product is a true reflection of an organization, of its values, mission, and vision. As the product gains feedback, it drives a desire to innovate and make it better. AI, webchat and augmented conversation will be playing a major role in making designs more sophisticated and strike a winning chord for customers and businesses. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Emerging Cyber Threats To Be Aware Of Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-03-19 Meta Description: Cyber Threat a malicious act that seeks to damage data, steal data, or disrupt digital life in general. Cyberattacks include threats like computer viruses, data breaches, and Denial of Service attacks. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, Internet of Things, iOS application, business, Technology, applications, IoT, Enterprise, Cybersecurity, android, Big Data, hybrid app development, app developers, artificial intelligence, Android App, web developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/emerging-cyber-threats-to-be-aware-of Cyber Threat is a malicious act that seeks to damage data, steal data, or disrupt digital life in general. **Cyberattacks** include **threats** like computer viruses, data breaches, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. In 2018, many organizations fell prey to cybersecurity disasters which led to millions of data and privacy of the users being compromised. Cyber Threats like these continue to possess serious threats to this very date. Going forward, even with the advancement in technology, organizations are going to encounter more sophisticated threats. Let’s take a look at different types of Cyber Threats that businesses need to watch out for: Cryptojacking: With the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies, this form of cyberattack is when the hacker hijacks the mobile phone, tablet, or connected home devices. The perpetrator uses a malicious link, or infects online ads that prompt you to click on them which then gets the virus into the victim’s device or system. This type of hacking is becoming popular as cybercriminals can make good money with minimal effort. Blockchain Hacking: From carrying out financial transactions to storing data and intellectual-property protection, smart contracts is very crucial to all such applications. The smart contracts are termed to be the most promising use cases of blockchain technology, but are susceptible to bugs and hence are vulnerable to threats. The main problem with keeping smart contract data private is with the inbuilt transparency of the blockchain. Since hackers are well aware of this weakness, it will be a huge challenge for the companies who will use smart contracts for their operations. Mobile Malware: This has to be the most leading target or cyber threat in the coming years. Cybercriminals are developing new hack systems to send malware into various devices by accessing them physically to spy and steal data stored in them. Avoiding download of files from unknown sources or links can prevent this from happening to a major extent. Another important firewall against such vulnerabilities is to update the OS of mobile devices whenever it is made available, Such updates have security patches and system upgrades to boost safety. Hacking AI Defense: The same technology which protects can also be exploited using the same technology. A lot of organizations have realized the potential this technology brings but is also informed that hackers have discovered the ability to use it against its own defense mechanism. Therefore, a lot of cybersecurity firms have now begun implementing AI models that detect any threats. Even this, to some extent, has proven futile as hackers created more advanced methods to infiltrate and disarm these defenses. This too can be countered by deploying adversarial networks which involves using two neural networks contesting each other to discover the algorithm each is using. But, if the hackers can find out the data sets used to train AI models by modifying labels or injecting malicious codes. This would go undetected and hence would not be flagged as a threat. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Artificial Intelligence - The Solution For E-commerce Woes Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-03-15 Meta Description: So, how does Artificial Intelligence enable businesses to become profitable and viable? Let’s find out Tags: Tech Talk, Internet of Things, business, Technology, applications, IoT, Enterprise, android, Big Data, application, programming interface, e-commerce, hybrid app development, Artificial Intelligence, artificial intelligence, technologies URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/artificial-intelligence-the-solution-for-e-commerce-woes [Artificial Intelligence](http://pacewisdom.com) or as we all popularly know it AI is changing the way we shop and revolutionizing the way business gets done. As AI begins or almost certainly has embedded in every aspect of our lives, it is all set to go into turbo drive in a few years time, making lives easier and simpler. This technology has been already implemented by various retail businesses and they are already witnessing the surge in profits thanks to enhanced customer experience and satisfaction. World Wide Web where the action is and every business now dreams of getting on this express train to success. And there are reasons as to why there is much hype to it- can be started in a shortest period of time, need fewer employees to run the show, let’s you set your own schedule, no need for a physical storefront, flexibility to work from anywhere and of course build profits steadily over the time. No doubt having an online [e-commerce business](http://pacewisdom.com) does certainly have a lot of great benefits but still involves a lot of hard work in the initial days and hurdles. If a proper system is not put in place at the right time, things can take a turn for the worse and ground the business in no time. So, how does Artificial Intelligence enable businesses to become profitable and viable? Let’s find out: **Manage Inventory:** When an order is placed, an aggregator is usually the one who sends and delivers the goods. The goods would be sent from a remote location where manufacturing costs are lower. Now in case if they run out of a product, leading to a backlog of orders and lost sales this would mean a considerable loss. To avoid such a scenario, Artificial Intelligence technology can help assess future sales trends. It can do so as it has the ability to gather and analyze the data gathered from the previous orders, customer behavior during a particular time or season, etc. With such trends and information at hand, the manufacturers and shippers can stay updated and be prepared accordingly. **Automation:** Several tasks that otherwise consume too much of time and resources can be done effectively by AI-assisted e-commerce automation. Apart from cost savings, automation reduces the errors all the while offering more assistance with tasks like customer service, predictive search, and chatbots. **Effective Marketing:**  AI, as mentioned above has the ability to gather large amounts of data and process it into useful information, which can be used by businesses to spin effective marketing techniques based on customer choices and behavior. This ensures that only preferred and relevant products are positioned so that they connect with the buyers. With the modern digital revolution, businesses now have the opportunity of tapping into the power of AI. In the beginning, AI seemed a buzz and a concept portrayed by fictional movies but today it is the reality. And has become easily accessible to every company, no matter its size, to grow and scale their business. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Payments Industry Technology Trends in 2019 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-03-06 Meta Description: One of the most dynamic sectors, the Payments Industry continues to grow and is being constantly propelled by technological and operational innovations. Tags: Tech Talk, Internet of Things, business, Technology, IoT, Enterprise, iphone, mobile, mobile platform, artificial intelligence, technologies, FinTech, mobile payments, payment tracking, security, smartphone, v URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/payments-industry-technology-trends-in-2019 One of the most dynamic sectors, the Payments Industry continues to grow and is being constantly propelled by technological and operational innovations. There are a number of individual, near-term trends that are reshaping the way payments gateway works and disrupting this technology as we knew it. Data-driven options for how to pay and receive payment, technology innovation with supporting infrastructure including differentiated services or experiences; all these and more will collectively have huge impacts for the payments organizations for over the next few years. **Simplify Payment Track:** Simplifying the payment processing trend in on the horizon, As it happens, businesses, on average, have over five gateway processes. It is a possibility that their original gateway did not support a particular payment method, so they added one. Then, neither offered cross-border support so added another. All this is done in the name of improving the process but in reality, does the complete opposite. These have left businesses struggling with multiple accounts, payment data, payouts, and integrations. **Cross- Border E-commerce Will Rise:** The popularity of digital cross-border shopping statistics are surprising. eMarketer Retail states that almost 70% of online buyers shopped from foreign sites in the year 2017. Merchants and e-commerce business owners are now realizing the possibility of huge growth they can get by giving buyers in every market and ease to access their preferred payment option. **Mobile Payments:** The upcoming generation will be different. The millennials are said to be changing the way banking works. And with the availability of advanced smart handheld devices powered by fast networks. **Security Is Paramount:** When online, customers do have legitimate concerns about the safety of transactions. With news about fraud and personal info being misused on the rise, it will definitely make them nervous while doing such transactions. Hence, enhancing and building strong privacy and data security infrastructure will be a pivotal trend in this industry. To conclude, this year seems to be an exciting year for the online payment segment. With interesting trends and technologies making headlines, time will only tell on what sustains and makes a profitable impact on both, the retailers and the customers. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## E-commerce Services Which Will Reign in 2019 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-02-26 Meta Description: In today’s dynamic times, customer’s preferences and choices change like a flick of a switch. And with that, let’s discuss the most demanded E-commerce services we would see in 2019: Tags: Tech Talk, Internet of Things, iOS application, business, Technology, IoT, Big Data, e-commerce, Web app, web developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/e-commerce-services-which-will-reign-in-2019 In today’s dynamic times, customer’s preferences and choices change like a flick of a switch. As [technology](https://pacewisdom.com/) evolves and new ideas or innovations emerge, customers too expect and demand more better version of the service/products offered to them. As this happens, companies strive to develop products to meet this demand with the quickest turnaround time. And with that, let’s discuss the most demanded E-commerce services we would see in 2019: **Big Data:** Information is power -With an infinite amount of data that gets generated each day, experts in data analytics can take the information and break it down to actionable insights. This data can help the e-commerce businesses in understanding their audience and accordingly position their products. More and more companies now depend on Big data to make informed business decisions. **Websites and Apps:** With advanced network connections and smart devices/gadgets, having a powerful and information loaded website/app is like oxygen for any e-commerce business. Convenience is what customers of today seek and when all that they need is served to them in their phones and computers, it is a deal maker.  Hence, businesses have started realizing the importance of quality software and scalability as the top priorities. **Machine Learning:** Automation of processes is intended to make life easier, streamline updates for achieving operational efficiency, better the day to day activities by saving effort and reducing human errors. **Voice Search:** When we say Voice search Siri and Alexa come to the mind. And with the products like Amazon Echo Dot, Google Home voice, search has become a very mainstream AI enabled technology. Powered by natural language processes, it offers instant convenience and ease in the buying process. With people now relying on voice searches from buying grocery, ordering food to weather and directions to a destination; online retailers who leverage this technology stand to gain loads of benefits. **ChatBots:** It comes as a pop-up box in a website or app, helping customers with queries and suggests buying options. Most of the customer prefer ChatBots as the primary choice for customer service inquiries as it helps with quick and effective resolutions. So if you have an e-commerce project and looking for someone to help you develop it, drop us an email or call us. We would be happy to assist! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## IoT Marketing Trends for 2019 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-02-12 Meta Description: Internet Of Things is changing the way we live and as we are in the year 2019, we are about to witness a substantial shift in IoT marketing segment. Tags: Tech Talk, Technology, IoT, app, Big Data, Mobile App, 5G Network, 5G technology, app design, Smart Devices URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/iot-marketing-trends-for-2019 [Internet Of Things](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things)is changing the way we live and as we are in the year 2019, we are about to witness a substantial shift in the IoT marketing segment. Many organizations have acknowledged the advantages it has brought across many different verticals. This year is going to be a pivotal year in this segment and till 2020 it is estimated that more than 30 billion [IoT](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/iot-development-services) devices will be a part of organizations and households globally. Let’s now glance over some trends that will be making their presence felt in IoT marketing: **Big Data Will Be Major:** With more connected devices, organizations will have access to a large pool of data. And with such a large number of data being generated, marketing professionals will be better equipped to understand their customers and the buying behaviour or demand patterns at every level. **Deliver Personalized Experience:** With predictive analysis and BI tools, businesses are now able to gain access data on their target audiences behaviour and buying patterns. This further opens up the possibility of delivering relevant and personalized services or products. **5G - The Game Changer:** 5G technology will be speeding up the download process leading to much lower latency and is very beneficial for sectors that use VR/AR, which needs a high-speed network to perform without any glitch. Though still being in the nascent stage, 5G technology is going to be a catalyst for all next-gen IoT devices. Several service providers have already begun the production of devices compatible with 5G technology. **Edge Computing:** This will be significant in sectors where immediate action is needed based on complex real-time data analysis as devices become powerful with AI capabilities and enabling local data processing techniques. This is expected to reduce voluminous data transfers and cloud dependencies. All this will provide more agility and flexibility for business. **The rise of Smart Devices**: Smart devices will continue to rise and evolve in areas like transportation, healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing solutions, etc. During the early stage of IoT, devices were built for desktop applications and as the years progressed, there was a shift towards building mobile-friendly applications. So, businesses have to now focus on creating a mobile-friendly application. IoT was one known as a niche technology for startups and today it has evolved into a technology on which billion-dollar enterprises are building their futures. With more innovations in this segment, there’s a lot more left to see the impact IoT is going to bring in the upcoming years. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## IoT Devices We Will See in 2019 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-02-11 Meta Description: The Internet Of Things has become a huge part of our lives, embedding itself in everything that we do. IoT enables us to have greater control on devices. Tags: Tech Talk, Technology, IoT, mobile, Mobile App, mobile app developer, technologies URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/iot-devices-we-will-see-in-2019 Whether you're a business person, looking to take your business to the next level or a homeowner making your abode a smart home for better living- IoT is what you need. The [Internet Of Things](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/iot-development-services) has become a huge part of our lives, embedding itself in everything that we do. a huge part of our lives, embedding itself in everything that we do. IoT has been offering various benefits like enabling us to have greater control on devices or gadgets, offer valuable insights into resource consumption habits, streamlining business processes. It has been very instrumental in connecting people in organizations with systems and technology which has been facilitating a better quality of life. 2018 has been a year for innovation of various connected devices and, as per some experts, this year is going to be an exception with many more IoT devices coming up; we have covered some like: Smart Cars: ----------- The rise of smart self-driven cars technology is something that is still being worked on, yet by 2020 it is estimated that there will be around 250 million IoT connected cars across the globe. These smart cars will come fitted with smart sensors that can help in saving fuel costs, time management, cut down pollution and also avoid collision with other vehicles. These automobiles are also expected to be more alert and responsive to the changing conditions. Healthcare Devices: ------------------- As per some estimates, the spending on healthcare wearables or [IoT solutions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things) is expected to reach a staggering $1trillion dollars by the year 2025! The healthcare industry has been the fastest to embrace this technology as the IoT embedded devices greatly help healthcare specialists to diagnose diseases and provide treatment on time. Integration of IoT features also helps in providing high-value service to patients who need constant supervision, chronic ailments and the elderly. Virtual Assistants: ------------------- Google Now, Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Echo are a few examples of existing Virtual Assistants we are acquainted with. Just a voice command to the devices for ordering food, groceries, things that you need- it has never been so convenient as these intelligent assistants do it all. And not just in homes, these virtual assistants are coming up in retail outlets, transport hubs, online shopping and much more. All these of which we thought only existed in fictional movies is moving steadily towards becoming a reality. In a few years, all that we need will be available at our fingertips and IoT is set to enable these changes, ushering us into the next age of efficiency. From building smart home devices to enterprise platforms that perform complex actions with ease and software or connected products which support these actions- IoT is here to stay and grow further. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Impact of 5G Network on Mobile Apps Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-02-06 Meta Description: The 5G network is going to revolutionize the way mobile networks operate. This network will be 100 times, gigabit-per-second speed, faster than the 4G. Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, iOS application, mobile app development, Mobile Application, Technology, Mobile App, mobile app developer, hybrid app development, Ionic Mobile App, Android App, technologies, 5G Network, Mobile Networks URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/impact-of-5g-network-on-mobile-apps The 5G network is going to revolutionize the way mobile networks operate. This network will be 100 times, gigabit-per-second speed, faster than the current 4G technology. It will reshape the [mobile application industry](https://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies) by creating new innovations and gigantic opportunities for mobile industries and beyond. The deployment of a 5G network in mobile services brings in advantages in terms of high speed, reliability, security all of which is very essential factors for its applications in IoT. And it goes without saying that the next big step of the telecommunication standards will be the 5G network. What Does [5G Networks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G) Mean For Mobile Apps? * Faster Connectivity: Download apps in few seconds irrespective of its size * Transfer of Files: With the power of 490 MBPS browsing speed and 100 MBPS download speed, the user can download or transfer files in a snap of the fingers * Low Latency: With 5G, put an end to the annoying wait for the apps to respond * Enhanced Experience: Offering speed and clarity, this network is definitely going delight the application users * Ambient Computing: With the advent of 5G, ambient computing through wireless technology, is now a possibility Seeing the potential which 5G network carries, it will change the way businesses function. With the 5G network as the underlying fabric for a complete system of connected devices carrying the ability to overhaul businesses and economic conditions to a major extent. As mentioned in the first paragraph, with improved speed and connectivity brought by 5G, it will open up a lot of avenues for IoT applications. This high-speed network will allow development and improvement in areas where the difference between a fraction of seconds proves crucial and beneficial for a task. And with the way 5G technology is progressing, it will further enable developing of newer applications that were unheard of till date. Now, millions of data can be transferred to other connected devices anywhere in the globe in the blink of an eye. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Future Trends In Logistics And Supply Chain Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-01-31 Meta Description: Supply chain has been constantly evolving, starting from the days of assembly lines to the present day of deploying advanced robotic solutions. Tags: Tech Talk, software, artificial intelligence, technologies, Supply Chain Management, Software Development, logistics, Logistics and Supply chain management, Supply Chain URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/future-trends-in-logistics-and-supply-chain The supply chain has been constantly evolving, starting from the days of assembly lines to the present day of deploying advanced robotic solutions. The trends that we would see in 2019 are actually the continuation of the trends that dominated 2018. The advancement in logistics and supply chain has been solely focusing on tech-driven management and smart technology to reduce and manage overhead expenses. Supply chain and logistics are both a vital aspect for any business in terms of keeping a check on the supply of quality raw materials, tracking, manufacturing, and transport of the finished goods. Those companies who implement a well-oiled supply chain mechanism are able to meet their customers demands in a much more expeditious manner and can ensure sustainability of the business in the long run. Let’s glace at some of the important trends that will change the way modern businesses function: **Artificial Intelligence:** It is everywhere and is in everything you do. AI has found its way in numerous applications in warehousing management which includes gesture recognition in the procurement process and autonomous vehicles, robots for stocking products and much more. The concept of automation and robotics are also implemented in the supply chain to assist humans with challenging tasks. **Wearable Devices:** These devices connected with cloud technology, can help warehouse staff to access and input data in real time. This allows proper data collection and analysis to enable companies to keep track, manufacture, and distribution of inventories. **Saas In Supply Chain:** SaaS or Software-as-a-service is also gaining ground as the preferred choice in [supply chain and logistics management](https://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-supply-chain-management) since it offers security and the convenience of being able to use only when the services are required. This allows the company to save on the costs of continuous system upgrade and infrastructure. **Digitisation**: Going digital is the new mantra ever since technology evolved. And when we speak about it, IoT holds significant importance as a highly transformative technological solution in [supply chain and logistics management](https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/operations-management/logistics-scm/). It will hugely benefit the system of connected devices that enable the transfer of data over networks on managing inventories at warehouses, updates on transportation, etc. **Risk Management System:** No matter how improved and progressive technology is implemented, there are fair chances of things going wrong. Hence an effective supply chain risk management system in place will help companies to contain any unforeseen event and guide in taking measures to overcome it. Steps need to be taken to make the supply chain more flexible to adapt to any disruptions with alternate options on stand by. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Exploring Blockchain-Based Data Security Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-01-22 Meta Description: Many key industries are exploring Blockchain-based data security to secure their businesses, assets and data. No Doubt, Blockchain benefits for a business. Tags: Tech Talk, mobile app development, business, Technology, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Web development, Data, Datasecurity URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/exploring-blockchain-based-data-security Many key industries are exploring Blockchain-based data security to secure their businesses, assets, and data. With the rising risk of cyber attack, several industries are making a bee-line in securing this new technology. No matter the amount of buzz it is generating, if you are considering to adopt this technology, then you may take some time to understand how will it actually help your business. No doubt that [Blockchain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain) offers some very important potential advantages for a business and in the realm of data security, it could prove transformative. To understand as to why the key industries have already implemented this technology, let's take a closer view at ways in which it could have a positive impact on data security: **It is Decentralized** - Blockchain breaks down the data into small chunks and distributes them across the entire network of connected computers. Since every computer has the copy of this transaction there won't be any loss in case of a system crash. It also eliminates the need for a 3rd party vendor to process the transaction and hence assures the safety of the data. **Data is Encrypted and Validated** \- It offers reliable and independent data verification. Since all that happens on a Blockchain network is encrypted, there is a guarantee that the data cannot be altered. One can authenticate the data across all the ledgers on the computers in the network to verify and validate its originality. **It Can Be Private Or Public** - While public Blockchains have been around for long, one can also create private blockchains that restrict access to certain users. So anyone accessing a private network must authenticate their identity to gain entry. Also, the actions for such type of users can be restricted accordingly. **No Chance Of Being Hacked** - It is impossible to infiltrate this system/network which has multiple nodes of data storage. Since hackers can only break into traditional networks and find all data in a single place to corrupt it. In Blockchain, once the data is stored, it cannot be altered or changed in any way as every legitimate transaction is confirmed by multiple nodes on the network. This disruptive technology is estimated to be worth $20 billion by 2024 and since it has the potential to bring down costs effectively, Gartner suggests that the Blockchain’s business value-add will increase to $176 billion by 2025. Industries like IoT, finance and health already using Blockchain to protect their data but as research and development continue we can expect many more sectors like education, communications, etc deploying it for their advantage and safety. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Metrics To Make Software Development Right Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-01-18 Meta Description: While in the software development process, there are many metrics related to the main functions of management namely Planning, Organizing, Controlling. