Flatcar Linux: A Modern OS for the Always-On Infrastructure

In this episode, we dive deep into Flatcar Linux, an immutable Linux distribution designed for always-on infrastructures. The discussion covers the architecture and features of Flatcar, including its self-updating capabilities and minimal attack surface. We explore the use of Ignition for provisioning, the role of Systemd and its extensions, and the detailed update process via an update server. The Flatcar maintainers also highlight the benefits of full-disk encryption, node-level metrics, and operational insights available through tools like Nebraska and Node exporter. Guest speakers include Flatcar maintainers and engineers from Microsoft, who share their experiences and insights on managing and maintaining Flatcar at scale.

Creators & Guests

• David Flanagan - Host
• :thilo: - Guest
• Mathieu Tortuyaux - Guest
• James Le Cuirot - Guest

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:59) - Guest Introductions
• (03:10) - What is Flatcar?
• (12:30) - Kernel modules and Flatcar
• (17:41) - Getting started with Flatcar
• (21:27) - Encryption with Flatcar
• (29:40) - Kubernetes Upgrades with Flatcar
• (35:14) - Flatcar k8s node upgrades
• (38:08) - Flatcar Metrics
• (40:42) - Operating at scale
• (44:25) - Recap
• (45:07) - Quick-fire questions

Evolving Platform Engineering & The Rise and Fall of Kubernetes with Evelyn Osman.

In today's episode of Cloud Native Compass, we dive deep into the world of platform engineering and Kubernetes. Our guest, Evelyn Osmond, head of platform at a Munich-based energy trade startup, shares her extensive experience and insights on building and maintaining platforms. We discuss the future of scripting, the challenges of release management, and the importance of continually asking 'why' in both technical and business contexts. Join us as we explore the benefits and potential pitfalls of Kubernetes, the necessity of understanding the 'why' behind our choices, and the evolving landscape of cloud-native technologies. Whether you're a junior developer or a seasoned engineer, there's something here for everyone.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Overview
• (01:02) - Guest Introduction: Evelyn Osmond
• (03:26) - Evelyn's Background in Tech
• (05:08) - The Evolution of Scripting and Platforms
• (13:53) - The Importance of Asking 'Why'
• (19:14) - Engineering Principles and Practices
• (22:49) - Debating Code Generation and Templating
• (23:14) - Understanding Developer Motivations
• (24:05) - The Importance of Questioning Requirements
• (30:02) - Challenges with Kubernetes Adoption
• (30:52) - Evaluating Kubernetes for Different Use Cases
• (35:37) - The Future of Kubernetes and Cloud Native Solutions
• (41:59) - Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

• Laura Santamaria - Host
• David Flanagan - Host
• Evelyn Osman - Guest

Ever wondered how AI is changing the way we code? Laura and David break it down in this episode of Smart Coding. From real-world examples to the surprising environmental impact of AI tools, they cover it all—with a few personal stories thrown in. Tune in for a relaxed and eye-opening chat.

00:00 Introduction to AI Augmented Programming

01:32 David's Coding Journey with AI

02:43 Debating the Merits of AI in Coding

04:29 Practical Applications of AI in Development

07:14 The Future of Coding with AI

11:11 Personal Experiences and Reflections

14:40 Learning and Adapting in the AI Era

19:09 Analogies and Deeper Insights

23:24 Discussing Web Design Skills

23:44 Challenges with Rawkode Academy Website

23:54 AI's Role in Web Development

25:09 The Future of AI in Coding

27:47 AI in Meetings and Daily Life

30:45 Environmental Impact of AI

36:27 AI-Generated Documentation

26:35 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Observability for Developers: What You Need to Know?

In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of observability in microservices with Adriana Villela, a principal developer advocate at Dynatrace and an OpenTelemetry maintainer. Adriana shares insights about the importance of properly instrumenting code, managing technical debt, and balancing the environmental impact of observability data. She also delves into practical advice for getting started with OpenTelemetry and the importance of community contributions. Join us to pick up practical tips on improving your observability practices — and learn how to make smarter decisions that help you sleep better at night, even while running complex distributed systems.

