A Comprehensive Guide To The OutSystems Developer Cloud

The challenge of creating secure, scalable applications is only increasing with all the technological innovations. Businesses have been able to meet customer demands by shifting from traditional applications to cloud-native ones. OutSystems' low-code platform, on the other hand, has helped businesses cope with rising customer expectations by allowing them to avoid writing thousands of lines of code.

OutSystems, following this vision, introduced the OutSystems Developer Cloud (ODC) late in 2022. This dramatically reduced the complexity of creating cloud-native apps and increased productivity.

Here we will cover the challenges associated with building cloud-native apps and how ODC is leveraging low-code capabilities to help enterprises build effective applications that run on-premises and on multiple clouds.

Cloud-Native Application Development: The Challenges You Face

Companies are under pressure to digitalize their products and services. It means improving the user experience and operational efficiency. As the market grows, applications reach more users. Companies are also moving their applications to the cloud to meet the higher expectations of users. Investing in cloud-native technologies is therefore the last resort for enterprises.

Even as a solution to the problem, today's enterprises still struggle with many of the challenges associated with developing cloud-native apps, including speed, security, performance, and scalability. We'll discuss the main challenges that organisations face when building a cloud-native application.

Non-functional requirements

The NFRs demonstrate how well applications perform in terms of security, scalability, and localization. They also show the application's ability to maintain itself as well as its drive for complexity. It is crucial to meet NFRs to comply with user expectations. They also show how the application will function in real-time. They are also essential for deciding on the architecture of an application.

Tool proliferation

NFRs are driving tool proliferation, as multiple tools and systems are required to develop cloud-native applications. This increases development costs, in particular when multi-cloud is implemented. As companies struggle to invest in innovative products and services, developers are forced to manage more code architectures. The complexity can increase by three times, and costs could triple due to the proliferation of tools.

You need to have different skills in different areas of app development if you want to cope with the complexity and proliferation of tools. This leads to the need for more employees as new roles are created. The cost of onboarding and training cloud-native developers is also high.

How are Companies Adopting Cloud-Native Application Development?

Large enterprises can absorb the talent costs as well as handle the proliferation costs. These costs include licences and infrastructure. Many companies still struggle to find the right platform. OutSystems, formerly OutSystems Project Neo, introduced the OutSystems Developer Cloud. ODC abstracts the complexity involved in adopting cloud-native applications, allowing you to overcome challenges such as NFRs, tool proliferation, and a talent shortage. We will first examine what ODC is and why it should be used for cloud-native application development.

What is ODC?

OutSystems Developer Cloud is a high-performance platform that uses low-code to provide a modular and scalable environment for building cloud-native apps. ODC's state-of-the-art architecture reduces the complexity of developing cloud-native apps with Kubernetes clusters and serverless functions. ODC configures cloud runtimes, integrates cloud services, and pre-packages the architecture so that developers can concentrate on the application logic. The ODC is built around three key parameters:

ODC helps you achieve serious productivity. By reducing the need for talent, streamlining the automated development process, and increasing productivity, ODC allows you to adopt cloud-native application development. ODC adopts modern CI/CD to deliver a unified experience.

ODC lets you build mission-critical apps with its state-of-the-art architecture. No matter how complex the business requirements or use cases are, you can create serious mobile and web applications.

The evergreen platform: ODC updates itself as technology changes without affecting any applications. No platform or application updates will be required. ODC's platform can handle all the NFRs that users and businesses expect without any downtime.

OutSystems Developer Cloud (ODC) Architecture

The ODC architecture was developed on a cutting-edge cloud-native platform, which allows you to scale your entire platform and application independently without downtime. Platform and runtime segregation ensure scaling for any number of applications.

ODC allows you to scale up your apps for millions of users when necessary. ODC also helps you create serious apps by answering NFRs such as high availability and reliability, which assure applications.