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, development, iOS application, mobile app development, business, Technology, applications, Business Process, Enterprise, Web Development, mobile app developer, hybrid app development, Ionic Mobile App, Android App, Software Development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/metrics-to-make-software-development-right In simple terms, it means the methods to measure the software characteristics which can be countable. countable. Software metrics are important for many reasons. While the [software development](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies) process is in progress, there are many metrics related to the main functions of management namely Planning, Organizing, Controlling./ Why is it important? Well, because it is to identify the quality of the current process, implement any improvements measures if required and also beneficial in terms of predicting the quality of the software once the development phase is complete. It enables the project leads and managers to assess the impact of decisions made during the development phase of the projects and accordingly prioritize objectives and goals. But it is not just meant for the team managers but for the team itself. The team that works to get better and understand the metrics, master their craft and deliver the best. So what are these [metrics to make software development](https://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/answer/Software-metrics-and-the-SDLC) right? Let’s explore Since it's about measuring something which is intangible, there are four aspects of software quality which are Reliability, Performance, Security, and Maintainability. Now, let's move to some of the metrics which are: **Cycle Time:** The amount of time it takes from being an idea to a complete finished product. This should be measured in each step during the phase to get the accurate time in place. This also helps in identifying certain bottlenecks and problem areas well in time for ensuring a viable solution is developed. **Team Velocity:** It is measuring team efficiency in terms of the value they are providing to customers at a given point of time. It is the measure quantifying the number and size of product features completed and delivered by a team. **Release Burndown:** To help understand how development is progressing, how much functionality is yet to be done and when is it expected to be completed, all this during an entire software release. **Defects:** Checking and identifying the issues or bugs during the production phase. If it’s on the decline, that is a good indication of the quality as perceived by the end user and but if it’s on the rise, then the process needs to be redesigned or re-structured in a different way. And that’s how it is done. Introducing and implementing a continuous delivery practice is important but then there had to be certain metrics in place to measure them too. This is to ensure that the software performs to its best and delivers an awesome experience to the end users. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Essential Supply Chain Management Tools Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-01-14 Meta Description: The supply chain management tools and techniques make it possible for businesses to reduce errors and costs. Here is SCM software to the rescue. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, mobile app development, Mobile Application, business, Technology, Enterprise, ecommerce, Ionic mobile apps, mobile app developer, mobile platform, Managament tools, Supply Chain Management, Warehouse Management URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/essential-supply-chain-management-tools The [supply chain management](http://pacewisdom.com/solutions/logistics-supply-chain-management)tools and techniques make it possible for businesses to reduce errors and costs. With competition looming over every business, the margin of error within the supply chain management gets thinner every day. And here is supply chain management software to the rescue. Thanks to this software, it has now become easier for companies to avoid a disastrous situation. Let’s talk about some essential tools that make supply chain management software a must have for every business: ### Order Processing Tools: It is an important part of the supply chain and SCM software provides the right tools to make it easier and efficient. These tool support lot of order processing activities like sales, order management, order fulfillment, billing and pay on delivery. These tools automate the activities, capture data hence reducing the time and eliminating any need for manual intervention. ### Lean Inventory: This means to produce what is needed at the moment as per the current demand trend projected by the consumer. The earlier practice of creating goods in advance meant huge surpluses that resulted in massive looses and inefficiencies. Though such type of activity does not require a production tool, SCM can help it optimize better. It can be used to get demand forecasts, for planning production, supply of materials and much more to get be able to gain a better clarity into the future of the supply chain. ### Warehouse Management: SCM help manage day-to-day operation of a warehouse present at multi-locations. SCM can be customized has the ability to provide a wide range of capabilities as required by a company. It helps in managing key functions like logistics, product tracking, route planning, stock checking etc. ### Shipping Status Real-time alerts related to the shipping activities are shared throughout a product’s journey- right from the warehouse to the buyer. These help in rightly addressing issues that may arise during transit of the goods and enable the stakeholders to take appropriate action on time. These alerts about the status of the [supply chain management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply-chain_management) can be even sent to handheld devices all throughout the day Choose and SCM software that matches your business requirement. Having a efficient SCM software will propel your business to greater heights in this digital age. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Future Trends In Software Development That Will Dominate 2019 Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2019-01-09 Meta Description: 2019 is going to be a year where we will be witnessing more Softwatre development and innovations. It is a known fact that technology trends fade in and out Tags: Tech Talk, Technology, programming interface, Web Development, Programming languages, artificial intelligence, Web app, Web app development, Web application, technologies, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, Progressive web app, Progressive Web Application URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/future-trends-in-software-development-that-will-dominate-2019 2019 is going to be a year where we will be witnessing more developments and innovations. The precedent has already been set as 2018 was an exciting year in software development for several technologies. It is a known fact that technology trends fade in and out all the time, what’s hot now will be gone tomorrow. That’s how dynamic it is. With rapid developments and innovations, a business needs to be aware of the changing trends to be in a position to reap maximum benefits and thrive in the competitive business world. The trends that we will discuss ahead, have already made their presence felt in 2018, going further these technologies are going to advance and dominate the upcoming years: BlockChain Technology: ---------------------- When we mention [Blockchain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain), we are reminded of Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies. In reality, it is a technology that goes beyond it. Blockchain technology is a decentralized technology that eliminates the need or requirement of a middle person or system to carry out transactions or activities. It is a peer to peer network of interconnected computers which can store information accessible to all parties involved but can't be stolen or modified. It guarantees data security, reduces the cost of the intermediaries and supports the movement of large-scale transactions. With Blockchain being explored by major corporate players like Amazon, Microsoft and IBM, there is a lot more to see of it. Artificial Intelligence (AI): ----------------------------- It had been a fascinating concept but now it is making a notable impact. With technology moving ahead at a breakneck speed, we seem to have more power over every electronic device we hold. Digital transformation has become a core part of business strategies for corporates in today’s time, citing AI has the key driver for this. According to a research, AI-derived business value is expected to touch $ 3.9 trillion dollars by 2022. In 2019, AI will be used by almost 40% of businesses to automate their processes. Progressive Web Application (PWAs): ----------------------------------- PWA is when the website or web pages looks and acts like conventional apps. This technology was reported as a trend in 2017 but it is likely to see more demand in the upcoming year. It provides the user with the benefits of mobile experience along with the features of browser technology. Cybersecurity: -------------- As businesses grow and technology prospers, there are certain security incidents that have been reported over the years. As per Forbes, the global cybersecurity market is fueled by an array of technology trends and is expected to reach $ 170 billion by 2020. Protecting data loss and leakages are some of the major concerns faced by businesses of all sizes. With them looking towards a solution to tackle the menace, this opens a new path of opportunities for a web development company. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How AI helps in the growth of E-Commerce? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-10-16 Tags: Tech Talk, e-commerce, Artificial Intelligence, Web app, Web app development, Web application, web developers, Web development, Web developer, multi language website, Website, chatbot URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-ai-helps-in-the-growth-of-e-commerce Except if you have been tunneled profound underground for the most recent few years, you've doubtlessly known about artificial intelligence (AI). In any case, how might we utilize AI in [E-commerce](http://pacewisdom.com/solutions/ecommerce-web-design-development)? Because of the high significance of AI-based frameworks, internet business organizations have just begun dealing with instruments that can incorporate the intensity of artificial intelligence into their advertising systems. As this happens, promoting efforts will turn out to be more focused on and productive, expending lower spending plans and giving more income to proprietors.  In this article, we share powerful and practical ways that retail businesses are using AI in the world of online shopping. Personalized experience ----------------------- Artificial Intelligence is reliably demonstrating its mastery in conveying a customized understanding to clients around the world. AI can enable online retailers to add customized pages to their site and give customized proposals to their guests. This influences the purchasing to encounter intuitive as well as builds the odds of creating more deals. This is on the grounds that the proposals are not simply in light of what client beforehand visited or enjoyed, however, it likewise incorporates integral items that they may most likely like. Chatbots -------- Practically every messaging stage available is trying different things with emissary bots. A few social stages have their own particular chatbots that let clients connect with a brand utilizing natural language on an agreeable stage. These bots are rapidly beginning to take once again customary client benefit parts, for example, deals and client bolster. For organizations that are tight on capital, coordinating a delivery person bot can be an extraordinary method to include an individual touch and draw in with your clients effortlessly. Create customer-centric search ------------------------------ Amir Konigsberg is the flow CEO of Twiggle, a business that empowers e-commerce web crawlers to figure the manner in which people do. Utilizing machine taking in, the [AI programming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence) consequently labels, sorts out and outwardly looks content by marking highlights of the picture or video. Watch any ongoing meetings with Amir and he will reveal to you that customers regularly relinquish e-commerce business encounters on the grounds that the item results showed are frequently unessential. To handle this issue, Twiggle uses natural language processing to limit, contextualize and at last enhance query items for online customers. Increasing the conversion rate ------------------------------ Huge organizations like the Wall Street Journal and Pandora are now utilizing AI-controlled software to build transformations and enhance the business channels on their stages. Their software perceives unmistakable examples in client behavior and gathers information on what conduct prompts conversation. The AI at that point investigates the information and makes minor adjustments to the format of the site and assesses whether changes enhance or deteriorate. After some time, the AI realizes what modifications are best and applies those enhancements sitewide. Sustainable customer service ---------------------------- As per a review, on a normal 73%, clients incline toward brands which avail good help. Presently discussing client bolster, it has been seen that clients incline toward having a human connection for a quality, However, utilizing human asset for the same can be costly for business people. With the coming of AI conveying an intuitive client, bolster has turned out to be simple and spending well disposed. Utilization of conversational chatbots has been used by various organizations the whole way across the globe. Conclusion ---------- The advent of AI in the e-commerce industry will entirely change the way trading used to happen. It won’t just provide ease in shopping, but will also ensure security and better revenue generation. However, it is important for entrepreneurs to accordingly judge their exact requirement and get it implemented religiously. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Building CodeIgniter Multi Language Website   Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-10-03 Meta Description: CodeIgniter Multi-Language Website is a great PHP system with a little impression, worked for developers who require a straightforward and rich toolbox to make web applications. Tags: Tech Talk, Tools & Technologies, Technology, Web app, Web app development, Web application, Web development, Web developer, CodeIgniter, digital economy, digital india, multi language website, technologies, Website URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/building-codeigniter-multi-language-website CodeIgniter Multi-Language Website is a great PHP system with a little impression, worked for developers who require a straightforward and rich toolbox to make full-highlighted web applications. On the off chance that you are anticipating build up the application in a great way, at that point, the main alternative is the web improvement system. When contrasted with alternate structures, [CodeIgniter Development](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/codeigniter-development-company) is quick, solid, its chance and speed is huge. CodeIgniter Multi-Language Website was made by EllisLab and is currently a task of the British Columbia Institute of Technology. It has a little execution impression because of the particular way to deal with stacking its libraries and completes an incredible activity isolating rationale from the introduction by utilizing a Model-View-Controller (MVC) dynamic. Gotten from the Model-View-Controller (MVC) improvement design, it is a productive way to deal with unscramble application rationale and introduction by distancing from PHP scripting. Be that as it may, in all actuality, website pages containing insignificant scripting are reasonable by code igniter. The MVC is a fantastic layout which is frequently used by applications ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Model (M) -Data Handler: The model deals with the information layer, speaking with the database. It speaks to your information structure, ordinarily collaborating with the Database or like addition, erasure everything that part comes in this record. The model inquiry ponders each one of the information that ought to have appeared. It shows who think about each one of the undertakings that can be associated with change that inquiry. It just addresses the data of an application. The model addresses huge business data and the business chooses that manage access to and updates of this data. ### View (V): UI The view deals with the introduction layer, showing the UI and substance. it is the data when all is said in done a site page which is open to clients. Much the same as a header or footer, we can state a page scrap in [Code Igniter](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/codeigniter-development-company), which can either be RSS page or any page. It is utilized to speak to your web venture i.e. to demonstrate the UI part regularly it contains the HTML and CSS code. ### Controller (C) – Decision Maker: in MVC to the controller, you can say the brain of it because it takes the requests to bind everything together. the controller manages the communication between the views and models. ### Benefits of using CodeIgniter * Simple and trouble-free movement from server encouraging to server encouraging. CodeIgniter PHP Development is perfect with most web servers, various operating systems, and platforms. * PHP structure is a simple investigate that permits you effortlessly to get out the mistakes in your advancement. [CodeIgniter Development](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/codeigniter-development-company) can stretch out your PHP coding to get the particular capacities through structures. * Offers adaptability and simple administration With MVC based structure.   * CodeIgniter PHP Development is a most simple approach to use a particular program. It is quick, solid, lightweight and abler. * Dynamic Record Implementation is basically sublime and easy to remember. * Great documentation of the customer control, which makes it basic for any coder to use the whole framework with a remarkable execution and additionally introduction. * In around the world, PHP engineers are found and with no trouble with CodeIgniter PHP improvement, you can discover the gigantic measure of help through discussions and online journals. * While arranging the PHP structure, [CodeIgniter](https://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/codeigniter-development-company) Multi-Language Website is well known among engineers in view of exertion speculation. It likewise gives less demanding arrangement and customization of design documents. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Uses of Python Programming Language Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-09-27 Meta Description: Python is a broadly useful language, which implies it tends to be utilized to fabricate pretty much anything, which will be made simple. Tags: Tech Talk, mobile app development, Mobile Application, mobile, programming interface, Mobile App, mobile app developers, Programming, mobile platform, Programming languages, Mobile Game App, PhoneGap mobile, Python, Python programming, Python programming language URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/uses-of-python-programming-language Python is a broadly useful language, which implies it tends to be utilized to fabricate pretty much anything, which will be made simple with the correct apparatuses/libraries. Professionally, [Python](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-web-development) is incredible for backend web improvement, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and scientific computing. Numerous designers have likewise utilized Python to construct profitability devices, amusements, and work area applications, so there are a lot of assets to enable you to figure out how to do those also. There are additionally various reasons why you ought to incline toward Python to other programming languages. Web Development --------------- Python gives you a chance to build up a web application without an excess of inconvenience. It has libraries for web conventions like HTML and XML, JSON, email handling, FTP, IMAP, and simple to utilize attachment interface. Web systems that depend on Python like [Django](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/django-web-development) and [Flask](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/flask-web-development) have as of late turned out to be extremely prevalent for web advancement. These web structures enable you to make server-side code (backend code) in Python. That is the code that keeps running on your server, rather than on clients' gadgets and programs (front-end code). In case you're not acquainted with the contrast between backend code and front-end code. Operating Systems ----------------- Python is regularly a vital piece of Linux dispersions. For example, Ubuntu's Ubiquity Installer, and Fedora's and Red Hat Enterprise Linux's Anaconda Installer are composed in Python. Gentoo Linux makes utilization of Python for Portage, its bundle administration framework. Applications of Python Programming in Desktop GUI ------------------------------------------------- [Python](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-web-development) has basic language structure, measured design, rich content preparing instruments and the capacity to take a shot at various working frameworks which settle on it an attractive decision for creating work desktop-based applications. Most twofold appropriations of Python dispatch with Tk, a standard GUI library. It gives you a chance to draft a UI for an application. There are different GUI toolboxes like wxPython, PyQt or PyGtk accessible which enable designers to make very useful Graphical User Interface (GUI). *    Apart from that, some toolkits are available: wxWidgets Kivy – for writing multitouch applications Qt via pyqt or PySide *    And then we have some platform-specific toolkits: GTK+ Microsoft Foundation Classes through the win32 extensions Delphi Enterprise and Business Applications ------------------------------------ Python is likewise an awesome decision to create ERP and e[\-commerce systems](http://pacewisdom.com/solutions/ecommerce-web-design-development) frameworks. With highlights that incorporate uncommon libraries, extensibility, versatility, and effectively clear grammar, Python is an appropriate coding language for tweaking bigger applications. Scientific and Computational Applications ----------------------------------------- This is one of the plain basic uses of python programming. With its capacity, it does not shock anyone that python discovers its place in established researchers. The higher paces, efficiency, and accessibility of devices, for example, Scientific Python and Numeric Python, have brought about Python turning into a necessary piece of utilization associated with calculation and preparing of logical information. Games and 3D graphics --------------------- Python has different modules, libraries, and stages that help the advancement of diversions. For instance, PySoy is a 3D diversion motor supporting Python 3, and PyGame gives usefulness and a library for game development. There have been various recreations assembled utilizing Python including Civilization-IV, Disney's Toontown Online, Vega Strike and so forth. As indicated by the TIOBE record, [Python](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-web-development) is the fourth most prominent programming language out of 100. With the ascent of Ruby on Rails and all the more as of late Node.js, Python's utilization as the primary prototyping language for backend web advancement has lessened to some degree, particularly since it has a divided MVC environment. Notwithstanding, with enormous information ending up increasingly essential, Python has turned into an expertise that is more popular than any other time in recent memory, particularly it very well may be coordinated into web applications. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Web Application Development using Bottle framework Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-09-18 Meta Description: Pace Wisdom creates cost-effective applications using the Bottle framework. Bottle is a fast, simple and lightweight WSGI micro web-framework for Python. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, Tools & Technologies, app developer, app developers, Web app, Web app development, Web application, web developers, Web development, Bottle Framework, Web developer URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/web-application-development-using-bottle-framework The bottle is a simple [Python micro-framework](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-bottle-framework) that includes minimal tools (routing, templating, and a small abstraction over WSGI) and will be useful for developers looking for flexibility or people who want to build something really simple. Python is an excellent language for web programming due to its flexibility and high-level functionality. Web frameworks can make programming web applications much simpler because they connect many of the components necessary for a robust web interface. While some web structures endeavor to give everything that a client should need to use to build up an application, others attempt to remain off the beaten path while dealing with the vital, hard to actualize issues. The jug is a Python structure that falls into the second classification. In specialized term, It (source code) is a WSGI-consistent single source record web system with no outside conditions other than the Python standard library (stdlib) or  Bottle framework is a quick, basic and lightweight WSGI miniaturized scale web-structure for Python. It is amazingly lightweight, yet makes it simple to create applications rapidly. It is appropriated as a solitary record module and has no conditions other than the Python Standard Library. Main features of Bottle ----------------------- ### Routing: [Bottle.py](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-bottle-framework) requests dispatching, so provide clean and dynamic URL-routes for mapping. Use simplified syntax or regular expressions for URL parameters. The single file which runs with both Python 2.5+ and 3.x. ### WSGI: Bottle.py is the Web Server Gateway Interface framework and work with CGI and WSGI internals is easy. It can also run as a standalone web server or be used behind ("mounted on") any web server which supports WSGI ### Templates: Integrated template engine called SimpleTemplate Engine is fast (fast and pythonic built-in template engine) and built for Python users. There is support for mako, jinja2 and cheetah templates. ### Server: There is worked in HTTP advancement server and support for glue, Bjoern, wsgiref.simple\_server (default), fapws3, flup, cherrypy, Google App Engine or some other WSGI proficient HTTP server. Support for JSON customer information (for REST and JavaScript customers). ### Speed optimizations: There are quick static courses (single direct query) and much of the time utilized courses are tried first. Stage particular elite record transmission offices, for example, the Unix sendfile(), are bolstered too. [Bottle.py](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-bottle-framework) relies upon wsgi.file\_wrapper given by WSGI-Server execution. Should I use Bottle for web development? ---------------------------------------- The bottle web framework  is awesome for a few web development situations: *    Prototyping ideas *    Learning how web frameworks are built *    Building and running simple personal web applications ### Prototyping Prototyping basic thoughts are frequently simpler with Bottle than a more stubborn web system like Django on the grounds that Django ventures begin with a lot of standard code. The Model-View-Template structure for Django applications inside undertakings makes keeping up ventures less demanding, yet it tends to be lumbering on starter ventures where you're simply toying with arbitrary thoughts so you aren't stressed over your application's long-haul code structure. ### Learning about frameworks The Python bottle template is contained inside a solitary expansive source document named bottle.py, so it gives extraordinary perusing when figuring out how WSGI web systems function. All that you have to find out about how your web application's code interfaces with the Bottle structure is contained inside that solitary source code. ### Personal projects Individual tasks can be sent with [Bottle](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/python-bottle-framework) as the main reliance. In the event that you've never played out a Python web application sending previously, the number of ideas and steps can be overwhelming. By bundling bottle.py with your application's source code, you can skirt a portion of the means to all the more effortlessly get your web application up and running. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Build progressive web apps with Ionic framework Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-09-11 Meta Description: Progressive Web Apps alludes to a gathering of advancements, for example, service workers, and push notifications, that can bring local like execution. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, Web Development, Ionic Framework, app developer, Ionic, Ionic Mobile App, Web app, Web app development, Web application, web developers, Web development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/build-progressive-web-apps-with-ionic-framework The term Progressive Web Apps alludes to a gathering of advancements, for example, service workers, and push notifications, that can bring local like execution and client experience to web applications. To put it plainly, progressive web applications (PWAs) are sites that worked with the highlights of both customary sites and local portable applications. The term got instituted in 2015 by planner Frances Berriman and Google Chrome design Alex Russell. The fundamental favorable circumstances of Progressive Web Apps are the ability to work both on the web and offline, unbelievable execution that consolidates the best of sites and portable applications and simple establishment in the client's gadget. The offline capacities of Progressive Web Apps guarantee speed and execution with definitely no wavering. Developers can convey the applications on client gadgets without experiencing the way toward submitting them through application stores. PWAs are generally utilized by top organizations all around the globe including Alibaba, Flipkart, and Google, to give some examples. Indeed, numerous organizations have now begun to manufacture PWAs rather than native applications. Benefits of the Progressive Web Apps include -------------------------------------------- * Reliable – Load instantly and never show the down sour, even in uncertain network conditions. * Adding shortcuts to the home screen for quicker access. * Engaging – Feel like a native app on the device, with an immersive user experience. * And the ability to receive a push notification when the application is not running. * Ionic - the [‘Ionic’ Framework](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/hybrid-app-development-services/ionic-app-development) Out of the few systems that can be utilized for creating Progressive Web Apps, Ionic is the best decision of all. It is an open-source, cross-stage, half breed portable application system, furnished with the devices and administrations required to create applications utilizing web advances like HTML5, CSS, and Sass. The essential establishment of Ionic is AngularJS and is controlled by Apache Cordova to help create local applications. Designers would now be able to make utilization of one regular dialect and system set to create both local and Progressive web applications. * Build progressive web apps with an Ionic framework Environment Setup It may appear to be insignificant at, to begin with, yet having an organized workplace has enabled us to compose predictable, viable code. To build up a Progressive web App in Ionic, you have to download Ionic and introduce the vital conditions for the same. Download Node.js 6 LTS and NPM 3+ installers. Introduce ionic CLI internationally and kick begin a new venture. * Start a new project Next, start a New Ionic project with an ionic start.              