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Cloud-native applications are designed for the cloud from the ground up, meaning they¡¯re free from the limitations of on-premises architectures. A cloud-native application takes advantage of the inherent scalability and elasticity of cloud computing, which benefits those who create the software and those who use it. This article explains the essential components of cloud-native applications before discussing the benefits for developers, end-users, and chip designers.

What is a Cloud-Native Application?

A cloud-native application typically runs on the following technologies:

Microservices

Cloud-native applications are usually deployed as microservices. A microservices architecture breaks an application into several small services, each responsible for a single feature or workflow. These microservices run independently of each other, so they can be developed and deployed individually. If one microservice fails, it takes down that single feature without affecting the rest of the application.

Containers

Cloud-native containers are self-contained virtual environments for running microservices. Each small container includes the precise resources needed to run a single microservice. Therefore, it¡¯s easy to create and deploy them for on-demand scaling. Like microservices, each container runs independently, so if one fails, it won¡¯t take down the entire node. 

Immutable Infrastructure

Cloud-native containers are what¡¯s known as immutable (or unchangeable) infrastructure, meaning they¡¯re never updated or fixed after deployment. If there¡¯s an issue with a container, a new version is spun up with an updated configuration and the old one is decommissioned. This practice reduces the update¡¯s impact on the performance and availability of the cloud-native application.

Advantages of Cloud-Native Applications

The advantages of cloud-native applications for consumers include:

Scalability

Containers are small, so they can be created and deployed relatively quickly to scale out the storage and computing capacity of a cloud-native application. You can add these resources to the individual microservices (i.e., features) that require them and only pay for what you need. 

Resiliency

A cloud-native microservices application is highly resilient because one service or container can fail without taking down the rest of the application. Additionally, immutable infrastructure reduces the risk that an in-place update will crash the entire application. 

Quality and Security

Cloud-native microservices are independently developed and deployed, so developers can release features and updates much faster, resulting in innovative and high-quality software. That also allows developers to quickly deploy patches to fix security vulnerabilities before hackers exploit them. 

Portability

Many cloud-native applications are built using open-source standards and technology, which increases the portability of associated data. As a consumer, that means you have the ability to take your data and workloads from one cloud-native platform and transfer them to another vendor. For example, a competing solution has a lower price, improved performance in your area, or more specific features you need for your particular use case. In that case, transferring to the new service is simple.

How Cloud-Native Benefits Chip Designers

While most electronic design automation (EDA) tools still run on-premises, pioneers in the field, such as Synopsys, are delivering cloud-native EDA solutions. 

Cloud-native EDA tools are easily scalable, so you can quickly add more storage capacity or computation power as your technology needs evolve. Unlike on-premises systems, cloud-native EDA is always available and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Plus, cloud-native tools are frequently updated to improve performance, add innovative new features, and immediately patch security vulnerabilities. You can even Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) to Synopsys for seamless integrations with your existing scripts in your current public cloud environment.