Security is one of the main concerns for NFRs, as we have discussed. Cloud-native apps with more services are harder to secure because they have a wider range of services. ODC implements authorization and authentication by default. It uses CDNs for DDoS attacks (distributed denial-of-service) with features such as intrusion detection and intelligent threat detection.

ODC protects the security and compliance of your applications by encrypting data that is communicated between microservices.

ODC allows for generated code, app data, container configurations, and pre-built templates that allow you to create an app within seconds by simply exporting.

ODC does not lock in any code to run or operate PaaS-specific capabilities that replace customer-owned services.

OutSystems 11 vs. ODC: How Do They Work Together, And What Should I Adopt?

OutSystems 11 has become a flagship platform. OutSystems Developer Cloud is the new, high-performance platform with low code from OutSystems. OutSystems 11 continues to be a leading platform in the industry. ODC can run anything you create. OutSystems 11 comes with embedded CI/CD tools, platform services, and an integration layer.

Scalability is one of the key features that ODC considers when evaluating the pipeline of applications. ODC can develop robust applications that are scalable and reduce unpredictable loads. Performance and response times can be maintained even when unexpected loads occur.

ODC lets you scale your development independently by segregating computing capacity. What are the main differences between OutSystems 11 and ODC?

Architecture: If you are a customer and already use OS11, you can expect to make some efforts when adopting ODC. The biggest differences are in the architecture and application management. Architecturally, the approach to development is different. OutSystems has shifted to an application-development module that ensures real-time scaling and deployment. Each application is isolated by its components and container. It communicates via services.

OutSystems simplified the workflow for application promotion in ODC to support the application lifecycle. You can see the progress of a new version of an application over time. Your CI/CD tools can be fed through an API.

No training is needed to begin building apps using the ODC's modern, agile, and future-oriented architecture. You will be able to access training materials and guided pathways to help you navigate the ODC.

What are the Benefits of Building Applications using ODC for your Business?

ODC allows organisations to have apps with unified experiences across the entire platform. Users can manage, monitor, and evolve their apps from a single location, all within a few clicks. ODC is a tool that increases developer productivity through the use of microservices, modern architecture, and a reduction in dependency between elements. It encourages the use of libraries, such as OutSystems Forge, and services to increase agility and flexibility. Let's look at some of the benefits an enterprise can get from ODC.

ODC low-code development allows for visual application development through modelling and a graphical user interface. This enables faster delivery of applications while abstracting the coding complexity and maintaining collaboration between departments. ODC automates DevOps, manages a cloud runtime, and automatically documents code. It also resolves dependencies in code, performs regression tests, and continually updates new features.

Integrating data using ODC

Integration of data into backend systems is essential for large enterprises to centralise the data that is distributed among the various systems and extend the capabilities further. It could be a CRM, Salesforce, or SAP system. ODC automates processes, making integration easier with other systems.

Develops mission-critical applications

ODC reduces costs by using Kubernetes, which auto-scales elements of cloud-native app development. OutSystems Developer Cloud Portal allows users to consolidate functionality previously spread across the Lifetime Service Centre and Users applications. ODC's modular architecture, components that can be reused, and pre-packaged capabilities allow large organisations to save money, time, and effort when building composable apps.

High-performance applications

ODC unifies development by using AI, visual modelling, automation, and other tools to build high-performing apps. ODC accelerates all phases of app development, resulting in pixel-perfect AI-driven consumer apps.

ODC offers a limitless experience by ensuring accessibility at every level. Professional developers can extend the visual models to every level of the development stack instead of using traditional coding standards. ODC's accessibility and integration of custom coding can be used to achieve most use cases.

OutSystems is a trusted partner to leverage the power

ODC is a technology stack that does not just leverage low-code but also incorporates cloud-native functionalities and automates DevOps practises. OutSystems offers businesses advanced solutions for building applications that combine the power of low-code platforms.

PerfectionGeeks Technologies has helped several companies build cloud-native, low-code applications. We can help you with your business cases as well. Contact our certified experts today to learn how OutSystems ODC will revolutionise your business.