00:00 Introduction to Observability

01:22 Meet Adriana Villela

03:40 The Role of Developer Advocacy

06:27 Challenges in Observability

08:05 Understanding OpenTelemetry

15:07 Manual vs. Auto Instrumentation

20:25 Best Practices for Instrumentation

22:58 Understanding Instrumentation Importance

23:29 Defining Observability

24:14 Cost and Environmental Impact of Tracing

25:57 Effective Observability Practices

28:23 Choosing the Right Technology Stack

32:37 Balancing Cost and Data Storage

39:36 Learning and Contributing to OpenTelemetry

47:20 Final Thoughts

The Future of Sustainability in Open Source

Can open source ever truly be sustainable?
In this mind-bending episode, Hazel Weakly guides us through the social, economic, and emotional layers of open source communities. We dig into governance, funding models, trust, burnout, and what it means to scale collective ownership—without losing your mind.

Hazel Weakly: The Nivenly Foundation Fellow, Member of CNCF’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing WG, Software Developer | Leader

Hosts: David Flanagan and Laura Santamaria

00:00 Introduction to Open Source Sustainability

01:28 Meet Hazel Weakly

02:56 The Challenges of Open Source Sustainability

09:17 Maintainer Burnout and Governance

17:01 Funding Models and Economic Realities

27:26 Community Health and Conflict Resolution

40:46 The Future of Web Browsers as Public Utilities

47:07 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode David and Laura explore the world of Atlantis, the Terraform automation tool, with special guest Jose (PePe) Amengual, a core contributor and maintainer of the Atlantis project. We discuss the origins, features, and future of Atlantis, along with its role in production engineering and its integration with various VCS systems.

00:00 Introduction

00:14 Terraform Automation and Project Atlantis

00:35 Pepe’s Journey with Project Atlantis

03:40 What is Atlantis?

22:05 Security Aspects of Atlantis

11:09 Future of Atlantis

Java for Serverless Functions

In this episode of Cloud Native Compass, hosts Laura and David explore the world of Java for serverless functions with special guest Otávio Santana. Otávio, a seasoned Java developer and Kubernetes expert, shares his insights into the modernization of Java, its ecosystem, and its place in the cloud native landscape. We discuss Java's evolution, the misconceptions surrounding it, and why it remains a powerful tool for developers today.

00:00 Introduction to Java for Serverless Functions

00:07 Meet Otavio Santana: Java Champion and Kubernetes Expert

04:28 Java's Evolution and Modernization

06:12 Java in the Cloud Native Landscape

16:56 Java Ecosystem and Frameworks

18:37 Java's Flexibility and Community Support

28:14 Java in Kubernetes and Future Prospects

29:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dapr: The Future of Microservices

In this episode of Cloud Native Compass, host David Flanagan is joined by Mark Fussell, co-founder and CEO of Diagrid, to discuss the intricacies of Dapr and its role in microservices and distributed systems. They delve into the actor model, the new Dapr Agents, and much more.

Creators & Guests

• David Flanagan - Host
• Laura Santamaria - Host
• Mark Fussell - Guest

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (00:09) - Guest Introduction
• (00:14) - Overview of Dapr and Microservices
• (00:42) - Exploring Microservices
• (01:12) - Challenges in Microservices
• (00:42) - Dapr's Solutions for Microservices
• (03:25) - The Role of Dapr in Simplifying Microservices
• (04:17) - Communication and Coordination in Microservices
• (06:00) - Service Invocation and Pub/Sub in Dapr
• (33:22) - Component Model in Dapr
• (22:38) - The Outbox Pattern and Actor Model
• (39:49) - Dapr Agents and LLM Integration
• (49:08) - Diagrid's Role with Dapr
• (52:00) - Conclusion and Sign-Off