ionic start myCabotApp Ionic begin is a provoke that gives you a chance to choose a "starter". On the off chance that you are building up an [Ionic application](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/hybrid-app-development-services/ionic-app-development) out of the blue, at that point utilize the instructional exercise starter. See Starter Templates to know more. Subsequent to picking the starter, the CLI will make a new application. * Run ionic serve Next, you can _CD_ into the venture's index to make utilization of the few commands that open previously you. While running ionic serve, the progressions made to the codes in the application will be naturally invigorated in the program. Utilize _ionic - help_ to get a far-reaching rundown of commands. * Integrate Ionic with Cordova This progression is imperative as it delivers the local capacities to the application. The charge, ionic Cordova wraps the [Cordova](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/hybrid-app-development-services/cordova-app-development) CLI. What's more, you are good to go to begin manufacture, test and dispatch your own progressive web application. In spite of the fact that every one of these phases of building, testing and propelling requires careful endeavors however with right coding aptitudes and experience it should be possible. * Offline mode, push notification and other PWA features On the off chance that you need to take things further, you'll have to include benefit specialists for offline mode and web push notices. Service workers give an automatic method to store application assets. Be it JavaScript documents or JSON information from an HTTP ask. Also, you can include show petition for a portion of alternate highlights. This incorporates your application's shown name, symbols, and also sprinkle screen. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Angular versus React JS. Which would you choose and why?   Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-09-07 Meta Description: Is AngularJS or ReactJS? The present bipolar scene of JavaScript systems has left numerous developers attempting to pick a side in this discussion. Tags: Tech Talk, iOS application, mobile app development, Mobile Application, ios, iphone, android, mobile, android app developers, Mobile App, mobile app developer, Native Apps, Ionic Mobile App, mobile platform, AngularJS, angularjs, reactjs, ReactJS, react native, Android App URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/angular-versus-react-js-which-would-you-choose-and-why Would it be a good idea for me to pick AngularJS or ReactJS? The present bipolar scene of JavaScript systems has left numerous developers attempting to pick a side in this discussion. With regards to choosing a fitting JavaScript structure for the development of an excellent web application, the developers have correctly got numerous choices accessible. They incorporate [AngularJS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/angularjs-development-company), ReactJS, and so forth. The fundamental contrasts between AngularJS (framework) and React (the library) are in the accompanying perspectives: componentization, information official, execution, reliance determination, mandates, and enticing. In any case, it rather turns into a dubious choice for the engineers as every one of these structures has their upsides and downsides. For what reason would you pick AngularJS? ----------------------------------------- * First, the engineers will think that it's simpler to build up a modified Document Model Object (DOM). * The global people group bolster is one of the components, that can without much of a stretch make Angular the best javascript system. Engineers and planners continually team up and add to the network, expanding believability and unwavering quality of the structure. * MVVM layout as a base. All the Angular arrangements depend on the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) format, which, starting with the rendition 2+, permits isolating the application's rationale from its view in UI. Implying that we get a secluded arrangement which can be taken a shot at by a few groups of engineers utilizing similar information. * Two-way information tie is likely the best element, as it diffuses the effect after each minor information change and does a route with the requirement for assist exertion with information match up in view and model. Why you ought not to pick AngularJS? ------------------------------------ * Complex linguistic structure: Despite a far-reaching and clear manual, soak expectation to absorb information and unpredictability are named among the principle powerless purposes of [Angular.js](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/angularjs-development-company). AngularJS sentence structure is very hard to ace for the apprentices. In spite of the fact that, it'd be reasonable forsee that the fifth form of this system utilizes TypeScript 2.4 which is the minimum hard to ponder version of TypeScript. * Migration: Difficult minutes in moving to start with one Angular form then onto the next. For what reason do individuals pick React.JS? --------------------------------------------- [React.JS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/react-js-development-company) is an open-source library discharged by the engineers of Facebook for the production of UI that wouldn't require advance enhancement. * We should think about a portion of the upsides of the ReactJS: * JSX is a JS sentence structure that empowers HTML statements and use of HTML label grammar for subcomponents rendering. It advances working of machine-decipherable code and gives the capacity to compound segments in one incorporate time confirmed record. * Having joined Virtual DOM rather than customary DOM, ReactJS made a leap forward in the part of dynamic page reviving. Indeed, because of this arrangement, the engineers picked up a plausibility to fabricate single-page applications, the specific segments of which can be naturally refreshed without the Internet association. The pressure stack on client gadgets' OS is diminished in such way and even the applications overflowing with complex energized components perform quickly. * The center distinction amongst ReactJS and AngularJS is that React is JS-driven, while ng2 remains HTML-driven. JavaScript is unmistakably strong, then HTML, that makes React undeniably straightforward, engaged and steady. ### Detriments of React.JS * Comparing react versus rakish execution, most importantly it merits saying that [ReactJS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/react-js-development-company) is certifiably not a full-scale system and for this very reason coordination of the UI library into a typical MVC structure requires further programming information. It is as yet youthful and not develop, thinking about instructional exercise volumes, restricted biological system, and so on. * It isn't a structure but instead a library. * If you need to refresh the present adaptation of your application, be ready that some outsider arrangements utilized amid its creation might be handicapped all the while. In such case, you'll need to instantly begin scanning for an option, test everything once more and, subsequently, invest a lot of extreme energy and cash. On account of Angular 5, you're nearly ensured to get the product of high security and you'll be probably not going to face such an issue. React.JS or Angular: conclusion ------------------------------- Presently at that point, how about we finish up our Angular 5 correlation with [React.JS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/react-js-development-company). Considering all the previously mentioned highlights of [AngularJS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/angularjs-development-company) and ReactJS, we arrived at a conclusion that It just relies upon what the undertaking necessity is that you need to pick the correct structure and expand its advantages. The two advances are intense and adaptable, while none of them is more awful or better than the other. Contingent on custom application objectives and specific framework limitations, engineers can keep running from ng2 to React, and back. in case you're searching for adaptability took after by effortlessness – you would do well to off beginning with the ReactJS. What's more, a different way, require the most proficient approach to sort out the work process of your frontend engineers' group, the Angular would be your ideal arrangement. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Ionic and AngularJS superpowers for Mobile App Development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-08-31 Tags: Tech Talk, mobile app development, Mobile Application, mobile, programming interface, Mobile App, Ionic Framework, mobile app developer, Ionic, Ionic Mobile App, mobile platform, Programming languages, AngularJS, Angular JS URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/ionic-and-angularjs-superpowers-for-mobile-app-development AngularJS has ended up being a standout amongst other structures for building Android and iOS applications over every single significant stage. Ionic is another passage in the scope of hybrid mobile application improvement stages. Essentially, it is a front-end SDK that is based over the most helpful AngularJS – an extremely well-known JavaScript library. There are numerous highlights that Angular fits consummately into the mobile developer tool compartment is its highlights it's interfacing capacity with back-end web servers and outer information sources which help to create dynamic AngularJS improvement Services. Ionic applications likewise give organizations and developers a variety of advantages one single improvement code over a few versatile stages with the assistance of the most well-known [JavaScript system called AngularJS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/angularjs-development-company). Creating portable applications with the mix of superpowers like Angular and Ionic is exceptionally productive and brings about without bug code that will scale up your advancement. There are several features of this winning combination of AngularJS and Ionic, which includes: Reusable logic -------------- Angular helps keep UI, information model, and code rationale independently. This implies Angular permits to reuse any logic we utilized as a part of the past on different gadgets and furthermore on various stages, as yet empowering the developers to tweak the UI for every stage. Previously, our improvement was restricted to just the work area. At that point, we produce for [Android](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers) and iOS. We need to create code for every single diverse stage we can't reuse the code again so it was extremely costly, tedious and unsafe. That is when Ionic comes in. Ionic offers a whole library of streamlined HTML, JS and CSS instruments, and segments for the portable. It decreases code composing for a few stages. In this way, one single application can really keep running on every single versatile stage like Android, Windows, and iOS, with no extra endeavors or improvement time. Component Creation with Ionic ----------------------------- Most application designers whine about the endeavors expected to make splash screens and symbols for most [hybrid application](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/hybrid-app-development-services)s. It is crucial to consider singular parameters like tallness, thickness, width, kind of gadget, and host. Besides, to finish the activity effectively, icons with numerous splash screens ought to be made. Ionic makes this activity generally simpler; you have to make 2 straightforward documents with .png, .ai, or .psd augmentation inside the primary asset catalog, express the format and arranged! Mobile UI with Ionic -------------------- Ionic is based on using Web Standards, which suggests an [Ionic application](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/hybrid-app-development-services/ionic-app-development) will fit specifically into your frontend stack, from work area to tablet to portable, and will misuse any present web change experience on your gathering. It is the best stage for investigating, UI, fabricate and execution. Indeed, Ionic is one stage with over twelve helpful parts and extensible alternatives. Ionic is a bit of a quickly creating gathering of AngularJS energized libraries that make building mobile applications with Angular incomprehensibly snappy and basic. You can't simply overlook Ionic! AngularJS and Ionic – The Deadly Combination -------------------------------------------- Specialists opine that AngularJS and Ionic is a standout amongst other matches that could have ever existed. It is a triumphant combo for creating one of the best and hearty SDK well-suited for building great and rich versatile applications for a few application stores, which incorporates Google Play, Apple Store, and Windows.  Ionic involves a couple of many segments reaching out to various functionalities. [JavaScript](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services) parts of the half breed versatile applications can be worked with the assistance of AngularJS, and Ionic is fabricated utilizing Angular 1.0. Moreover, Ionic 2 cooperates with AngularJS 2.0. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Hybrid mobile app development using Onsen UI   Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-08-30 Meta Description: Onsen UI is moderately new expansion to portable structure advertise. It was discharged very nearly multiyear back which puts it around a similar Events. Tags: App Development, Hybrid, Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, mobile app development, Mobile Application, mobile, mobile app developers, app developer, hybrid app development, mobile platform, Onsen UI, Programming languages URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/hybrid-mobile-app-development-using-onsen-ui Onsen UI is a moderately new expansion to portable structure advertise. It was discharged very nearly Onsen UI is a moderately new expansion to portable structure advertise. It was discharged very nearly multiyear back which puts it around a similar course of events like Ionic and Famo.us structures. Its name was taken from the Japanese dialect (温泉) and it is a term for hot springs or spa. Much the same as Ionic and Famo.us, Onsen is another Angular based portable UI system, and this one really has its CSS structure in light of TopCoat, in spite of the fact that they have adjusted it a reasonable bit. For those of you who are not well-known, [AngularJS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services/angularjs-development-company) regularly alluded to as Angular, is an open-source web application structure kept up by Google and a network of individual designers and companies to address a significant number of the difficulties experienced in creating single-page applications. Not at all like Ionic, Onsen UI CSS structure is worked around Topcoat. It is an open source CSS library outlined on account of speed. Since it doesn't contain any JavaScript, Topcoat was chosen as an immaculate UI building square. Onsen additionally gives a pleasant Theme Editor (sort of like the old jQuery-UI Theme Roller) where you can begin off with one of their predefined shading plans and adjust it to think of your custom subject with only a couple of snaps. You can likewise do a similar thing by altering a couple of Stylus records (their CSS is composed in Stylus) yet having a decent GUI instrument makes it simple for a creator who isn't happy with Stylus or even CSS to concoct an extraordinary arrangement of hues for your application. Onsen UI causes you to create both half and a half and web applications. In the case of creating half and half applications, you can utilize it with the Cordova/PhoneGap order line, or with Monaca IDE – cloud-based IDE for Cordova. Monaca IDE is a cloud HTML5 advancement stage that offers software engineers the alternative to create half and half portable applications and send them over different stages. Why Onsen UI for [hybrid mobile app development](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/hybrid-app-development-services)? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### platform support for hybrid mobile apps Onsen UI bolsters Android 2.3 and up, iOS 6 and up, Firefox OS, Chrome, and Safari. They went significantly additionally supporting two-section see for tablets and one-segment see for cell phones. This settles on Onsen UI an amazing decision on the off chance that you need to make a tablet application. As per Onsen UI designers, bolster for Windows Mobile 8.1 is en route. ### UI and visual impressions Onsen UI strolls a comparable way yet special in its own specific manner. Default topic is normal level and unmistakably unique then Ionic one, particularly on the off chance that you invest some energy playing with it. Onsen UI bolsters local looking subjects for [Android](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers) and iOS. The ionic structure utilizes a similar subject for all stages, yet a few highlights will rely upon the stage. Not at all like Ionic, Onsen UI gives diverse subjects to give stages. It CSS center is worked around the Topcoat library. It is an open source CSS library composed because of speed. Since it doesn't contain any JavaScript, Topcoat was picked as a flawless UI building block. ### Better documentation Onsen UI has a superior documentation. It is isolated in two unique areas. The initial one is "components" where you can see distinctive mandates and everyone has a working illustration you can utilize and imitate. The second part is where you are guided through the application creation process. ### Tools, plugins, 3rd party support Onsen UI is upheld through Monaca IDE. Monaca IDE is a program based full-stack IDE particularly intended for HTML5 half and half application advancement. You can rapidly transfer records one index at a time, import and fare as zipping, and on the off chance that you have a WebDAV customer you can alter straightforwardly on your PC. You would then be able to see in an internet browser or on their debugger application on an [iPhone](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/iphone-app-development), Android, Windows 8 or Chrome (correspondingly to the PhoneGap Developer App. You can likewise assemble an APK, IPA, appx (windows 8 bundle) or Chrome Zip record, It is a reasonable piece less complex than AppBuilder. Outsider plugin support is still exceptionally youthful. Onsen hosts a few third gathering modules in dynamic improvement and this number is developing; a large portion of them can be discovered straightforwardly at the official discussion. There is a considerable measure of things to like in Onsen UI, and it is pleasant to have numerous alternatives for utilizing Angular with versatile. Onsen UI completes a ton of cool things, however, there is an opportunity to get better. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Build mobile app with Ionic Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-08-23 Meta Description: Ionic is an HTML5 mobile app development framework targeted at building hybrid mobile apps. Hybrid apps have many benefits over pure native apps. Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, Mobile Application, applications, app, Mobile App, Ionic Framework, app developer, hybrid app development, Ionic, Ionic Mobile App URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/build-mobile-app-with-ionic Ionic is an HTML5 mobile app development framework targeted at building [hybrid mobile apps](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/hybrid-app-development-services). Hybrid apps are essentially small websites running in a browser shell in an app that has access to the native platform layer. Hybrid apps have many benefits over pure native apps, specifically in terms of platform support, the peed of development, and access to 3rd party code. The ionic framework enables you to build mobile user interfaces with native look and feel which are very similar to the natively built Android and iOS apps. So, let’s have look at how can you build the mobile app with Ionic. Ionic framework is a HTML5 mobile application development framework focused at building cross platform mobile applications. Hybrid applications are basically little sites running in a program shell in an application that approach the local stage layer. Hybrid mobile applications have numerous advantages over unadulterated native applications, particularly as far as stage bolster, the peed of improvement, and access to outsider code. The ionic structure empowers you to assemble versatile UIs with the local look and feel which are fundamentally the same as the locally constructed Android and iOS applications. Thus, how about we take a gander at how might you fabricate portable application with Ionic. ### Set Up your Development Environment * #### Operating System You can utilize OS X, Windows and Linux to create [Android applications](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers). Be that as it may, in the event that you need to fabricate iOS applications, you'll require OS X, which implies you'll require an iMac or MacBook. * #### XCode XCode is the entire developer toolset for building Mac, iPhone, and iPad applications, including the Xcode IDE, execution investigation instruments, iOS Simulator, and the OS X and iOS SDKs. * #### Android Studio Android Studio contains the Android IDE, Android SDK, and Emulator. * #### Sublime Text You can utilize any content tool you like for building up your application however my most loved manager for HTML, CSS, and [JavaScript](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services/javascript-web-services) is Sublime Text. There is a considerable measure of exceptionally supportive modules/bundles accessible that make this supervisor so astounding. * #### Node Package Manager We will require the Node Package Manager (npm) order line device to introduce Cordova and the Ionic Framework. This instrument is incorporated into the Node.js establishment. ### Mockup with Ionic Creator   #### User Interface The Ionic Framework contains UI parts that you can use to fabricate your application. These are adaptable to CSS. There are 2 different ways to begin with building your application: * Create from a template * Create a mockup in Ionic Creator #### Ionic Creator Ionic Creator is a web application that empowers you to make the perspectives for your application in a simplified interface. When you're done making your perspectives you can send out them to code and utilize it in your application. ### Export the code There are 3 ways to export the code from Ionic Creator: * Ionic CLI * ZIP file * Raw HTML #### Fix the Styles The produced code has some particular iOS styling in it, on the and components. This styling shouldn't be in the code and will make the application look odd on an Android gadget, so expel it. Amid development, it's a great deal less demanding to test your application in the work area program than to test it on a cell phone. Investigating your code when it's running on a gadget or emulator isn't fun, so you're in an ideal situation utilizing your program's Developer Tools for that. The Ionic CLI makes it super-simple to test in the program. ### Ionic Lab You can likewise utilize the ionic serve charge to see the iOS and Android variants of your application besides each other in the program. This is called Ionic Lab and it bolsters live-reload too, how cool is that! #### Include iOS and Android Platforms Before we examine testing in emulators and on genuine gadgets; the iOS and Android. #### Test in an Emulator You ought to dependably test your application on genuine gadgets, on the grounds that an emulator can't ensure that your application will work a similar path on a genuine gadget. Be that as it may, emulators are exceptionally useful when you need to perceive how your application would carry on different gadgets and different adaptations of the gadget's Operating System. #### Test on a Mobile Device To [test on your android smartphone](http://pacewisdom.com/services/software-testing), you'll need to interface it to the PC with a USB link. In the event that you need to run your application on an iOS gadget, you'll require an Apple iOS Developer Account and set up your testaments in XCode. For Android you're not required to get an engineering record to run it on a gadget, however, you'll require it when you need to distribute to the Google Play store. ### Ionic View Ionic View is a mobile application that is accessible on iOS and Android and it enables you to see applications that are transferred to the Ionic server. To transfer your application, go to your application envelope, for our situation that is DinnerApp, and run this summon: ### Ionic transfer The first occasion when you run this order you'll be requested to sign in or make a record. At the point when it's finished transferring the application, you'll see the message Successfully transferred (identifier), the identifier between the brackets is your application ID in Ionic View. Once your application is transferred, sign in on the Ionic View application on your cell phone and you'll see your application showed there. Tap on it and pick DOWNLOAD APP in the menu. At the point when that is done, you can pick VIEW APP to stack your application. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Build the amazing native app with an Ionic framework programming language Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-08-20 Meta Description: Ionic framework programming language is the best Open Source front-end HTML system. It's made utilizing SASS and gives a few UI parts that assistance you assemble intuitively and highlight rich Mobile app Tags: Tech Talk, mobile app development, Ionic Framework, Ionic mobile apps, mobile app developer, mobile app developers, Native Apps, Programming URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/build-the-amazing-native-app-with-an-ionic-framework-programming-language Ionic framework programming language is one of the best Open Source front-end HTML systems. It is made utilizing SASS and gives a few UI parts that assistance you assemble intuitively and highlight [rich Mobile applications](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies). The system utilizes AngularJS, a JavaScript MVVM structure that helps construct intense half and half versatile applications. Connection with backend, two-way information authoritative and rich APIs make this structure a designer's favored decision. While you can utilize the CSS part of Ionic to assemble local looking application plans, it is superior to anything you match it with AngularJS to tackle its maximum capacity. Its order line interface is wealthy in astonishing highlights and incorporates Cordova based application packager and coordinated emulators. However, you can likewise assemble an astonishing local portable native app with the assistance of Ionics even the first idea of driving making the Ionic conflict with it. Here are a few reasons why you should execute ionic to create top-level, bug-free local portable applications.  Programming languages required are: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Typescript (It is a written superset of JS that gathers to basic and clean JS on any program). Capacity to take a shot at different stages: Ionic framework programming language  can run a solitary code on different stages. Should be composed just once, however, can be executed anyplace. This implies you can reuse the code to create Android, [iOS](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies), Windows Phone, Web, Desktop, and Progressive Web Apps. UI and Themes: Ionic has an entire arrangement of UI and Themes to choose from. The primary reason designer begins with Ionic is on the grounds that it offered a local watching UI out of the container, yet then they understood that it is so natural to utilize the Ionic CLI amid advancement for things like life reload and running/investigating applications on the emulators and gadgets. Besides, "Ionic maker" gives simple Styling and CSS just by intuitive choices. Ionic began as a system, however, has developed into a stage. It currently offers administrations like Push Notifications, the capacity to refresh your application in the App Stores in a flash, simple to-coordinate Analytics, and as of late, the Ionic Package benefit was discharged in Alpha. Accessibility of modules: Ionic framework programming language  has a wide range module, which influences the advancement to stage quicker. construct applications for numerous stages: ------------------------------------------- we are not going into the entire mixture versus local discussion here, yet designers wouldn't have the capacity to assemble local applications for the two iOS and Android without contributing significantly additional time learning 2 totally extraordinary dialects. It was so considerably simpler learning Ionic (and Angular) over the web advancement information designer as of now had. **Community support:** solid! Ionic is based over [Angular](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services) and Cordova, which are exceptionally well-known advancements all alone, so whenever I keep running into issues there typically is a blog entry or StackOverflow to enable me to out. The best place to make Ionic particular inquiries is normally the Ionic Forum. **Cost of improvement:** Developing an ionic application is moderate, as one ionic designer is sufficiently competent to manufacture an application that can keep running on any stage. **Utilization of gadget includes:** An ionic app can utilize device features by using a third-party framework; Cordova. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## PhoneGap Mobile app Development   Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-08-10 Meta Description: PhoneGap is a rising open source cross stage mobile development framework that empowers the designers to fabricate mixture applications for every mobile app Tags: Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, mobile app development, mobile app developers, Programming languages, javascript, PhoneGap mobile URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/phonegap-mobile-app-development PhoneGap is a rising open source cross stage mobile development framework that empowers the designers to fabricate mixture applications for every single mobile phone by incorporating programming languages, for example, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. PhoneGap is to a great extent perceived as extraordinary compared to other structures for cross-platform mobile development. It destroys the employment of other convoluted dialects, for example, iOS Objective C and others. The PhoneGap SDK has an application interface which gives the developers particular mobile highlights. Here is a portion of the regular equipment particular highlights which are bolstered by PhoneGap: * Geolocation features * Accelerometer features * Sound enhancements One can utilize plain old JavaScript or even different libraries like jQuery, Prototype, Sencha Touch, MooTools, and so on to deal with the cooperation. PhoneGap permits mobile app development for a few stages without a moment's delay, for example, iOS, Android, Windows, and so forth. Key Features of PhoneGap Mobile Framework ----------------------------------------- * Take advantage of HTML5 and CSS3 * Access Native features * Tap the full potential of the mobile device * Get an app running on all the major platforms PhoneGap is fabulous for developers who are keen on making a code base which is perfect with different gadgets. Utilizing PhoneGap developers can construct applications in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, including JavaScript classes that offer access to gadget equipment and different iOS API highlights like contacts, document framework, camera, receiver, GPS, and so on. The last application is wrapped inside a stage native 'Web View' program protest, and basically turns into a remain solitary web application with the capacity to get to some gadget particular highlights. Test on Real Phones ------------------- In the realm of iOS, things aren't too awful, utilizing Xcode and the iPhone emulator is genuinely reasonable. And, after its all said and done, be that as it may, there might be some terrible amazements if testing on genuine gadgets is left to the finish of the venture. For instance, you may find that your movement looks awesome on the emulator, however, is agonizingly moderate on an iPhone 3GS. A few highlights can't be imitated; for instance, if your application utilizes the accelerometer then there's no real way to copy it. With regards to Android, there's a tremendous arrangement of various difficulties. The emulator is regularly moderate, lethargic and much of the time flaky when utilizing it to run the application with Eclipse. Fortunately sending an application to genuine gadgets amid advancement utilizing Eclipse and the Android SDK is clear, and not at all like iOS, there is no necessity to have the developer account to test your applications. CSS3 and HTML5 -------------- A pleasant aspect concerning dealing with portable applications is that you can utilize CSS3 and HTML5 without worrying about giving fallbacks There will be no requirement for HTML5 shivs, no pictures claiming to be angles or workarounds for Internet Explorer jQuery mobile can be extremely valuable and efficient when creating applications as it's anything but difficult to utilize and very much reported. From a front-end perspective, the capacity to simply have the capacity to determine the coveted progress straightforwardly on a connection is incredible. If you are looking for a way to get started, you can kick-start your mobile app development with PhoneGap right away by following these seven simple steps. * Setup * Using PhoneGap Build * Connecting to an API * Adding jQuery Mobile * Adding Pages with jQuery Mobile * Using the Storage API * Using the Notification API In order to go through these seven steps, you may need a lot of googling while dealing with a pile of GitHub codes. So be careful and stay sharp when! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Why is Node.js Better than Java and .NET? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-08-03 Meta Description: Node.js is prevalently turning into the favored condition to create web applications. Here we list the points why Node.js is better than Java and .Net Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, iOS application, Mobile Application, android, Mobile App, mobile app developers, Programming, Programming languages, Java, .Net, Node.js URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/why-is-node-js-better-than-java-and-net Node.js is prevalently turning into the favored condition to create web applications in contrast with others like Java and .Net. It interfaces with JavaScript, in this manner permits the best understanding of customer and server-side programming. Likewise, the speed with which node.js works is high. This component has made it a favored situation to create server-side scripting. Let us likewise view why node.js is favored than JAVA or .NET. 1) Node.js does not utilize the idea of multithreading like JAVA and this element permits bother free programming properties. Yet, it uses the idea of non-concurrent execution of Input yield based occasions through a string pool. 2) Dissimilar to JAVA, node.js is very basic and doesn't infer with the idea of multithreading. This makes [programming on the Node.js](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services) very simple. Here you don't need to manage diverse sorts of info and yield which will be executed no concurrently. 3).NET is a standout amongst the most prevailing dialects for designers to work with, till node.js appeared. With the presence of Node.js, it is very certain that node.js can make most out of any CPU it will take a shot at on the grounds that they are considerably more proficient on intensely I/O bound tasks. 4) Node.js has demonstrated to work over cloud conditions and customer virtual machines however committed programming. Individuals with involvement in JavaScript can without much of a stretch get Node.js to deliver unmistakable outcomes. [Center Node.js](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services) contents can play out the business rationale directly at the server-side. 5) At the point when Java turned out, it was outstanding amongst other dialects, in light of the fact that with fewer codes contrasted with C and C++ we could perform more occupations. Presently with the salary of node.js, it is very certain that Java is abandoned with regards to coding minimization. Node.js likewise has an open-source library for its locale of clients, and everybody is allowed to utilize the same, and that is the thing that open-source implies. 6) Contrasting on the elements of dialect and bundle, node.js utilizes less coding to perform assignments when contrasted with Java and .Net. It likewise wins on open source libraries however they are most determined on networks around. 7) Nobody likes to compose a similar code over and over, and node.Js takes care of the issue by giving the upside of re-utilizing the code over and over. This element is a significant huge hit with regards to designers, and this may be the key purpose for [Node.js in getting to be well known](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services). 8) Node.js ventures are demonstrated to arrange inside a couple of minutes. The vast majority of the Node.js test cases are effortlessly accessible accordingly giving code re-utilize plausibility and highlight sharing for different comparative subjects and applications. Node.js is an unmistakable victor while controlling stack flood in server-side scripting. 9) Contrasting Node.js and JAVA or .Net totally depends on a client's need and the product configuration to be constructed. Different components should be considered before concluding on the product to be utilized. The reality of the matter is that Node.js performs better and considerably quicker contrasted with Java or .Net. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How Artificial Intelligence is Driving Mobile App Personalization Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-07-27 Meta Description: Presently Artificial Intelligence has turned into the most basic piece of mobile application development and here are the means by which AI can customize the mobile applications. Tags: Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, Mobile Application, mobile app developers, Artificial Intelligence, mobile developer, AI, artificial intelligence URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-artificial-intelligence-is-driving-mobile-app-personalization Apple's dispatch of Siri in October 2011 is viewed as the start of utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in versatile applications, and the AI aide ended up accessible to the general population when the iPhone 4s came to showcase. From that point forward numerous [application developer](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies) and in addition organizations behind them as of now, accessible applications are taking AI as the following level of mobile computing. The latest case is of Google right hand which is like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa yet deserted them as far as knowledge. Presently AI has turned into the most basic piece of mobile application development and here are the means by which AI can customize the mobile applications. Personalization Capability -------------------------- The mobile world is the correct stage for  Artificial Intelligence applications in light of its entrance to a client's area, buy history, and standards of conduct. The AI calculations utilize this information to offer a more customized and natural client benefit. Presently, these AI abilities can be produced by mobile applications of any kind in this manner making a superior client encounter. Most dynamic organizations are currently putting resources into AI as it has demonstrated to manufacture a cozy connection between their image and clients. Users are Demanding More Personal Experiences --------------------------------------------- Smart mobility has risen as a perfect stage for Artificial Intelligence applications. Cell phones bolster the abnormal state of customization which lets applications utilize center programming, its capacities, and equipment to convey the best outcomes to clients. Presently a-day, AI abilities are being actualized in an assortment of applications. These abilities make application important and customized. At the point when versatile applications are empowered with AI abilities, they gain from clients themselves, from their practices. [These applications](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies) can gain from the standards of conduct of clients to convey better outcomes and also control them to take better choices. Content ------- A superior method for giving pertinent substance is to send in proposals that will fit a client's needs. AI calculations assemble information from a client's standards of conduct through his or her browser history or purchasing history and make the correct proposals in light of this record. Meeting User Expectations ------------------------- Organizations are rapidly seeking after AI advances, are that as it may, innovation has just come up until this point and has quite recently brushed the surface of its actual potential. Insight can be portrayed as the capacity to see data and hold it as learning to be connected towards versatile practices inside a unique situation, so it's essential not to over-guarantee your items' capacities. Clients anticipate that AI interfaces will learn and numerous miss the mark regarding genuine AI and profound learning. Predictions ----------- With [mobile applications](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies) on our smartphones, we get general notifications about items, rebates and offers now and again to pull in the new clients and connect with the current ones. Here is the part of prescient AI algorithms which utilize a client's past purchasing and peruse history and foresee what a client will probably purchase. The main motivation to create a prescient AI is that it expands business income. The eventual fate of man-made brainpower innovation is by all accounts splendid as driving IT and application development enterprise on the planet are indicating enthusiasm for this innovation. It is correct that we will before long observe counterfeit gadgets reacting more effectively than what people do. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Gaming mobile app development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-07-20 Meta Description: There are numerous developers who support desire about creating Game mobile.Here are the steps to follow in making your first gaming mobile app development. Tags: Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, Mobile Application, mobile, mobile app developers, app developer, mobile developer, Mobile Game App URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/gaming-mobile-app-development There are numerous developers who support desire about creating mobile gaming applications. Mobile game programming, as you are for the most part very much aware, is an alternate pot of fish and requires point by point coding for all parts of the diversion, at every last stage. While it is exceptionally hard to create code for mobile games, it is additionally an extremely compensating background for the developer. Continue perusing to figure out how to begin making your first mobile game. Know Your Game -------------- Pick a workmanship style that functions admirably, and make the game something that is conspicuous and paramount. There are numerous classes of games as you most likely are aware. Pick the classification and the sort of gathering of people you need to focus on the diversion. Everything, from the sound impacts to the craftsmanship configuration, is imperative for setting up a mobile game that individuals will perceive. There are a large number of mobile games out there, so consider what you can do with yours to influence it to emerge among the group. In case you're taking your first break at mobile games, it's regularly a smart thought to plan something you're acquainted with. Create a great storyline ------------------------ Developing a detailed storyline and the different play modes for your game earlier on will help you plan the intricate details of your game at all later stage. So never neglect this stage. Choose the platform ------------------- Android and iOS are currently the most popular gaming mobile application development platform. Choosing one of them can influence your mobile game in many ways. For instance, [Android](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers) is currently dominating the market leaving the iOS devices behind. So it is obvious that creating Android game will create myriad users. Though iOS also having an uncountable market share in certain countries leaving the Android behind. So choosing the right platform for a right location will make a lot of sense. Choose Your Software -------------------- Before you can begin influencing your game, you do need to know which programming bundle you anticipate utilizing to make it. A greatly ground-breaking game engine that has the abilities to make both 2D and 3D recreations is Unity. This gaming engine is broadly utilized by mobile developers and has high illustrations abilities. The application is totally allowed to use, until the point when you put your diversion onto the market. Another engine that can be utilized to make mobile games in UDK (Unreal Development Kit) which is controlled by the Unreal Engine. In the event that you pick 2D or 3D, you should utilize isolate applications to make the advantages. Programming Language -------------------- You should then settle on the programming language for your mobile game. More often than not, J2ME or Brew can help you limitlessly in your eager wander. J2ME offers numerous more assets for mobile coding all in all and mobile game programming specifically. As you get into more unpredictable gaming creation, you'll see that knowing a programming language is essential. An extraordinary place, to begin with, is C#. C# is a question situated programming language proposed to be straightforward and generally simple to grasp. If you are occupied with building up a 3D kind of diversion, you could perhaps experiment with JSR184 et cetera. Testing is your key to progress. Developing UI ------------- The game UI is a critical, in certainty the most essential factor for building up a mobile game or some [other mobile application](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers). You need to first arrange out the general game plan and design and think about the diverse angles your game will incorporate. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## A beginners' guide to developing virtual reality apps Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-07-13 Meta Description: There are two sorts of individuals in this world: Those who have faith in the capability of Virtual Reality. What's more, other people who haven't attempted it yet. Tags: Tech Talk, applications, game app, Virtual Reality, Gaming engine, VR applications URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/developing-virtual-reality-apps There are two sorts of individuals in this world: Those who have faith in the capability of Virtual Reality. What's more, other people who haven't attempted it yet. Also, in the event that you are one of them who have not attempted it yet, go get some sort of Virtual Reality headset and inundate yourself in the realm of 3D and encounters that you have never observed or felt. Regardless of whether you utilize well known however modest Google cardboard and Daydream or a costly HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, you will be certainly presented to the intensity of VR innovation. How about we take a gander at the well-ordered manual for building up your first Virtual Reality application. The stack --------- Creating VR application does not fluctuate much from 3D diversion improvement but rather it without a doubt requires some extra programming and equipment conditions. On the off chance that you need to get a kick to begin with VR application advancement, taking in a Gaming engine will be your initial step. The vast majority of the AR and [VR application](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services) requires a gaming engine to build up the structure with a lot of functionalities. Choose which gaming engine you need to utilize! ----------------------------------------------- These engines are called Unity3D-gaming engine and Unreal-game engine. There are different engines also, for example, cry Engine yet all the new updates and highlights of each VR application as executed in Unity or unbelievable first, and more than 95% of VR content has been produced on one of these engines. The two have their own scripting language. For instance, in the event that you need to begin Virtual Reality application advancement you should learn C# on different hands you should learn C++ to use the intensity of the Unreal engine. On the off chance that you are an apprentice it will be a promising advance, to begin with, Unity 3D as it is the least demanding to learn and in addition, it is free and very open. To begin with Unity, there are a lot of online sources are accessible and one of them is solidarity's own instructional exercises which can be the initial move towards your first VR application regardless of whether you are absolutely new to coding. With regards to Unreal, it is a greater amount of expert and difficult to learn. In any case, Unreal can give you amazing bewildering designs contrasted with Unity 3D. Incredible has been utilized as a part of the improvement of big business AAA recreations as it is entire bundle top of the line engineers require. In the wake of getting your hand on any of the above engines, you will likewise need to pick a suitable Software Development Kit (SDK) contingent upon the stage or gadget you need to work for. SDKs are distinctive for the diverse stage so focusing on one stage at the time would be an astute decision. Equipment --------- In the wake of picking game engine and stage, it's a great opportunity to begin trying different things with VR advancement as you can just figure out how to make a shocking knowledge of Virtual reality by honing. Presently it's an ideal opportunity to get yourself HMD (Head-mounted Display) or alleged VR watchers to encounter your first VR application. That is the means by which you will take in the particular issues related to various sorts of VR, for example, client experience and execution. HTC vive or Oculus Rift would be perfect to attempt your [VR application](http://pacewisdom.com/services/technology-services) which permits 6 DOF (Degree of Freedom) to make immersive room scale involvement. However, it likewise requires top of the line calculation control alongside top-level illustrations and memory that you won't presumably discover in customary workstations. Be that as it may, in the event that you are tight on the spending you can attempt Google cardboard or Gear VR that limits your developments to 3 DOF. 3 DOF infers that you will have the ability to investigate in X, Y, Z bearings by the development of your HMD in the Virtual condition however you wouldn't have the ability to move or contact anything. In spite of the fact that it doesn't require any top of the line gadgets yet only cell phone with an inherent gyro. Here is a rundown of VR watchers you can strive for the virtual encounters you need to make. * HTC Vive – 6 DOF * Oculus Rift – 6 DOF * Google cardboard – 3DOF * Gear VR – 3 DOF and * Daydream-3 DOF In the wake of picking the correct game engine, stage and VR watchers it's a great opportunity to continue testing and assemble cycle of what you have officially fabricated. Solidarity and unreal have bigger network and assets to gain from so on the off chance that you are in a bad position there dependably be somebody to manage you through. Besides, there are huge amounts of online courses have turned out making the improvement of your first VR application much less demanding. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## 4 best programming languages suited for creating VR applications Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-07-06 Meta Description: Virtual reality applications can be the following most sizzling point in the network of use engineer and additionally software engineers. Tags: Tech Talk, iOS application, android, Programming, Programming languages, c++, Java, javascript, Virtual Reality, VR Application URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/4-best-programming-languages-suited-for-creating-vr-applications Virtual reality applications can be the following most sizzling point in the network of use engineer and additionally software engineers. Contrasted with an improvement of straightforward [Android](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers) or iOS application, VR utilization of any of those stage requires the distinctive level of aptitudes and learning in the field of programming. To create VR application on all these stages one has to think about the diversion motor also. Here are four programing language you can begin with to create luring VR encounters. JavaScript ---------- JavaScript itself is really negligible yet extraordinarily mobile. Architects have made a tremendous combination out of instruments over the inside JavaScript lingo, opening a huge measure of extra helpfulness with the slightest effort. One of JS's most prominent progressions is that it enables designers to depict a system, for instance, the UI of a web or adaptable application, as a game plan of unequivocal parts. Certain JS based virtual machine uses API to send the 3D scene to the client's head mounted show, for example, an Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or Samsung Gear VR. JAVA ---- This question situated programing language created at sun Microsystem and as of now possessed by Oracle is likewise the colossal decision for VR applications particularly fabricating calculations, for example, language preparing, look and neural system calculations and those are the basic parts of any VR application which works on the web. So, JAVA can't be maintained a strategic distance from in the rundown of best programing language for VR application advancement. The vast majority of the PC and controlling building degree projects and VR courses show JAVA as their first programing language as it is giving all the abnormal state highlights expected to manage different parts of the improvement of Virtual Reality applications. JAVA is really adaptable with regards to re-utilizing code and refreshing programming. Also, there is JAVA 3D API which empowers Virtual Reality applications to produce 3D pictures, track the position and introduction of the head and other body parts, and fuse this data into picture creation process for general control and mind-blowing VR encounter. C++ (unreal) ------------ The vast majority of the designer consider Unreal the more "master" language, basically in light of the way that it's to some degree harder to learn yet it has a gigantic measure of extensibility in it. Unbelievable is the closest opponent of 'Solidarity' and is the real segment in the Game motor. A significant measure of AAA titles is made out of Unreal. For littler PC based Virtual Reality applications designer may pick Unity, yet if it's gigantic and jumbled and needs to do altogether require more execution organization one should utilize Unreally. It has a scripting language that is definitely not hard to learn/use, yet you can basically stay in contact with some C++ code and incorporate it into the truck for customization. There is sure an online virtual reality course that can show you incredible without any preparation. C# (unity) ---------- The Unity Game Engine is a critical player in VR/preoccupation change, and C# is habitually the recommended programing language to make Unity applications in. Solidarity is, by far, the most popular motor. It will allow you to target most stages, from PC to flexible android and iOS applications. It has C# as its scripting tongue and is probably the most direct. Most of any Virtual Reality applications are coded in Unity. Solidarity has a considerable gathering with in excess of 4.5 million enrolled architects, so you'd viably have the ability to get help and propelled advancement apparatus worked by Unity engineers. There are a huge amount of accounts and instructional activities on the most ideal approach to use Unity and all the major VR/AR course has essentially a Unity starter pack. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Top 5 Editors for React Native Visual IDE Mobile App Development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-06-25 Meta Description: We are uncovering the best code editors that can be used for React Native to make faultless mobile applications. It's an informative 2-mins read! Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, mobile app developers, ReactJS, Atom, react native, Vim Editor, Visual Studio Code URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/top-5-editors-for-react-native-visual-ide-mobile-app-development React Native IDE is the present trend for cross platform mobile development empowering us to make brilliant, native and capable mobile applications utilizing JavaScript. It's scarcely been a year since Facebook Inc. discharged the React Native IDE open source venture, and it is astonishing to see such a great amount of development regarding improvement, bolster, modules, tools, integrations and so forth. As React Native has turned into the present pattern for building front line mobile applications, numerous designers need to get knowledge into the best code editors that are right now accessible for the system. All things considered, we are uncovering the best code editors you can use for React Native to make faultless mobile applications. The best React Native IDE editors are: Nuclide ------- With inbuilt help for the React Native structure, this is one code editorial manager that is demonstrated most loved with developers over the world. Since it additionally bolsters Javascript, it streamlines the assignment of mobile application development. It can even conquer the difficulties of Eclipse and AppCode. The key highlights you should think about Nuclide are that it makes remote advancement possible; it offers stream bolster; it has debugging highlights; it has inconsistent help and it likewise offers jack dialect support. Atom ---- Atom, an open-source editor for OS X, Linux, and Windows, is a splendid text editor for all advances. Since Atom has a vast group, a ton of modules and upgrades are accessible for developers to construct first-class React Native applications. With Atom, it's anything but difficult to hack the center and compose bundles, because of JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Sublime ------- This is next on our rundown of the best code editors accessible for React Native mobile application development. Sublime Text is a refined text editor for code, markup and exposition. It offers a great deal of group created plugins for broadening its usefulness. Sublime Text has been unsurpassed most loved proofreader for developers. The key highlights that Sublime Text offers are cross-platform; customization of anything; quick project switch; numerous choices; summon palette; and split editing. Visual Studio Code ------------------ This is the following on our rundown of the best code editors that are accessible on the off chance that you are searching for React Native mobile application development. Visual Studio Code is a source code editorial manager created by Microsoft for Windows, Linux and OS X. This cross-platform editor is adaptable and intense. In spite of the fact that it happens to be a generally new participant in the field, it has just picked up a lot of prominence. The key highlights that it offers are code debugging; built-in Git orders and customisability. Vim Editor ---------- Vim is an exceptionally configurable text editor built to make creating and changing any sort of text extremely proficient. The key highlights that are offered by this code editor are an effective search and replace function; a broad plugin framework; support to various programming languages and incorporation with a wide assortment of tools. It is incorporated as "vi" with most UNIX frameworks. Vim is adored by numerous developers for sorts of text editing. Vim is rock stable and is constantly being developed to wind up surprisingly better. