Beyond Kubernetes: Choosing the Right Infrastructure Abstraction
Simplicity has always been my guiding principle for building sustainable and maintainable software. But there's a stark contrast between the clean architecture of a developed service and the complex toolchain required to run it in production today. The cloud, with its endless parade of CI/CD, IaC, and orchestration tools, offers convenience but often at the cost of clarity and direct control. This article isn’t a dismissal of powerful platforms like Kubernetes; it’s a call to make conscious, informed choices. We’ll explore the landscape of infrastructure tools, from simple compute units to full-blown platforms, and discuss how a deep understanding of the fundamentals empowers you to choose the right level of abstraction for your needs, prioritizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness without sacrificing capability.
Containers, Kubernetes, and the Value of Understanding Basics
Over the years, I’ve watched containers evolve from a niche technology into the backbone of modern development. But with that growth comes a danger: we’re layering on so much abstraction that we risk losing sight of what makes containers powerful in the first place. In this article, I want to revisit the core ideas—namespaces, cgroups, and the elegance of Docker Compose—and discuss why sometimes, stepping back from complex orchestration can give us faster, more transparent, and more efficient systems. It’s not about rejecting tools like Kubernetes, but about remembering what’s underneath them.
Reclaiming Pragmatism
in Software Development
Lately, I’ve noticed a troubling trend in our industry. The term ’pragmatism’ has been co-opted, twisted into a justification for cutting corners and shipping subpar code. It’s now used as a synonym for ’quick and dirty’, casting a long shadow over what should be a core principle of good engineering. But I believe we’ve lost the plot. The real meaning of pragmatism is something far more powerful and intentional. It’s not about ignoring best practices; it’s about deeply understanding them so you know when and how to mindfully bend them to serve a greater purpose. This article is my attempt to reclaim the word and explore what it truly means to be a pragmatic developer in a world full of rigid frameworks and pure theory.
Beyond Internet Dependency:
Designing for Resilience
We've reached a point where questioning our reliance on the internet feels as absurd as debating our need for electricity. Yet while we accept power grids as essential infrastructure, we still treat internet connectivity as somehow optional. This perspective limits our ability to design truly resilient systems. Rather than fantasizing about offline solutions, we should focus on creating architectures that acknowledge our connected reality while minimizing fragility. The following thoughts explore how we might shift this conversation toward practical, future-proof approaches.
Why the Cloud Isn’t a Backup Solution
Most developers trust the cloud—or Git—to safeguard their work, but that’s a risky assumption. Data loss can happen anywhere, and rebuilding toolchains or environments from scratch is a nightmare. My backup strategy is simple: a Taskfile, a shell script, and restic for encrypted, platform-agnostic storage. Whether you’re migrating machines or just avoiding disaster, here’s why backups still matter—and how to automate them.