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## AI in the field of Education / HealthCare / Hospitality Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-05-22 Meta Description: A fascinating and at the same time scary topic is entering our working world: AI ! AI, is all around us and we might not even realize it! Tags: Tech Talk, Artificial Intelligence URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/ai-in-the-field-of-education-healthcare-hospitality A fascinating and at the same time scary topic is entering our working world: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is all around us and we might not even realize it! As a technology that imitates human decision making, it is present in a lot of what we use every day. AI can be found in Amazon.com because the site suggests products that you could like. Facebook tells you whom you could know and want to be friends with. Cars can automatically park for you. Siri completes your tasks. Google lists search results based on your location. Netflix recommends content that it thinks you will be interested in watching. We take these programs for granted, but they are all active applications of AI. Numerous ventures are as of now searching for approaches to apply AI. Up until this point, very little action can be found in the cordiality business. Artificial Intelligence will assume control over the world, and each industry. Mindful robots educating the children in the classroom or working a patient's body may look bizarre at introduce, yet they will really be definitely not. Current Presence of AI in Education Sector ------------------------------------------ ### Enabling More Personalized Learning Customized learning can essentially upgrade an understudy's learning knowledge. One-on-one learning has demonstrated that understudies are more engaged and connected with when they are accepting an individualized learning background. Types of AI have the ability to coach understudies independently by perceiving what territories they require more help in and discovering approaches to better disclose ideas to them. On the off chance that the innovation realizes that you are occupied with race auto driving, it would utilize analogies and cases in view of hustling to help you to appreciate the topic. AI will have the capacity to comprehend a person's propensities and know precisely which branches of knowledge they require more help in. Understudies getting this customized learning can remain up to speed with whatever is left of their class and concentrate all the more adequately. ### Grading Assignments AI applications can play out the fundamental assignments like reviewing, participation and timetable making – It implies each side-errand, which instructors need to do, can be given to machines to enhance the training level by enabling educators to peruse more. This one is generally interesting. Envision every one of us having a virtual guide. Lesser slip-ups, isn't that so? The AI guides will most likely take care of numerous issues by helping us in basic leadership. Also, think about what; their measurements will be more exact than your creative energy. You may discover the robots, checking the classroom's condition to recognize issues, for example, temperature, contamination, and so forth. AI’s Revolutionary Uses in [Healthcare](http://pacewisdom.com/solutions/healthcare-pharma-business-solutions) Sector – The Present ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   * ##### Changes in Workforce You can expect more and more non-human creatures, joining the doctors to strengthen the medical workforces. * ##### Surgeries Robots, assisting the human experts or completely robotic surgery, will be the reality. * ##### Medical Training To train the medical students, AI can play a big role. * ##### The Reach of Facilities Remote areas aren’t getting good medical facilities at present. The reason is lack of good local doctor and equipment, along with the talented doctors, not willing to serve in far areas. Robots won’t be that choosy. * ##### Advancement in Image Diagnosis X-Rays, CT Scans, Blood Group discovery and numerous other medicinal tasks are as of now utilizing the AI-empowered propelled techniques for picture analysis. In future, it will spread further to open the courses for the computerization of other picture handling errands as well. * ##### Advanced Health Research More machines arising in the healthcare sector will allow better research opportunities to the experts and hence, better cures for the diseases. * ##### Life Coaches and Medical care Bots With intelligent life coaches, the wellbeing condition and way of life of individuals will take a superior turn. Envision the bots disclosing to you that you have just ate enough calories for now! Having a therapeutic guide with all of you the time may look confining however it can expand the normal lifetime in the coming years. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Google Analytics vs Firebase Analytics for your App Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-05-16 Meta Description: “Should we be using Firebase Analytics or Google Analytics?” – We get this question a lot regarding tracking behavior in mobile apps. Let find out! Tags: mobile apps, Tech Talk, Tools & Technologies, cloud, mobile, Big Data, mobile app developers, analytics, analytics tools, BigQuery, firebase, Firebase analytics, firebase analytics ios, Google analytics, google analytics for firebase URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/google-analytics-vs-firebase-analytics-for-your-app Google Analytics (GA) and Firebase Analytics (FA), despite their common name, are widely different in many aspects. While GA is a general-purpose (and more web-oriented) analytics tool, Firebase firebase analytics ionic 3 was built keeping mobile in mind: therefore, the feature set is different between the two, with some things that were added in FA and things that are missing from GA. “Should we be using Firebase or Google Analytics?” – We get this question a lot regarding tracking behavior in mobile apps. Even though the older Google Analytics ionic 3 mobile SDKs have officially been deprecated by Google and the analytics reports in Firebase have been rebranded to “Google Analytics for Firebase,” there is still a lot of confusion out there as to which analytics tool is the right one for the job. The Google Analytics mobile SDKs are technically still supported, and offer traditional reporting methods you’re more likely to be familiar with – but Google Analytics for Firebase firebase analytics ionic 3 has a lot to offer as well, and is considered to be the future of mobile app tracking. This post aims to help clarify the important differences between the two and provide some suggestions around using each platform. Free unlimited event reporting in Firebase Analytics, unlike Google Analytics ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another outcome of the page and session-based instruments like Google Analytics is that occasions are an untimely idea. In this way, there are cutoff points to which one can go while breaking down occasions. Most paid investigation arrangements have a farthest point on what number of occasions you can report and break down, but Firebase provides you with unlimited reporting for up to 500 distinct events. Did we mention that Firebase is also free? Mobile Dev Platform vs Analytics-Specific Tool ---------------------------------------------- The Firebase SDK is really a mobile development stage, not only an independent investigation apparatus. I have brought this up previously, yet comprehend that the examination reports are only one arrangement of instruments in the Firebase stage, intended to coordinate with other Firebase devices –, for example, Cloud Messaging, Cloud Functions, Remote Configuration and so forth. This is one of the greatest 'masters' of Firebase as it takes into account exceptionally helpful mixes with other Firebase items. The new open doors that these combinations introduce are basically why the more established Google Analytics SDKs have been belittled. You can connect Firebase Analytics to Google Analytics ------------------------------------------------------ In the event that you need Google Analytics on your sites, at that point you can incorporate Firebase with Google Analytics. Regardless of whether you don't, in the event that you have partners who see just the dialect of Google Analytics, this association can be useful. Firebase has a tight coordination with Google Analytics. Associate your Firebase information to Google Analytics and see your Firebase investigation reports without leaving the Google Analytics UI. On the off chance that you have both an iOS and an Android studio rendition of your application, the two would be followed independently for Firebase. There is at present no choice for moving up information from different sorts of extended applications into one informational collection for announcing purposes – in any event not without BigQuery. You can interface your Firebase information to BigQuery, yet you may acquire capacity and questioning expenses. Customary Google Analytics enables you to gather information in one informational collection (property) on the off chance that you'd like. This has been one of the essential cases for proceeding to utilize Google Analytics. Platform Support ---------------- As of now, Google Analytics for Firebase is accessible for iOS, [Android](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/android-app-developers), C++, and Unity, particularly. This help covers most stages, however not exactly every one of them. Firebase console additionally does not offer an estimation convention. There are sure Firebase items intended for the web (HTML/JS) too, yet examination isn't as of now a piece of those offerings – so in case you're managing a crossbreed application or dynamic web application, you'll most likely need to get inventive. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Things that you are probably missing out on your E-commerce App Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-04-23 Meta Description: Here are a few features that will enhance your online presence and attract more customers which are missed by popular e-commerce mobile apps. Tags: App Development, Tech Talk, e-commerce, ecommerce, marketing, Mobile App URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/things-that-you-are-probably-missing-out-on-your-e-commerce-app Mobile E-commerce is at its peak leading to increased demands of e-commerce mobile apps. Everyone finds their comfort in buying products online and making easy online payments. E-commerce apps and smartphones have influenced the buying habits of all people. As per survey 62% of Smartphone users made an online purchase using their mobile device in the last 6 months. 80% of shoppers used a mobile phone inside of a physical store to check the product reviews, compare the prices, or find alternative store locations. In 2016, online shopping was up by 45%. This means that e-commerce stores will see more sales than an online store. Here are a few features that will enhance your online presence and attract more customers which are missed by popular e-commerce [mobile apps](http://pacewisdom.com/solutions/ecommerce-web-design-development).   Amazing User Experience ----------------------- There are abundant of applications as of now in the market. On the off chance that you need your clients to be happy with your application, at that point you have given your clients a stunning background. They should discover your highlights and the experience one of a kind. For your application to emerge from the opposition it is imperative that you give them incentive to their chance and cash by giving them answers for their issues, enhanced productivity and some more.   Push Notifications ------------------ Push Notification is a vital component for the accomplishment of a web based business versatile application. Push Notification upgrades client engagement as it informs the clients regarding advancements, offers, and exceptional rebates. This will scale up your deals and show signs of improvement benefits.   Social login ------------ Your online networking account has turned into your character on account of "social login." You would now be able to approve your personality through your Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Yahoo accounts on a plenty of applications. Also, it's no big surprise this has taken off as a pattern. 86% of clients report that they feel troubled by making new profiles. What's more, this is incredible for you as a business. It implies that you can access individuals' online networking data. What's more, they offer it to you openly when utilizing social login. Also, you can use this by sending non-intrusive warnings or coupons to them utilizing this data.   Supports Multiple Payment Options --------------------------------- You may go over a client who needs to a few things from your application, yet in the event that he can't discover the payment alternatives he normally utilizes, subsequently he will leave the procedure fragmented. This will acquire a drop your deals. Henceforth having an application that has all the installment choices will build your deals.   Seamless checkout ----------------- Retailers can likewise drive deals changes by making more consistent checkout encounters that expel the need to hold up in a long queue. Cell phones open up a wide range of conceivable outcomes for how individuals can pay — whether it's paying ahead of time and grabbing in-store, or a versatile registration whereby customers stroll into a store, check in with their telephone, pick the things they need purchase, and leave the store. Versatile checkout is likewise a chance to connect with customers in different routes, for example, exhibiting proposals, suggestions and tips that can prompt greater trucks.   Google Analytics ---------------- On the off chance that you need to gauge your application's full esteem then you then you should have [Google Analytics](http://analytics.google.com/) for your web based business application. It will help in discovering what clients are more pulled in to and what they are purchasing more and why, helping you to make your application fruitful in this intense rivalry. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Amazon SNS vs Other Push Notification Services Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-03-15 Meta Description: With Amazon SNS, push warning messages can be sent directly to applications on mobiles. It can show up as message alarms or even voice notifications. Tags: Tech Talk, Tools & Technologies, Amazon SNS, android app developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/amazon-sns-vs-other-push-notification-services Push notification, likewise called server push notification, is the conveyance of data from a product applied to a processing gadget without a particular demand from the customer. Not at all like pull have notifications, in which the customer must demand data from a server, pushed notices start from a server. Regularly, the end client must select in to get cautions; pick in, as a rule, happens amid the installation procedure and end clients are furnished with an approach to oversee alarms in the event that they alter their opinions later on. A critical preferred standpoint of push notification in mobile computing is that the innovation doesn't require particular applications on a mobile phone to be open all together for a message to be gotten. This permits a smart phone to get and show web-based social networking or instant message alarms notwithstanding when the gadget's screen is off and the online networking application that is pushing the notice is closed. Amazon SNS ---------- With Amazon SNS, you can send push warning messages straightforwardly to applications on mobile phones. Push notification messages sent to a portable endpoint can show up in the mobile application as message alarms, identification refreshes, or even voice notification. Amazon SNS is a decent alternative for an enterprise that needs to keep up the majority of their back-end code over the AWS ecosystem. This implies less work for engineers who need to drive notifications by means of AWS Lambda functions or Amazon CloudWatch notices. SNS foundation can likewise streamline appropriated application improvement, as it incorporates instruments to pass messages between microservices. On the off chance that you are as of now utilizing any Amazon services, at that point you'll like utilizing its services for sending push-warnings too, as Amazon SNS can likewise send messages to the Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), AWS Lambda works or to an HTTP server. Amazon SNS underpins coordinate SMS delivery. This helps achieve a more extensive number of telephones, and it disentangles the advancement of multifaceted confirmation security by means of instant message delivery. Sending push notices to Apple, Google, Fire OS, Windows gadgets SNS enables you to send messages both to a solitary beneficiary and to an expansive number of beneficiaries in the meantime. You can utilize the SNS administration to send SMS-messages to cell phone clients around the globe. The initial million of Amazon SNS requests for every month are free. At that point each extra million of Amazon SNS asks for costs 0.50 USD. Other push notification services -------------------------------- ### Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) It is a service for sending single and multiple push notifications to Android and iOS devices and to web applications. FCM does not support SMS delivery directly. Enterprises can bridge this gap with a Twilio-FCM integration, but this adds more complexity. FCM evolved from Google Cloud Messaging (GCM), which has since been deprecated. FCM supports all the features of GCM but adds better support for offline access and presence services, which make it easier to confirm when a user is connected to a network. FCM does not bolster SMS delivery straightforwardly. Business organizations can connect this hole with a Twilio-FCM integration, yet this includes greater multifaceted nature. FCM advanced from Google Cloud Messaging (GCM), which has since been expostulated. FCM bolsters every one of the highlights of GCM, however, includes better help for disconnected access and nearness services, which make it less demanding to affirm when a client is associated with a system. ### Urban Airship It is the most established and the most mainstream service for sending push notices. It supports iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Unity, Adobe AIR, Cordova, React. Close by push warnings it gives such devices as language focusing on, timezone supports, planning efforts, custom fragments, value-based API, and so on. Boundless Push Notifications are free, different instruments are accessible in the wake of acquiring an exclusive plan. Pushwoosh is another free unlimited cross-platform push notifications, available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, PhoneGap, Unity, Marmalade, Adobe Air — Easy integration, open-source SDK. What's more, Pushwoosh gives such instruments as timezone bolster, in-application informing, multi-dialect push, A/B tests, and so on. Push notices are free, different instruments are accessible in the wake of obtaining an excellent arrangement. Conclusion ---------- Amazon SNS is way far better push notification service compared to FCM, Urban airship or Pushwoosh. There are some other third party services such as AHN, parse etc. they also provide top-tier push notification services but with a bit higher prices. As far above services are concerned the Amazon SNS stands out of the crowd. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## The Do's and Don'ts for Building Better Android Apps Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-02-12 Meta Description: The best practices for Android apps development not only ease app development but also helps a rapidly growing mobile ecosystem. Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk, Mobile Application, Technology, applications, android, Android, app developers URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/the-dos-and-donts-for-building-better-android-apps With a growing user base of smartphones, the requirement for dynamic and high-quality mobile apps is also expanding. Now users look up to powerful apps that they can access at any point in time, from any location. About 1.4 billion people are Android users worldwide. The Android OS has more than 50% of OS market share and operates on more than 4,000 types of devices. The best practices for Android app development not only ease app development but also helps a rapidly growing mobile ecosystem. App development is a new frontier, and many clients are looking for an Android developer to turn their vision into a tangible product. Do well, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely. [Android developers earn about $77,000](http://www.lifehack.org/432427/top-8-high-paying-business-and-tech-jobs-of-2016-and-how-to-get-them) a year. However, learning is an important part of app development, and you’ll do well to enroll in an [Android training course](https://www.simplilearn.com/mobile-and-software-development/android-app-development-training) to learn the best practices of  Android. To deliver a great user experience, every developer needs to know do’s and don’ts for the Android world. Memory issues ------------- Usually, mobile devices have higher memory limitations than most desktops. Developers should learn to code with higher memory limitations in mobile programming. Any ignorance regarding memory on an Android device can certainly lead to the risk of an app crash because of “out of memory” errors. You can work on this by using services sparingly on the device and free up memory resources when your app is unrevealed. Developers can override the onTrimMemory event to release memory resources, but it is not a magic wand that permits you to avoid other performance optimization across your code. Examine the  Standby Mode ------------------------- Whether your app can handle the standby mode or not is important to test on your app. Your app should update the current view in order to fetch recent data from the database. When examining the standby mode, you should also check the battery usage by the app. An ideal practice would be to test with a completely charged battery and then analyze the state of the battery after every 10 min to understand how much battery your app consumes. Then, test your app when the battery level is at 10-15% as in this case, the device should be in safe battery mode while disabling all the hardware features. Application id in the build file -------------------------------- Do you know the difference between applicationID and packageName? According to Android tools doc: The end package used during development .apk’s manifest, and the package your app is notable in the Google Play store and on the device, is the “application id.” Your source code that encompasses the package to refer to R class, and to solve any service registrations, continues to be referred the “package.” The package should always be set in your AndroidManifest.xml file and the application id is entirely separated from it. Due to compatibility issues, by default, the application id becomes equal to the package. An explicit setting of application id in your build configuration is completely advantageous. An unpleasant bug was reported about application id to bug tracker about one year ago, but this issue is still the same. The issue is that application id is not populated to the associated libraries if application id is not fixed in build.gradle. This problem can lead to your app failing to install on the device from Play Store, and all report tools won’t inform you about the problem. Safe payment options -------------------- Risk-aware transactions are important to implement to protect mobile apps from attacks. Moreover, you can integrate code that calculates data access parameters, for example, user location and IP velocity to ensure the payment security and database transactions maintained by your apps. You can also develop your apps for data encryption at rest using tools like FIPS 140-2. You add an extra layer of transaction security by integrating app-level VPN support into your software. Efficient release configuration ------------------------------- Proguard option for the release build is an effective solution for a build file evolved by Android Studio. It is important to know that Proguard works on the Java side and is independent of the resources side. Accordingly, if an image my\_image in res/drawable is not used, it strips its reference in the R class while keeping the related image in place. But Gradle script can do that by setting shrinkResourcesto to true. Developers need to test their release APK carefully after implementing these tools. Go deeper by splitting your app to several APKs, but ensure that you have skills to test all these builds using various screen sizes/target ABIs. DON’Ts ------ Design to attract ----------------- User experience is important, but Kumulos says designing is a need. Usually, catchy apps bring in sales. Your app must provide a great user experience to ensure regular app usage, but smarter screens, clean sound effects, and a unique design are tactics to hook your users to your app in the first place. Don’t overdo it: Don’t let your app make irritating noises every thirty seconds as it can topple sales charts anytime. But a visually and aurally engaging app is important to stand your app out from the designing economy. Don’t support every version of android -------------------------------------- Every developer tries to get his app in front of maximum users. However, don’t assume that supporting many versions of Android is always the right approach. The best user experience is key to attract users, but supporting many versions of Android can damage the user experience. The problem is that as you regularly travel back through Android’s release history, it becomes harder to make your app work perfectly with the earlier releases. A point may even come where you do not align with earlier releases of Android. If your app needs access to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), for example, then your app would not run on anything earlier than Android 4.3—the version where BLE support was integrated to the Android platform. So customizing, upgrading and testing your app for each version of Android consume time, you need to decide whether this investment will generate the potential rewards or not. Android apps are a great way to reach out to a humongous audience. The key is to play it right. Overdo it and you’ll get penalized; ignore it and you’ll miss out. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Getting started with Machine Learning on AWS (Amazon Web Services) Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2018-01-23 Meta Description: Amazon Machine Learning (Amazon ML) is a strong, cloud-based administration that makes it simple for engineers of all aptitude levels. Tags: Tech Talk, amazon machine earning, AWS, aws, Machine Learning URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/getting-started-with-machine-learning-on-aws-amazon-web-services _What is Amazon Machine Learning?_ ----------------------------------   Amazon Machine Learning (Amazon ML) is a strong, cloud-based administration that makes it simple for engineers of all aptitude levels to utilize machine learning innovation. Amazon ML gives perception instruments and wizards that guide you through the way toward making machine learning (ML) models without learning complex ML calculations and innovation. Once your models are prepared, Amazon ML makes it simple to get expectations for your application utilizing basic APIs, without implementing custom forecast age code, or deal with any foundation. This area presents the key ideas and terms that will enable you to comprehend what you have to do to make effective machine learning models with Amazon ML.   _What you can do with AML?_ --------------------------- With Amazon Machine Learning (Amazon ML), you can assemble and prepare prescient models and host your applications in a versatile cloud arrangement. In this task, you will utilize the perception devices and wizards of Amazon ML to direct you through the way toward making another machine learning (ML) demonstrate without learning complex ML calculations and innovation. To finish this venture, you will have to download unreservedly accessible example client information and transfer the information to an Amazon S3 to make a datasource. You will then make a ML demonstrate from this datasource, from which you would then be able to assess and modify the ML model's execution, and utilize it to create forecasts.   _Why machine learning on AWS?_ ------------------------------   * ##### Machine learning for everyone Whether you are a data scientist, ML researcher, or developer, AWS offers machine learning services and tools tailored to meet your needs and level of expertise.   * ##### Broad framework support [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/) supports all the major machine learning frameworks, including TensorFlow, Caffe2, and Apache MXNet, so that you can bring or develop any model you choose.   * ##### Secure Control access to resources with granular permission policies. Storage and database services offer strong encryption to keep your data secure. Flexible key management options allow you to choose whether you or AWS will manage the encryption keys.   * ##### Comprehensive analytics Choose from a comprehensive set of services for data analysis including data warehousing, business intelligence, batch processing, stream processing, and data workflow orchestration.   * ##### Deep platform integrations Amazon Machine Learning makes it easy to work with data that is already stored in the AWS cloud. ML services are deeply integrated with the rest of the platform including the data lake and database tools you need to run ML workloads. A data lake on AWS gives you access to the most complete platform for big data.   * ##### API-driven ML services Developers can easily add intelligence to any application with a diverse selection of pre-trained services Amazon Machine Learning provides APIs for modeling and management that allow you to create, review, and delete data sources, models, and evaluations. that provide computer vision, speech, language analysis, and chatbot functionality. You can also use the APIs to inspect previous models, data sources, evaluations, and batch predictions for tracking and repeatability.   * ##### Pay-as-you-go Consume services as you need them and only for the period you use them. AWS pricing has no upfront fees, termination penalties, or long term contracts. The AWS Free Tier helps you get started with AWS.   Talk to us at  [info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in](mailto:info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Six Reasons to implement ERP Software in Business Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-12-28 Meta Description: The need to manage the procedures and resources has become very important and have a tool, a management system or ERP software. Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, erp, erp system URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/six-reasons-to-implement-erp-software-in-business The need to manage the procedures and resources has become very important and have a tool, a management system or ERP software. It helps to coordinate and optimize the different activities of an organization, becoming a competitive advantage of the first order and a more than the possible improvement of the income statement. Running a business is not an easy task and in recent times it has become even more complex because of the turbulence that has come to stay with the business. Let's try to realize the advantages of using an ERP software : 1. Efficiency ---------- The ERP integrates the information of all the areas of the company, unifies the processes and systematizes them, which enables them to eliminate repetitive tasks, improving the coordination between the different areas of the company (The information they handle is the same and at the same time).This leads to more efficient business supervision. Efficiency makes it easier to manage the expansion because it is easier to plan, track and control resources, expenses and processes, as well as selecting the most profitable operations for growth. 2. Saving of costs --------------- As efficiency increases in a company savings in operating costs can be expected. With ERP software system in place savings in the collection, validation, and presentation of business data, in the time and effort spent by employees, in the optimization of purchase operations, in the availability of products, in the improvement of production routes etc. Saving costs mean more benefits or at least the possibility of more opportunities. 3. Competitiveness --------------- The efficiency and speed of operations allowed by the ERP allows a company to expand its scope of action, to be able to include new products and processes, to be able to choose to work with other clients, opportunities and operations that because of their volume or complexity could not be addressed by lack of time and information. 4. Improvement of the relationship with the client ----------------------------------------------- With the ERP we will have available, at a click, all information about the company, the client, its operations, the margins and opportunities available, we can improve the level and speed of the service we provide, which will result in more satisfied customers. 5. Improvement in response to changes ---------------------------------- The ability to obtain and present information from the ERP software and the automation of unproductive processes that generates more time for management makes it easier to detect changes that could have a significant impact on business, it is also easier to detect the opportunities that these changes carry. At the same time, the ERP causes the re-engineering of processes to optimize the performance and the export of the business model to delegations or companies of a group. 6. Improvement in information security ----------------------------------- One of the capabilities of the ERP software is the management of security based on roles, each person sees and can manage the information they need and limit what is not, which simplifies ensuring valuable information for the company and makes it difficult to steal or lose of this. In many customers with the implementation of an ERP, they have achieved improvements in product availability, reductions in overtime, reduction of operations costs, maintenance, inventory differences, improvements in the traceability of operations, etc., It has meant direct improvements in the accounts of exploitation that is as said at the beginning of the article what is sought with the implementation of a new system.   To Learn more about ERP Software systems, follow our [blog](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/).  And to know how your business can get the best ERP solution talk to us on [info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in](mailto:info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Can React Native be the efficacious successor of Hybrid App? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-12-11 Meta Description: Evolution is the key to the development of the human race. Our inquisitiveness and quench for change have initiated great achievements and inventions. Tags: Tech Talk, Programming URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/can-react-native-be-the-efficacious-successor-of-hybrid-app _Evolution_ is the key to the development of the human race. Our inquisitiveness and quench for change have initiated great achievements and inventions. Technological advancements are no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. We live in the digital era where we rely on technology to ensure seamless and efficient processes in our lives. The consumer is spoilt by choice which leaves the companies in a tight spot. New trends and developments are proposed and implemented to cater the growing expectations of the customers. Mobile Applications constitutes a significant segment of the digital world. This continually evolving field has seen its share of carrots and sticks. Is the current technology sufficient to battle the growing demands or is there an inevitable need for advancement? Hybrid App ---------- Hybrid App, the current trend in Mobile Application was the tech-child of Native and HTML5. It inherits the DNA of both and has successfully created a Multi-Platform functional solution for development of Mobile Apps. The code developed by the same algorithms of a website is then placed in a native app container to allow it function like a Native app sans the multi-platform approach. The App is considered to be a blessing for companies and developers. Overlooking the performance and functionality issues, Hybrid App has ruled the App world since 2010. The real question which has been a constant debate among the technological fraternity is whether the app is enough to combat the growing expectation and demands of the consumers. React Native ------------ A brainchild of tech giants Facebook and Instagram React Native, a JavaScript code library helps developers create multi-platform and highly functional mobile applications in a limited time frame. It is the successor of React and can address the problems faced in a hybrid app. Launched in 2013; the app closely resembles the mobile application created using Objective-C and Java. This technique is successfully implemented on Facebook and Instagram App. Some of the positive attributes of the platform include the availability of extensive literature for beginners, pre-defined codes, limited resources requirements, etc. Despite the fact that the technique is continually evolving, React Native is believed to be an effective alternative to Hybrid App. Let’s take a closer and deeper look into the techniques to understand them better. Architecture ------------ Hybrid apps are constructed using HTML, CSS and JavaScript making it ideally a webpage disguised into an app using the native container. Hybrid Apps are heavily dependent on web views and flexible frameworks like Apache Cordova for mobile app functionalities. This configuration paves the way for the compatibility issues in different devices. React Native eliminates this problem since it is designed with JavaScript and React and it does not use Web view for the functioning of the app. It can be launched directly in the native environment which increases the productivity of the app. Platform -------- Though both apps are multi-platform functional in their ways, few bugs/issues cannot be overlooked. For instance, Hybrid Apps find it challenging to identify the different operating systems and devices which results in an overall clumsier performance of the app. React Native, built with JS has the leverage of incorporating a UI containing the codes for platform compatibility using prescribed guidelines. Functionality ------------- Since Web view lies as the core for Hybrid App, they are bound to have compatibility issues with different devices. It typically faces all the problems faced by the webpage in the machine. The app is known to encounter multiple different bugs/issues for various devices. The developers spend a lot of time troubleshooting the app which can be utilised productively. React Native Apps do not have compatibility issues because of the specific UI in their codes. This saves a great deal of time and also improves the overall performance of the app. User Interface -------------- The first impression always determines the success of an app. A great deal of thought and process goes into the development of a particular product, and the companies to create the best design of the app. Hybrid App, designed like a webpage does not offer a consistent interface. This stands as the primary reason for the app failure.  The solution to this problem is being provided by React Native, which interacts better with the mobile devices Performance ----------- [Hybrid App](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/hybrid-app-development-services) has been inundated with a list of problems which seems unsolvable. App Crashes and Performance issues lead the list of enigmas. In its defence, developers have always combated to solve the bugs/issues. React Native apps does not face these issues as there is a refined and high-end version of the native apps. This technique enhances performances and quality of the mobile app. Bugs like Animation issues, Keyboard malfunctions are avoided in the react native apps. App Standards ------------- Most apps are uninstalled within minutes of installation. The significant reasons stated for his shocking user behavior is Graphics, User Interface, Performance, etc. These problems do not mean that Hybrid apps are no good. In fact, there are some notable apps in this technique which has performed exceptionally well in high-end mobiles. However, consistent performance in all types of devices is mandatory to be the best mobile app on the market. The Verdict ----------- There is no denying that there are a few great apps in the hybrid. However, the consistency with performance and functionality in all devices is never the same. Given the options available and the competition for a single product, the ideal customer is no longer resistant to bugs/issues. We are no longer afford the trial and error mode. This demand calls for the need of perfection and uniqueness in the industry. The digital sector depends on efficient and time-saving techniques for development and implementation of its products. React Native will hopefully be ideal in contending the issues faced by Hybrid Apps and pave the way for a more pioneering trend. It would be a wise choice to be open to considering the recent developments in the industry. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Everything to Know about AngularJs and ReactJs Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-11-29 Meta Description: Here are some points you need to know about AngularJS and ReactJS. This article will help you in choosing the right platform for your development. Tags: Tech Talk, hybrid app development, AngularJS, angularjs, reactjs, ReactJS URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/everything-to-know-about-angularjs-and-reactjs AngularJS and ReactJS are two essential and popular front-end technologies with a distinct identity and of considerable importance in app development environments. The primary advantage of ReactJS is that updates for UI are automated.  As for AngularJS, it is known for being shareable and requires minimum coding.   Cutting edge as today’s technology over the internet is, such tech comes with its own list of benefits and risks. Therefore it is advisable to thoroughly evaluate the plus and minus factors in the web software product. These both are great for [hybrid app development](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies/hybrid-app-development-services).   What are ReactJS and AngularJS? ------------------------------- AngularJS is a holistic JavaScript framework that offers its users a full set up to construct a sturdy and feature loaded web application. As with most frameworks, it offers a programming sequence known as [MVC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model%E2%80%93view%E2%80%93controller) structure which aids in standardizing and streamlining the complete web development workflow. Hybrid apps can benefit greatly from this. ReactJS is an open-source JS library that helps greatly in rendering views. AngularJS offers the model, view and controller as a complete framework. React is a widespread library that is responsible only for the view. One-way data binding also brings about various advantages of utilizing this tech over others available   When to Use ReactJS and AngularJS --------------------------------- ###### About ReactJS This is great when working with dynamic content which changes with the view. This proves invaluable when considering rendering of views online- it avoids delay and enhances UI. React can also be utilized as the view element of AngularJS and other similar frameworks since it is not tied to other tech stacks. Users familiar with ClojureScript can use this for its immutable data structures.   ###### About AngularJS Users needing a complete framework for the development process to run smoothly. AngularJS is designed to get a user to run his/her apps quickly. Since a library and framework can’t be compared, they can be applied interchangeably. React isn’t backwards compatible with browsers that came prior to IE8. To decide if ReactJS or AngularJS has to be used requires a thorough user needs analysis. The latest Angular 2.0 release in May 2016 comes with enhanced performance along with server-side rendering support and an identical method to utilize one-way data binding for manipulation of the elements of DOM that require changing.   Advantages of ReactJS and AngularJS ----------------------------------- ###### What AngularJS offers Problem-Free Decision making: This is a holistic framework offering excellent functionalities and options. It also aids the user in working at a faster pace without being weighed down with decisions. Component Structure: AngularJS 2 is known to have transitioned from a framework to a being a robust platform. This can be quickly used with other frameworks as well. Protracted functionalities can be executed through the shape of components, and also in the form of directives that can extend the functionality of pre-existing components. Development Environment: It is easy for users to choose the required environment using AngularJS. This can be anything from TypeScript, Dart, CoffeeScript to JavaScript Testing: This was designed to simplify application testing, even more so when users are making use of modules. Testing is made really easy here. ###### What ReactJS offers JSX: The syntax of JavaScriptX or JSX appears to be identical to HTML and compiles to JavaScript. This makes coding to be completely efficient. Excellent User Interface: ReactJS is UI centric, allowing for a highly responsive interface for users. This is made possible with JS interactions across the Native environment of device. This will also help the application run smoothly. Extremely Efficient: Developers are offered a superior ease of working through Virtual DOM creation, which also minimizes time-intensive DOM operations and updates. Difference between ReactJS and AngularJS ---------------------------------------- ###### Wide Community Support AngularJS has a far-reaching world-wide community which offers continuous support helping AngularJS developers, boosting the credibility and trustworthiness of this framework. ###### Full Framework While AngularJS is a robust framework which is platform agnostic, ReactJS uses a collection of libraries which are time consuming and resulting in continuous work cycles. ###### Less Fatigue Being comprehensive as a framework, AngularJS is flexible enough to take on tasks of varying complexity, whereas, ReactJS requires a group of libraries to execute even the smallest of tasks. ###### Two way binding AngularJS allows changes in data where ReactJS is unidirectional and does not allow data changes without flushing the DOM ###### Fast rendering Here ReactJS has the upper hand, with rendering done at a much quicker pace than possible in AngularJS. ###### Fails on Error and Explicit ReactJS is better here since error is shown upon compiling, whereas in AngularJS it fails at run time only. Conclusion ---------- ReactJS and AngularJS both can be considered as reliable technologies for app development. While ReactJS is great at creating robust web solutions using its extensive libraries, AngularJS is a feature loaded framework which is a comprehensive web app solution. It is not a question of which one is better, but to what purpose each is best suited. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How to write a Project Brief that truly works for everyone Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-11-16 Meta Description: A Project brief is the first and the most important step when it comes to the successful execution of any project.5 must follow points are mentioned. Tags: Tech Talk, Web Development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-to-write-a-project-brief-that-truly-works-for-everyone A Project brief is the first and the most important step when it comes to the successful execution of any project. Provided this is done right, your project process and execution will flow smoothly, following a pre-defined and well-organised structure which predicts and helps solve any project execution related difficulty that may crop up. Given below are the five phases in writing a project brief that meets the needs of all involved: Phase 1: Fundamental project information ---------------------------------------- One of the most essential steps in writing the project brief is to instantly place the developer in the right context and also offer important logistics data, as given below: • Find the preferred start date and release dates • Find the platforms or systems which are required to be supported. For example for mobile software it is [iOS, Android](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies) or even WP • Locate the exact number of internal resources such as testers, designers and backend developers who are available within the enterprise. In the case of end-to-end solutions, list the resources there too • Decide on the kind of price-quotes – whether it is on a Fixed Price package or it is measured based on the time and materials (or resources) utilized. The former is when the project has been metered out in exact portions and is also compact without much changes expected in scope. The latter is when the project is executed using an Agile approach and a lot of changes in scope are expected throughout the life of the project execution. Bi applications stand to gain the most from this. Phase 2: Project Objective and Strategic Business Goals ------------------------------------------------------- One will have to state in clear terms, the value that is offered to users by the app. Such value should ideally be in terms of quantifiable components within the app screen or your general system. To do this you have to: Find the niche that your product can exist in the market Determine the user need/problem that is met/solved by your product Measure the impact that it would have on its users if it was withdrawn from the market overnight. An also identify the users most impacted by your product’s absence. Identify the competitor or business alliance in the market who could displace or replace the product from the market in the most simple way. Think in tangible values to bring your project to fruition. And make your developer aware of the building blocks of your enterprise model and the rationale driving product presence in the market. This is particularly useful for business intelligence applications. Phase 3: Identify and create Target groups and Personas ------------------------------------------------------- It is not enough to develop products for a faceless generic user. Make sure to have a set of detailed customer profiles that will make up various user groups. Such detailed customer profiles are called personas. An example Persona is: John Doe is a middle aged man living in the USA with problems in keeping track of his kid’s movements to and from school. So the solution here would be to develop a GPS app that can be housed in a wristband or installed on a phone to keep tabs on his kids wherever they are, ensuring their safety. Phase 4: Functional Project scope or user stories ------------------------------------------------- The next step in this process is to elaborate the functional features that you can offer to your users in your particular product. The most efficient way to do this is in terms of generating user stories. A User story is used to explain a piece of functionality which has to be delivered in the form of a pre-defined sentence structure. Phase 5: Prioritizing Product Functionalities --------------------------------------------- The most important part of a project brief is to specify the must-have and the nice-to-have features in the product you are offering. To ensure the project runs smoother you will then have to work on a descending order of product functionalities to deliver the most value to your customers within the target time. [Business dashboards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard_\(business\)) benefit greatly from this. Conclusion ---------- Logic dictates that the most effective project briefs are the ones which are the most informative. While following the aforementioned logic, following the steps mentioned above will ensure that you will end up with a practical and realistic quote for your project. And this will obviously lead to you to choose the most appropriate developer. This process in the end will help you to test and strengthen your project idea in a totally non-prejudicial manner. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Designing an API, Tips & Tricks Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-11-08 Tags: Tech Talk, application, api, programming interface, Web Development URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/designing-an-api-tips-tricks **Application Programming Interface (API), Effective and Productive Designing, Tips & Tricks** In the era of Internet, an application is being developed for each and every aspect that is useful to us. Application Programming Interface (API) acts as a bridge between the user and the [application developer](http://pacewisdom.com/services/mobile-technologies).  From the user point of view, an application must be useful for a long period of time. API’s once designed cannot be changed however; we could provide an option to upgrade the API or technically speaking extension. An effective and productive design of an API requires short term and long term planning. Short term would be the code for immediate requirement and long term would be providing options for extension. A few tips and tricks will be discussed here to make it easier to build an effective API using least resources and achieving maximum results. Restful method-Prioritizing noun resources over verb ones. You could use noun resources instead of verb resources to avoid the result in a huge list of URLs. This would be a burden on the developer and the user to search for a particular file or document.  An API needs to be user friendly and provide room for experimenting successfully with the URLs. The perfect solution for this issue would be using the noun resources. GET(read) offers two options which are: return list of all files and a specific file. POST(create) offers two options which is are: add a new file and an error(since there wouldn’t be anything stored in the application without the user adding it). PUT(Update) offers two options which are: bulk update of all files and update a specific file. DELETE(delete) offers two options which are: delete all files and delete a specific file. You could use /files and /file/:id in conjunction with GET, POST, PUT and DELETE to perform operations even if a huge list has been generated. Transformers for data representation Transformers, as the name suggests transforms data from one format to another. There are many reasons out of which the most prominent ones would be, control over data you actually output to consumers and prohibit any sensitive information being displayed accidentally. The benefit of serializing the data as per your requirement and embed related resources within each other is offered by using transformers. Handling Errors The easiest way to handle errors would be using HTTP status codes which are pretty much self explanatory. 200 Successful 201 Resource creation successful 204 Successful but no content returned 304 Request not modified 400 Bad request 401 Unauthorized, needs authentication 403 Forbidden 401 Conflict with the current state Knowing the error code will help pinpoint the issue in the code for resolving it. Documentation Documenting your work is a crucial part for an API. Documentation involves a few steps to be followed to make your API productive. * Resource URL and information * https://design.api.com/file/:id and requires authentication. *  Parameters * Specify mandatory and optional ones. * Example request and result *  Authentication * Two steps more in authentication. Basic and 0Auth2 which is your username and password and access token to access the API resource respectively. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## The Biggest Blunders one should avoid while Pre and Post Launching an App Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-10-30 Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, ios, android, application URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/the-biggest-blunders-one-should-avoid-while-pre-and-post-launching-an-app It is difficult for each one of you who develop an app as it has to face a stiff competition in the App Store. Each and every app developer knows this secret that marketing is the only way to get your app to a higher level. This is the reason [app developers](http://pacewisdom.com/) keep on marketing the app even after the app is released. Here are some blunders that app developers make in marketing and fail to get their launch successful. Pre-Launch Blunders ------------------- 1. Ignoring the Market Research ---------------------------- Having a report about your competitors, their app name, their keywords, targeted audience, etc. can be useful for a new app developer to rank your app. Also look at the negative reviews and try to avoid them in your application. 2. Lack of the Best Feedback before launch --------------------------------------- The best way to get a feedback before launching is app is appointing Beta testers. Appoint the Beta testers that suit proper in the targeted audience according to you app for genuine and useful reviews. You can also get help from different channels based on your field that help you recruit some Beta Testers for your app. 3. Not getting Market Involved> ---------------------------- Although designing and developing an Application may sound difficult, your work doesn’t get over just by launching the app in market. The most crucial and neglected part of success is to plan for the Marketing Team. Getting marketing team involved late in the field can also cause a huge risk as it is very important for the team to know each and every feature of the app. 4. No proper planning of App release dates --------------------------------------- As the eagerness inside your team increases as you get near to the verge of the coding coming to an end. This is quite natural when you are about to launch an app, but one most important thing that most of the developers forget is pre-mentioned App release date. App release date helps your marketing team to get everything ready and also help you in getting the press coverage. Post-Launch Blunders -------------------- 1. Not bothering about the User Engagement and Retention ----------------------------------------------------- Even if you are one of them who get their success spending thousands of dollars with a proper marketing plan, the involvement of your users that download the app is the most important thing to be understood. Spending some money to get some downloads in the start is not an issue but if you don’t keep an eye on the User Engagement and Retention, people will stop using your app very soon. 2. Not having a proper Measurement ------------------------------- It being a dream of every App developer to earn Millions of dollars from the App that they release it does not exactly indicate the success of your app. While your entire team must be wandering about the revenue obtained every day, one most important thing is being ignored. Along with the income, developers should also have a track of the favorite sector of your app, why people love to use this app, reasons that people stop using this app and after analyzing all these, you should provide proper updates that keep the users engaged with your app. Conclusion ---------- So above were some important blunders that app developers usually make before and after launch and face huge problems in getting success. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## An insight of the promising future of Enterprise Apps Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-10-13 Tags: Tech Talk, Enterprise, Email, Slack, User Experience URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/an-insight-of-the-promising-future-of-enterprise-apps Enterprise apps are the very heart and brain for any enterprise. It is one of the most imperative tools to ensure effortless operations in an organization. We live in an ever changing universe where everything evolves constantly in order to thrive. Enterprises are changing relentlessly, so is the enterprise app industry. The earlier phase of growth was driven by consumers’ app while the forthcoming revolutionary phase is likely to revolve around the enterprise app. This article will provide you a thorough and conscious insight of the future of enterprise, and will lend a hand to explore the changing face of enterprise apps. To achieve this, we need to throw some light on the five key factors that act as main driving and influential force for the next generation of enterprise apps. The glorious Hero and Soldier Apps- These are the two chief categories of the employee-facing mobile enterprise apps which more and more companies are embracing by each passing day. So, what are these? Let's explore. Hero Apps are those which caters the business needs on a larger scale and in general. They are frequently in use without any specific task or function assigned to them. For instance **Slack**, **WhatsApp**, **Email** clients and so on. While on other hand, Soldier Apps are those which are designed to perform a specific task, under the supervision of selected group of employees. For example, managing of data within an enterprise with the help of SPSS The thrilling effect of Speed and Connectivity – The world of internet is growing by leaps and bounds, and in order to provide, better than ever before experience, speed and connectivity that internet offers are also modifying continuously. A high speed internet connection has all the power to perform the tedious task at a drop of hat. This is further going to increase by manifolds with the launch of 5G internet connections which is scheduled for coming 3-4 years. Uber the magnificent mover- has re-defined the customer service experience. Customer oriented services including **Uber** and **AirBnB** have given a new horizon to the commercial world. With their mobile-first strategy, they have eased down their functioning as well as increased the customer satisfaction. It is giving a whole new resolution to many other enterprises. Give it a personal touch with “Personalisation”- While we talk about effective app strategy and delivery, [UX (user experience)](http://pacewisdom.com/app-development-services/mobile-app-design) is the primary thing which strike into our minds. The next generation of enterprise apps will pave their path under the high influence of personalisation. Presently, web and mobile advertising industry are only functioning on the basis of personalisation. The highly-capable: Wearable- Though the initial impact of Wearable was of low grade, but in near future it is going to be one of the biggest influential factors for the corporate and industrial realm. New variety of interaction that wearable technology offers will bring fresh and innovative possibilities to further technological sections. Want to learn how your enterprise can take the benefit of the enterprise apps, talk to us, we are [experts on Enterprise Mobility solutions](http://pacewisdom.com). Drop us a mail on [info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in](mailto:info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How IoT and Big data are solving problems in the Educational ecosystem? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-09-28 Meta Description: The IoT and Big data will totally change the way educational Institute operates and disrupt the education as early as kindergarten and continues to do so thereafter. Tags: Tech Talk, Technology, IoT, Big Data URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-iot-and-big-data-are-solving-problems-in-the-educational-ecosystem Have you ever wondered what if you have all the necessary educational information at your fingertips and learn at your pace? Sounds like an ideal educational experience, right? But with the arrival of two marvelous technologies, you can expect an ideal educational ecosystem when you can learn at your own pace even more efficiently. The IoT and Big data will totally change the way educational Institute operates and disrupt the education as early as kindergarten and continues to do so thereafter. So let's dwell on the impact of IoT and Big data in an education system.   Impact of IoT in the educational ecosystem ------------------------------------------ Google glasses, smartwatches, home automation etc. are prime examples of IoT technology which is actually making every possible device with internet connection, smart! According to research, there will be a 30% increase in internet-connected physical devices and will have a considerable impact on how schools and colleges operate. In this modern era of technology, students rely more on internet-connected devices such as tablets and laptops which brings all the necessary data at their fingertips rather the going through pile of textbooks and encyclopedias. Moreover, it also helps professors to enhance their teaching skills. IoT, beyond the classroom, will connect the students across the globe on the online platform of a [mobile application](http://pacewisdom.com/mobile-application-development) or [web application](http://pacewisdom.com/web-app-development) which will automate certain tasks such as note-taking, research, and schedule checking. The majority of middle school and high school and even college students can connect to each other and to professors through IoT. Internet of Things will truly be the turning point and revolutionize the educational ecosystem. Impact of Big Data in education system -------------------------------------- IoT combines with Big data will make it easy to collect the data from varied sources and exchange it with various stakeholders. Moreover, the students will have access to the various educational courses broadcast from leading universities across the world. With the help of cloud computing, the most emerging tech of this era, it will be possible to create the biggest online infrastructure featuring tonnes of video lectures, notes, research papers, and much more for the different segments of the audience. Since Big Data has no boundaries on sourcing of information, educational institutes would have to let go of their physical boundaries and move towards the 'cloud'. You can see the real-life example of Big Data when you search for certain open courseware programs offers by leading universities, the first step toward Big Data. It clearly shows that by the collaboration of various educational institutes and online resources will eventually expand the Big Data that it will become necessary for every student as well as the professors to increase the productivity and performance of the student and to influence teachers' teaching skills. IoT and Big data has made it possible to pull the data from various sources to create a world-class educational hub for students and teachers to make the learning even easier. Considerable investment to advance these [technologies](http://pacewisdom.com/technologies) will bring the 'Smart School' and 'Smart colleges' in existence. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Xcode: Setting up a Colour Style Guide for a project Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-09-20 Meta Description: Xcode- Usually working on a Mobile App we follow a colour palette which is given as the guideline from the UI/UX experts from our design team. For this, they create a color palette which ranges from  8 to 12 colors. Tags: mobile apps, Tech Talk, Design, UI and UX, Developers, Xcode URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/xcode-setting-up-a-colour-style-guide-for-a-project Usually working on a Mobile App we follow a color palette which is given as the guideline from the [UI/UX experts](http://pacewisdom.com/app-development-services/mobile-app-design) from our design team. For this, they create a color palette that ranges from  8 to 12 colors. By processing the hex color with the help of the design guidelines document then it became easier for the developers to use the color picker in [Xcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcode). However, it’s not the most challenging task in the developer's job.  But, it will also offer them a golden chance of increasing their skills and follow some best practices. Before starting a project, it is advisable to fix a color scheme which will allow you the quick and easy access to colors without concentrating on the hex value or recently used values by having a fixed color scheme. This also secures you from choosing a wrong color shade which sometimes can become very annoying during the review of the app. . How to use it? -------------- So, Dear Xcode Developers, First of all you have to open the color picker in Xcode and then select your color. When you select the color then you will be provided a preview of each color in the bottom left corner. Now, you just have to drag the previewed color and then drop it onto the smaller cubes row.  By following all these steps, it will become easier for us to proceed to the next steps. If you already used the particular color then you can reorient the previous color with your desirable new color. It is suggested that you can substitute all those color with which you have already worked. When you select all those color which you need then please move forward to the third lab of the color picker. Finally, we have reached to that platform where we can construct a palette of color. For the creation of new palette, it is advisable to click on the cog/setting button. Once you've created and named your new palette then simply drag and drop the colors which you need. further, you can choose the color from the bottom list. When you will select and create your new palettes then named it and again drag those colors which you need and drop them to the bottom with their specific name allocated by you because at one time, you may need them in your project as per your requirement and then it will be able for you to prefer them in your project. **Disadvantages:** The most annoying part about Xcode is that if in case there will be color change during the project then you have to update the whole palette instead of updating the colors from your xib/ nib files. There is also not an option of replacing the default color palette which usually used by Xcode. Along with this, i didn't found the whole by-pass of the color picker. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## IoT Tech Accelerates Among Manufacturers: Survey Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-09-11 Tags: Tech Talk, Technology, applications, IoT URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/iot-tech-accelerates-among-manufacturers-survey There is not a shadow of doubt that the Internet of Things (IOT) has the potential of transforming the way we live and work. Needless to say, IoT is one of the hottest buzzwords in the IT world and is swiftly adopted by different business sectors these days. However no other vertical has been more impacted by IoT than manufacturing.   Manufacturers across the globe have invested heavily in IoT applications. According to a survey by [Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)](https://www.tcs.com/) manufacturers using IoT solutions reported an average 28.5% increase in their revenues between 2013 and 2014. The growing use of IoT by manufactures can be attributed to some reasons. It enhances speed, connectivity and availability. IoT devices improve efficiency and productivity of manufacturing operations. At the same time it also cuts costs. Manufacturers now see IoT applications as an opportunity and valuable asset for overcoming their business challenges. Industrial IoT applications, known as IIoT has the potential of evolving the manufacturing sector. Connecting factory machines will enable real-time monitoring and maintenance of equipments. IoT adoption is growing at an astounding rate and is among top technology investments by the manufacturers, this  can be gauged from the findings of the research firm IDC which say manufacturing industry is all set to spend $178 billion in 2016. The report says that the manufacturing sector will account for one-third of total spend in IoT in the APeJ (Asia Pacific, excluding Japan) region by 2020. Manufacturing operations, production asset management and maintenance and field service are the three most important IoT use cases in manufacturing. According to Verizon’s report “State of the Market: Internet of Things 2016“,76 percent of early-movers in manufacturing sector are of the view that IoT has increased insight into customer preferences and behaviours while 31% say that IoT has improved the reliability or performance of products and services.It has been found that manufacturing sector is adopting IOT at an increasing rate. The reason is not far to seek. This has been done to cut cost and improve profitability for their organizations According to the findings of a survey, 31% of manufacturers are implementing IoT-related applications to their internal operations whereas 56% plan to.  However, the survey said only 14% of the respondents have go-to-market IoT strategies in place and about 50 % are in the process of creating them. Today the [Internet of Things (IOT)](http://pacewisdom.com/internet-of-things-iot) is permeating the marketplace and gaining momentum. With IoT as an emerging focus for all players and with its increased adoption, many verticals including manufacturing are expected to reap huge benefits out of it. According to BI Intelligence, the installed base of manufacturing IoT devices will increase from 237 million in 2015 to 923 million in 2020. By that year, stakeholders in the manufacturing sector will spend about $267 billion in the IoT. However, it is in the fitness of things that  you should select the right IoT service provider. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## A guide for game app developers Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-09-05 Meta Description: To generate a fantastic Android and iOS game apps, you're going to need the ideal development tools, mind boggling game related ideas and game engines. Tags: App Development, Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, Technology, ios, android, game app, mobile URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/a-guide-for-game-app-developers To generate a fantastic **Android** and **iOS game apps**, you're going to need the ideal development tools, mind boggling game related ideas and game engines, and there are loads of options out there. But how can you select? Games have been 90 percent of Google Play's annual earnings in 2016, but to make it big you've got to stick out in a really crowded marketplace, with 2.8 million programs on the shop in March 2017. to get started with **game apps development**, it is must to have basic programming background as well as certain gaming ideas that can keep them addicted to your gaming app. It is not the complete guide but we are sure it will help you to go through basic steps of **game app development**.  From all-in-one indie development packages to plug-ins for improving player engagement, we bring you a guide to the best **mobile game development** tools available. These abilities include plenty of experience. Before Getting into matches we'd recommend you to have a fantastic Research on computer graphics, math linked to images, Data structures and much more. Start using a programming language that's simple to use (simple to work with for you most significantly and a few times its need to be picked according to target platform such as [Android](http://pacewisdom.com/mobile-application-development/android-app-development) & [iOS](http://pacewisdom.com/mobile-application-development/iphone-app-development)) we will suggest start learning Unity 3d Game Engine for rapid prototyping games. Obtain a beginners book for this programming language Pick a few API or surroundings that provide what is required for writing game apps. normally developers started out by performing snake, space invaders etc at the console, however, any 2D-environment can do (stay far from 3D for so long as possible; there are a lot more important things to understand first). SDL/GLUT for OpenGL has bindings in just about any language. Pygame for Python seems promising also. Using HTML5's canvas-element, you might even write the apps in the browser with JavaScript. The sports layout and graphics are enjoyable but concentrate on the programming (for today at least). When you have written a very simple game, find out how to do exactly the exact same thing better. Establish a target. Envision the game that you would want to create. Do not attempt to create that you immediately, but be certain that every new thing you learn or create takes you one step nearer. Do not learn exactly what you do not require. Follow a few tutorials. Ask yourself exactly what you wish to do. If you prefer to be an excellent artist (for instance), then admit that and find out from the experts in your area. Even though a wide comprehension of the entire process is a definite also, concentrate your efforts into what you would like to do wherever possible. Recall there are individuals whose livelihood is to inform people like you everything you will need to do in order to enter **game app developer** community You do not have to speak to them. Just search, learn and make. Strategy studios directly. Advice and a directing hand are fantastic, but locate the fire and drive from inside. You learn from implementing and experience. **Android** and **iOS game app development** is not about procedure, or understanding, or credentials, but articulating your internal game designer to some set of repeatable rules which all people can experience. Have an Idea of a game or an [interesting App](http://pacewisdom.com/app-development-portfolio). Discuss with us. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How Hybrid Mobile Apps can benefit your small business? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-08-14 Meta Description: Hybrid Mobile Apps development services refer to the apps that can operate across a range of mobile operating systems like iOS, Android, Windows etc. Tags: App Development, Hybrid, Mobile App Development, mobile apps, Tech Talk URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-hybrid-mobile-apps-can-benefit-your-small-business **What is a Hybrid Mobile App?** -------------------------------- Hybrid app development services refer to the applications that can operate across a range of mobile operating systems like iOS, Android, Windows etc. Hybrid Mobile Apps developers use CSS, Html, and JavaScript, in combination with the native platform provided by a mobile operating system. Usually, many mobile applications are built using native tools of a specific OS, hence we describe them as native apps. These apps can’t work on other mobile OS. For example, an android app can’t work on an iOS device and vice-versa. But, on the other side, a hybrid app can work on both devices; which is the main difference between native and hybrid apps. Hybrid Mobile Apps basically use the WebView facility to access the particular features of an operating system.  Hybrid apps are considered as a combination of native applications and web applications. Technology is booming in every corner of the world.  We all are the victim of the Digital revolution, or to be more specific, we can consider it as a  Smartphone revolution. **Mobile apps** have been proved as the game changers in the today’s world.  They are bridging the gap between the end customer and a business organization. Enterprise apps are emerging as a useful tool in rendering the services of an organization to its customers. **Benefits of choosing Hybrid Mobile Apps for Your Small Business.** -------------------------------------------------------------------- ### **\-Cost-Effective** Hybrid apps are designed and developed to work on different operating systems. Which is why we don't have to pay for coding and designing again & again. There is no need to add extra code and design patterns, for the same functionality across the different systems. ### **\-Resource Availability** As mentioned above, app developers use **HTML**, **CSS,** and **JavaScript** to develop these applications. These technologies are easily available and accessible online. Even a newbie **mobile app developer** can learn and develop with ease. To learn and develop hybrid apps, there is no need to invest a huge amount of time, energy and money in training sessions. ### **\-Maintenance** These **mobile applications** are easy to maintain. Developers have to choose the just right framework for developing an app. Some popular frameworks are **Jquery**, **PhoneGap**, **Xamarin**, **Ionic** and **kendoUI**. They are easy to upgrade and offer low maintenance services. ### **\-Speed advantage** Hybrid mobile apps offer more speed than other native apps. Often they use fewer graphics and animations, and they don’t reload the data, again and again. Apps are ready to run on poor connectivity, hence the user can access the service in fast mode. ### **\-Ease in Scaling** Hybrid mobile apps also are known as cross-platform applications. They are designed and developed to cope with diverse platforms and operating systems.  Comparing with native apps, they are easier to scale because of the framework and technology they use.   Initially, when Facebook was a small company, they used **hybrid development technology** to launch the app.  Nowadays, hybrid development is in more advanced state and can be used more effectively to support a small business. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## 5 Important Considerations for Enterprise Mobile App Development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-08-09 Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, Mobile Application, Enterprise, ios, android URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/5-important-considerations-for-enterprise-mobile-app-development Today, we are in the **era of Mobile technology**.  From top -up recharge in our mobile to banking transactions, nearly we all are dependent on mobile devices. Nowadays, not only the general public but also small and big level companies are taking service of **enterprise mobile app development company** to run their business smoothly in a effective way. What is an Enterprise Mobile Application? ----------------------------------------- The term enterprise mobile application depicts a mobile application solely designed & developed by **Enterprise app developers** for solving the problems of SMEs. This application helps the employees of an organisation to meet the challenges like interfacing with other networks, devices, operating systems and administrative management.   There are various kinds of mobile applications used by an organisation. For example, payment processing, email marketing systems, customer support, and many more. Five Important Strategic considerations. ---------------------------------------- 1. ##### Enhance the Security features of your app. Don't be fully dependent on built in security features available in your device.  **Enterprise application developers** should take security issues at their higher priority.  Leave other platforms, even iOS, regarded as world’s safest mobile operating system, is not fully secure to cyber attacks and hackers. Add necessary security features by your side to survive in bottle neck competition in the corporate world. 2. ##### Use Multi level Authentication. It is the paramount feature that is used to achieve a safe and secure login. It can be of  two level or three level; depending on the need of the company. Nowadays, many organisations - banking systems, e-mail hosting companies are using this feature as a standard to authenticate the identity of a person. In this feature, a unique OTP(one time password) is sent to user’s device for his/her identification. 3. ##### Increase the Scalability of Application. This technical ability ensures the seamless working of an application in a company, or across a large corporate network. Work-culture involves a thousand employees coordinating with each other at once. An application should be scalable enough to handle so many requests at once. Otherwise, service failure at any time might be crucial for an organisation and it can suffer a heavy loss. 4. ##### Encrypt your Data to avoid any loss. Data transmission is an important scenario in an end to end communication.Most of the companies in business environment forget to encrypt their important data which they transfer over networks. It can be a serious drawback for a company's point of view ; as their unencrypted valuable and financial data is open for all type of cyber attacks. 5. ##### MVC Framework is a supreme tool. Model View Controller (MVC)  is an important consideration, in developing a an application.  App developers should design and develop an app keeping MVC framework in mind. With MVC architecture- developers can separate data access, business logic, and presentation. It increases the usability of code, hence reduces the maintenance cost. **Enterprise app development** is a challenging task; as it involves thousand of employees performing a range of operations simultaneously.  A Slow, carelessly designed application can ruin the reputation of a company. Henceforth, it is advisable to develop an application which could easily handle the complex operations. For more information on how to develop enterprise mobile apps write to us on info@pace-blog.pacewisdom.in --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How to Change Your Career from Graphic Design to UX Design? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-08-04 Meta Description: If you are a graphic designer, and you are having an interest to make your application or website more appealing to users than UX design is the right career move for you. Tags: Tech Talk, Design, Graphic Design, UI and UX, UX Design URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-to-change-your-career-from-graphic-design-to-ux-design The role of UX designer or UX consultant has become apparent in last couple of years as people have started investing in diversified digital services. Making the application or website enjoyable is as important as to make it functional. If you are a graphic designer, and you are having an interest to make your application or website more appealing to users, than UX design is the right career move for you. Following is the example of such UX designer that shows effectively only in one picture about what the designer is doing & why the designer should be hired. ![How to Change Your Career from Graphic Design to UX Design? - Pace Wisdom](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image.jpg) **Following are some tips that you can expedite to change your career from Graphic Design to UX design** Reflect on your interests:- --------------------------- First of all, you need to know that why you would want to opt for a career change. Especially, which is the area that lures you and you have a expertise to work in the area because UX design is inclusive of various dimensions such as computer science, psychology, communication that are beyond visual designs. Being a would be UX designer, you need to completely carry out your homework. That will be giving you a sense of clarity to the extent where you can excel your career in UX design. Think and practice like a UX designer:- --------------------------------------- You need to learn and practice the information that includes the [UX design services](/app-development-services/mobile-app-design). UX design is a process that requires a lot of exploration to understand the view point as far as knowing and using the product. You need to envision the product, practice the same, try various combinations of visual designs, coding to explore, etc. You need to focus on multi-disciplinary approach in order to enhance your skill. Start networking and learning:- ------------------------------- Being a UX designer, you need to have excellent people skills. Networking will be helpful for you to improve your social skills. You can get in touch with various [UX designers & consultants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience_design) of the industry and check with them about the pertaining demand of the industry along with need of the clients. You can even subscribe to the professional newsletter available on the professional network sites and community sites to know and accordingly learn.  You can focus on potential mentor that can be advantageous for your career growth. Work on your strengths:- ------------------------ Choose the specific areas of UX designs in order to enhance your specialization. Carry out the research in areas such as visual design or information architects etc. and accordingly identify & work on your strengths. Build the  strong UX design portfolio:- --------------------------------------- It is important to get the experience in terms of switching your career. You can apparently focus on taking the various projects to build your knowledge and experience. This shall be helpful to build your interest in the same. The various projects will enhance your skills and shall help you to understand the current demand of the industry. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Planning for a Successful iPhone App Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-07-25 Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, development, iOS, Technology, app, ios, iphone URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/planning-for-a-successful-iphone-app It is a known fact that for the most trivial needs, you will find a Mobile App in the market these days. With Mobile App stores teeming with millions of apps and new ones arriving everyday, it’s now very hard to make an app that’s guaranteed to be successful, especially on the Apple Store. It’s alright to feel clueless and lost when you set out to have your own iPhone App on the App store. But there are tons of resources online that you can follow to ensure you take all the right steps to making an **efficient and successful iPhone App**. Here are some important steps you can follow for creating a successful iPhone App: Place particular emphasis on Usability: --------------------------------------- Let’s face it! Nobody's going to waste their space on an App that does nothing except display annoying ads on their phone. Before you set out to make an App, decide what it’s going to do and how it will make the lives of your users easier. Will it help them save time or money, will it make a task easier, or give them access to useful information? You need to be very clear on your app's usability right from the start. Don’t make Registration seem like a Test: ----------------------------------------- Mobile App users are fed up of signing up with their emails and getting spammed. They also have very limited time when they decide to check out a new app. If you make it hard for users to register themselves before they even know the many features your app offers, chances are they'll uninstall it. It’s always a good idea to make email or phone registration an option but if you must make it mandatory, ensure that the process is over in no more than 2 or 3 steps. Layout plays a primary role in iOS development: ----------------------------------------------- The 3 key rules of good [iOS development](/mobile-application-development/iphone-app-development) is to make apps with good clarity, deference, and depth. The text on your app must be large, and clear in a good font. The overall design of your App must be very neat and must place primary focus on content rather than unnecessary effects. Depth is the increase in content detail as you navigate deeper into the app. Keep these 3 layout rules in mind and you can rest assured that your iOS app is on the right track to being successful. Don’t stray from the Apple store Rules: --------------------------------------- While it may seem tempting to boost sales as soon as you launch your app by paying for downloads, in the long-term it can get you kicked out from Apple's Mobile App store. Respect the store rules and aim to build a good brand reputation customers will grow to love. Emulate other Successful Apps: ------------------------------ Although it can seem very exciting to implement your own brilliant and exciting idea, there’s always a risk of falling flat if users don’t like it. If you want guaranteed success with your iPhone App, the safest bet would be to check out existing successful apps and determine what makes them successful. Then emulate their formula without cloning them. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Tips for Securely Moving Data to the Cloud Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-07-18 Meta Description: Technology has taken a big leap and given us the comfort and convenience which was not even dreamt by anyone 2 decades back. Tags: Tech Talk, Cloud, Technology, cloud, Cybersecurity URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/tips-for-securely-moving-data-to-the-cloud Technology has taken a big leap and given us the comfort and convenience which was not even dreamt by anyone 2 decades back. The **cloud based applications and cloud computing services** are some of those examples of technological advancements with the help of which one can work remotely from anywhere collaborating with the co-workers. But the convenience of cloud computing solutions may cost you adversely if not practiced intelligently and smartly. Before using the cloud computing services you need to go through the security and data privacy policies of the cloud service providers. The process of moving your data to the cloud is very simple but the hardest part is to set your security criteria and to know whether the cloud service provider withstands every criterion or not. Let us go through some of the major criteria one needs to set before moving important data to the cloud. * Necessity of Third Party Service provider – There are many services in which you can host your data by yourself without going for a thirty party cloud provider like Dropbox. This decision depends on the technical strength of your company. If you are a large organization and people are there having the expertise in managing the cloud service, then you should always go for applications like Sharepoint which lets you host the data by yourself. Or else you should prefer third party providers who have their own set of expertise in this field. * Security Credentials and Records - Every time you move your important data on the cloud, there are certain risks involved. The foremost is you are always in a dilemma whether the data will remain secure or not. That’s why you need to explore and understand the security credentials of the service provider. * Access to the Data – It is always advisable to keep a limited access to the cloud data. It’s not just the hackers or impostors who attack and steal the data always, sometimes people from your own organization could be the culprits. Therefore, access should be given only to those who need that part of data to work upon. * Vigilance - There's a lot more to be done once you have moved your data to the cloud. Monitoring is the next part to ensure that your moved data is safe and secure. Never share your account and password details with anyone, this is a big security liability. Try to make the password as hard as possible so that even your nearest co-worker can’t assume it. * Updates - Every cloud service keeps on updating their security interface regularly, therefore you need to keep a check on your cloud services frequently to make sure that your cloud service provider is updating their security interface according to the norms. If these factors are taken into consideration, you can be assured that your valuable data in the cloud is well protected from the outer world. Cloud computing solutions are one of the assets that have simplified functioning of every firm and company. Moving the data to the cloud interface is very beneficial but one needs to be very attentive while [choosing the cloud service provider](http://pacewisdom.com) and taking a sneak peak over their terms and conditions to maintain the security. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Cloud computing challenges faced by companies, Enterprise & SME Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-07-14 Tags: Tech Talk, Cloud Computing, Technology, Business Process, Enterprise, SME URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/cloud-computing-challenges-faced-by-companies-enterprise-sme In any company, enterprise or SME, there is definitely probability of cloud computing challenges. All of such organizations are becoming In any company, enterprise or SME, there is definitely probability of cloud computing challenges. All of such organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the business value that cloud computing carries and are accepting steps in direction of transition to the cloud. It is found that a smooth transition requires a detailed understanding of the advantages as well as challenges encompassed. Similar to any new technology, the adoption of this approach is not completely free from issues and few of the most significant challenges are as follows. Security and Privacy: --------------------- The key challenge to [cloud computing in companies](http://pacewisdom.com/), enterprise and SME is how it handles the security and privacy issues of businesses considering of adopting it. The point that the valued enterprise data will exist outside the corporate firewall poses serious concerns. Hacking and several attacks to cloud infrastructure will influence many clients even if just a single site is attacked. Below is a small list of questions that you must ask a cloud provider considering its challenges in mind, * How do you move data from the cloud? * Where does your data reside? * Is the data encrypted? * What are your security governance policies and procedures? Interoperability and Portability: --------------------------------- Businesses of companies, enterprise and SME must possess the control of transferring in and out of the cloud and converting providers whenever they wish. Moreover, there must be no lock-in period and the **cloud computing services** must possess the capability to smoothly integrate with the on-premise infrastructure. Reliability and Availability: ----------------------------- It is found out that the cloud providers still lack 24-hour service; this essentially results in recurrent outages. It is significant to supervise the service being offered through help of implementation of internal or third-party tools. It is significant to have strategies to supervise usage, SLAs, robustness, performance, and business dependence of such services. Performance and Bandwidth Cost: ------------------------------- Businesses could essentially save money on hardware however they need to spend higher for the bandwidth. This can be an actually low cost expense for smaller applications however it can also be suggestively more for the data-intensive applications. Providing rigorous and complex data across the network demands sufficient bandwidth. Due to this, several businesses are coming up for abridged cost prior converting to the cloud. Service Quality: ---------------- Out of many factors rising to challenges, service quality is frequently one of the greatest noteworthy factors that businesses mention as a reason for not transferring their **business applications to the cloud computing**. Frequently businesses experience as though the SLAs offered by the cloud providers presently are not satisfactory to guarantee the requirements for executing a production application on the cloud platform. This especially highlights those associated to performance, availability, and scalability. Downtime & Accessibility: ------------------------- Service quality should not be negotiated whenever your data is present in the cloud platform. Accessing the necessary data when you require it is an elementary requirement from several organisations. Presently, the challenge with the computing is that the data is retrieved through help of an internet connection as compared to a local connection. Thus when the network or internet connection is running slow, it even suggest that cloud services are too down; therefore data could not be accessed. **Challenges to adoption of cloud computing** comes in every sizes, shapes, and severities, based on the organization. None of these challenges should be regarded as show-stoppers; however that does not make them any less factual or noteworthy. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Blockchain on Healthcare Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-07-11 Meta Description: Blockchain technology is a digital ledger that is used to record transactions across numerous computers so that the record cannot be altered. Tags: Tech Talk, Healthcare, Blockchain URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/blockchain-on-healthcare Blockchain technology is a digital ledger that is used to record transactions across numerous computers so that the record cannot be altered retrospectively without the modification of all consecutive blocks and the collusion of the system. Blockchain rose to prominence because it runs interference for secure online bitcoin transactions. Being a public ledger network, Blockchain validates and makes a record of each and every transaction, making it reliable and secure. Any changes made to a public Blockchain is viewable by the parties thereby maintaining transparency. The data used is of high quality making the [Blockchain technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain) consistent, accurate and favorably timed.  With the elimination of intermediaries and costs for exchanging of assets, the transactional fees to a great extent have been reduced. This allows the users to audit and check transactions for a nominal price. The authorization for all of the transactions is made by miners, making the transactions unalterable and thereby securing it from the threat of being hacked and even eliminating counterparty risks. The technology of Blockchain eliminates the need for the third party or mediating authorities, intermediation or oversight with respect to individuals transactions. In other words, Blockchain technology makes it possible for strangers to make transactions with complete transparency. The technology has gained popularity amongst Banks, Financial Institutions, Entrepreneurs, and [App Developers](http://pacewisdom.com/app-development-services), it is even the base technology for many startups. The Blockchain technology can be applied to any exchange or transaction within the realm of the digital world, it eliminates the disorder of multiple ledgers with all the of transactions being combined to one public ledger. The Blockchain networks are decentralized meaning it does not have any central point for failure and is able to withstand any form of cyber attack.  The Bitcoin technology empowers its users, the users are in control and are able to manage their transactions and information.  All of the transactions will be executed as per the specifications of the protocol eliminating the need for a third party. One of the world's largest and rapidly expanding industry is the Healthcare Industry. This growth can be attributed to its services, coverage, prioritizing patient care and the inclusion of public and private individuals in expenditure.  But demand for accurate and high-quality data continues to increase, as the current process to assimilate data has its own difficulties making the data unreliable or attainable through a process that is cumbersome. Another major difficulty being faced by the healthcare sector is securing patient data, there is a lot at stake with respect to protecting the privacy of a patient's record. Blockchain plays a vital role in this regard, the health records would be authenticated and would be shared only based upon the protocol of record sharing. The Blockchain technology could provide a new system for Healthcare Information Exchanges by making electronic medical records more secure, organized and efficient thereby creating a database to access Electronic Healthcare Records. A Blockchain-based system will also invalidate any clinical trials that hamper or alter data from the trials in any way.  Genetic data can be accessed on a Blockchain for genomics research, it also gives access to nationwide interoperability. The technology has the widespread significance to the participants in the healthcare ecosystem.  It would provide a new system for health information exchange placing the patient at the center, and provide quality data resulting in better conclusions for a patient's health. The Blockchain technology has tremendous potential in the Healthcare Industry, it would provide trustless partnership, and create secure and unmodifiable healthcare information. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Seeking an IoT platform? Know what to look for Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2017-05-16 Meta Description: Technology has developed more that you no need to build self-driving cars or developing software for a organization to know what Internet of Things (IoT) Tags: Tech Talk, Internet of Things, Technology, applications, entrepreneur, IoT, software URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/seeking-an-iot-platform-know-what-to-look-for Technology has evolved so much that you need not be manufacturing self-driving cars or developing software for a space organization to know what Internet of Things (IoT) is.  If you are an entrepreneur today who is into the business of making a simple coffee vending machine or developing gaming apps, the term IoT would be inevitable in your glossary. IoT is not merely a technological jargon anymore. It connects physical and virtual things to each other via internet, which means it influences our lives everyday in almost everyway. When it comes to business, chart out your IoT strategy well and you could steer it right ahead to achieve better results in lesser time. [IoT application development](http://pacewisdom.com/internet-of-things-iot) is gaining a wide popularity in the digital due to its innumerable possibilities. It gives you access to comparatively more data from your app, makes tracking easier and saves a lot of time which otherwise would have been consumed by monitoring. But as enticing the merits may seem, it may also have its demerits which could be issues relating to compatibility, complexity, privacy/security and safety. So one has to be very keen on taking the right measures to implement it into business in the most efficient way. There are a few questions that you need to ask yourself if you’re choosing IoT platforms: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Do they offer a wide protocol support? * Do they have a strong console to manage virtual devices? * Do their pre-built applications and software development kits support developers well enough? * Are they capable of advanced analytics? With these platforms constantly updating in terms of functions, answering these questions might be quiet difficult, but it is very much necessary to do so. The next thing one needs to know before adopting the platform is to know its market presence and strategy. Once your research fetches you data on the number of their customer installations, reach, partner networks, future enhancements etc, it would be quite easier for you to make a decision based on a through evaluation. You have your big idea devised, you have your device ready and you have done the analytics. The nest thing is to have your software running, which in most cases, is through your app. To go ahead confidently with IoT platforms, you need to be familiar with IoT development platforms, IoT programming languages, IoT service providers etc. Or going by the easiest ways, choose an IoT expert to handle the difficult part for you. [Calixto](http://www.calixtosystems.com), [Pacewisdom](http://www.pacewisdom.com), [Eazeetech](http://www.eazeetech.com) etc. are some of the popular [IoT companies in Bangalore](http://pacewisdom.com/). Thanks to IoT, it won’t be long before the tiniest things in our houses would acknowledge themselves with a beep in case we forget where they are kept or a personal gadget would start reminding us of our daily chores, lest we forget. Certainly, IoTis the way ahead in technology and on of the best it has offered us so far. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## How Cloud Computing is Powering Indian Start Ups Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2016-12-14 Tags: Tech Talk, business, Cloud, Cloud Computing, entrepreneurs, startups, Technology URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/how-cloud-computing-is-powering-indian-start-ups In recent years, Cloud computing has created a revolution in helping various business groups. Advancement in technology is making the life of small and medium scale entrepreneurs easy. Instead of investing in servers, either while scaling or starting up new entity, they can **choose Cloud Computing technology**. Here is a brief look at the pace with which Cloud computing is widening its wings. What this cloud computing is all about? --------------------------------------- Basic necessity for an entity is to have devices to store the data and access them accordingly. As a general practice, data is stored in hard disc drives and accessed through the centralized servers. Now, technology has advanced to collect the data in an powerful way. They enables the users to simplify the conventional process. In brief, it is a means of providing the hosting services through internet. Cloud computing is a third-party data center, that provides storage solutions to the enterprises, ranging across the globe. As soon as this technology came into existence, it has made a mark in short span, while creating high demand. Cloud computing is also referred as an utility for the business entities. It provides services at lesser costs, has greater power of computing, delivers high performance, better accessibility and scalability. How does Cloud Computing power the start-up companies? ------------------------------------------------------ As a start-up, it is very important for the entrepreneurs to have an eye on financial expenditure. During the initials days, business entities may not be capable of spending on the high cost servers and hard drives. Moreover, as a part of daily routine, storage of data and accessing them is a basic necessity. In this scenario, [cloud computing technology](http://pacewisdom.com/app-development-services) assists the entrepreneurs to get this solved at minimum cost. This technology has several noticeable **benefits to power up the start-up companies**. It enables the business entities to eliminating resources rather than possessing to construct and maintain the data infrastructures. As this has the ability of self-servicing, the enterprise need not have to recruit IT administrators for monitoring the servers. In the fluctuating market, demand may open up, creating an necessity to increase data storage space to upgrade the system. During low demand, they become ineffective in utilization. Taking an average of this, conventional system doesn’t allow elasticity, whereas in cloud computing, scaling and descaling is very easy. Irrespective of the usage, the enterprise has to pay-in-full to build and monitor the servers. Unlike in cloud computing, the companies has to pay only with reference to their workloads and the resources utilized. As a whole, **cloud computing facilitates the enterprises** to have a keen on their core business area. They need not spend time and money on the computing infrastructure. Thus it assists the start-up companies in a broader way. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Core Data - Object Graph Management & Persistence Framework Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2016-05-12 Meta Description: Core Data is a Schema driven object graph management and persistence Framework” which is creates a layer between the database and UI (User Interface). Tags: Tech Talk, Object Graph Management, SQL Database, SQLite, Tools & Technologies URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/core-data-object-graph-management-persistence-framework Which is an object graph & persistence framework introduced by Apple in Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) 2005 and IOS, “Core Data is a Schema driven object graph management and persistence Framework” which is creating a layer between the database and UI which easily performs CRUD (Create, read, update and delete) operations? Core data reduces 50 to 70 percent of the work which was spent on developing the model layer, due to its inbuilt features. It uses NSPredicate to query values. Both Core Data and an SQL database provide a means of persistently storing structured data in a searchable store. Since programmers are generally familiar with databases and since Core Data is actually backed by an SQLite database, it is understandable that Core Data is often treated and used as though it were a wrapper around SQLite. It is important to realize that although you can use Core Data in this way (in fact, it works very well like this), that Core Data actually operates over a different domain to SQLite — meaning that it provides lots of services that SQLite doesn't but also that Core Data can't provide some of the services that SQLite can. Even for services that both technologies provide, there are different performance considerations. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Do you really need the Hamburger? Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2016-04-25 Meta Description: Hamburger is a minimalistic icon usually used to hide site navigation and de clutter the mobile site. One of the space saving trick is the Hamburger. Tags: Tech Talk, Design, Hamburger URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/do-you-really-need-the-hamburger Smart devices now generate a substantial amount of internet Traffic. This change in web scenario gave rise to the Idea of Mobile first approach to build websites. With mobile audience taking a high priority,real estate on websites never seemed more valuable to the designer. One of the space saving trick is the Hamburger Menu. Hamburger Menu is a minimalistic icon usually used to hide site navigation and de clutter the mobile site. It sure seems like a simple and elegant solution to save valuable space and it's practically on every Cool website, tempted to implement it in your website? Before you actually do, consider the below mentioned points. Who are your primary audience? ------------------------------ Studies show that most people over the age 45 do not know what the icon represents. They would never click it unless out of sheer curiosity. Consider that you are designing a pill reminder app and the options to add /remove pills is hidden behind an icon. It is more likely that the user will uninstall your app. (of course after failed attempts to figure it out) How many main menu items do you have ? -------------------------------------- Decide on menu options that should always be present on screen. Consider facebook app as an example ![1](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1-169x300-1.png) ![2](https://pacewisdom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2-169x300-1.png) Notice how important icons are placed in a secondary navbar, and you can also see that the status update option is also nicely integrated into the main screen. The app uses Hamburger menu only to hide detailed menu, which most of the users would not be visiting on a regular basis. What do want the user to see? ----------------------------- If your website content is centered around a particular content and not navigation, like a portfolio site, You want the user to go through your gallery page without getting distracted by other menu options.Hamburger menu might be the right choice for you in such scenarios. https://ewebdesign.com/ is a clean example where hamburger menu is strategically used to get maximum number of newsletter signups. What are the alternatives? -------------------------- Taking clue from Facebook App, a designer can implement a secondary navigation bar which displays all “absolute essential” items. While the rest can be hidden behind an icon. A secondary navigation would not be a practical solution to an E-commerce site, in such cases it would be apt to display the icon along with a label which spells out “Menu” or just the word “menu” . It is definitely clearer than the hamburger icon. New trends keep cropping up everyday, and overnight certain designs become “cool” and we will have every other designer play with it like a shiny new toy. Strategically choose the best designs that are suitable for your purpose and that's how you create seamless user experiences. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## ABC of iOS App Development Author: Pace Wisdom Published: 2015-06-02 Meta Description: The article outlines the essence of iOS app development with respect to functionalities, security, and challenges. Tags: Mobile App Development, Tech Talk, development, iOS, iOS app development, iOS application, mobile app development, Mobile Application URL: https://blog.pacewisdom.com/ios-app-development With the rise in the ownership and usage of mobile devices, demand for mobile applications also strengthens. App developers are now more enthusiastic to produce high definition and engaging apps, especially since the recent Apple announcement to release more services for them. Recently, the company invited developers to [test their apps using the new App Analytics services](http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/30/apple-invites-developers-to-test-its-new-app-analytics-service), which allows them to analyze customer engagement. If you are a budding app developer who wants to explore how to build mobile apps for Apple products or a business who wants to create a compelling enterprise app, then this article will guide you through the basics of creating applications for iOS. ### Apply security at all costs With the increase in the number of hacking cases and online security threats, it is necessary to guarantee your users security. Research by [Symantec](http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/2015-internet-security-threat-report-attackers-are-bigger-bolder-and-faster) revealed that attackers are now smarter and faster in acquiring data by extorting it from people’s smartphones and social media accounts. By adding safety measures to your apps, especially when it requires users to provide sensitive data, you are gaining trust from them, which will appeal to a larger audience. Some companies are partnering with top security firms to incorporate their systems into their apps, however this can be very costly for startups or indie app companies to obtain. ### Understand the specification of each device Although mobile devices may run the same operating system (iOS 8), not all of them run the same power, features, and functions. The latest smartphone, the iPhone 6, is pre-built with Apple Pay, Touch ID, and motion coprocessor that other Apple devices aren’t equipped with, as [seen on the feature page on O2](https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/phones/apple/iphone-6). It is advisable to check the specific feature that you want to highlight on your app, as this will be its unique selling point. Late last year, the company opened its doors for more app developers with the release of the iOS 8 for Developers with SDK, Xcode 6, and a whole set of APIs and services. This will allow developers to build apps around new Apple services such as the WatchKit, Apple Pay, PhotoKit, HealthKit and more. ### Set the specification of your app Determine the strengths and limitations of your application during the process of brainstorming, as this will be the foundation of your mobile app. For offline application, it will be highly necessary to consider updating the app most of the time to ensure that the data presented to users are always updated. For online-based ones, you will have to consider that not all internet connections are the same, as some will be using powerful Wi-Fi or data connection while some people in other parts of the world might be using a slower internet connection. Make sure it runs smoothly despite changes in the speed of the internet. Another thing that you need to consider will be your target market. Is it a productivity app for on-the-go or field employees? Is it a learning game for children? Is it a resource application for a specific profession, like doctors, engineers, construction, etc.? This will help you later on while building the features of your app as you will get back to answering the same question: What does my target market gets from this application? ### What do you need to avoid? Apart from the guidelines above, there are things that you need to avoid while building your apps for iOS. These activities can be highly detrimental to the success of your project. * Not considering more platforms that can maximize the app * Thinking of the app experience similar to the web experience * Focused on monetization * Not exerting effort to market your work * Releasing a beta that is highly dysfunctional * Ignoring user reviews and bug reports [Click here](https://developer.apple.com/design/tips) to read tips from Apple on how to create an engaging user interface. Take note that app development is a highly saturated market and industry. It will be highly necessary to have a concrete marketing plan and strategy on how you can create a buzz on your app to gain the right return on investment later on. For better assistance, consult with the experts in app development to guide you in the process: [Pace Wisdom](http://pacewisdom.com) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---